I have thought many a times to note down how we procure phone cards , Internet connection dongles at various ports we visit and also local taxi info from our point of view,( as we often have very little time to spend ashore before we are required to be back on board to relieve another watch keeper or to attend to some work waiting for us . )
So I decided to start off and note down some of these information for my own future reference , it would be great if it turns out to be helpful for anyone else who may happen to read this .Any additional info is always welcome !!
These were a few ports I went to during my last sail .
It is a bit off from the main areas and the travel to the seamans club will cost around 70 A$ on a good day , a bad day is when the bridge connecting the terminal and the main land is closed off for maintenance which happens quite regularly as per local taxi drivers.( this can be known in advance by calling up the local seamans centre. )
Phone cards: Optus , Go talk and Telstra
Optus is the best option among the three as it works well for data usage also .
Go talk is good for phone calls .
Telstra is a bit expensive 1 gb - 30 usd ,,4gb for 80 usd .
(Telstra activation will require a user account to registered and at that time the purpose for which the card is to be used for ( mobile or tablet or dongle ) can be chosen. Recharge can be easily done using this account .No need to wait for agent or some one to bring top up cards on board .
Phone card: Telstra is the only connection that works in weipa . So no other options there .
Caoefidian port -
Phone card - china unicom USD 7 dollar ( dial 10193... followed by 0091 and your )number
Internet card : USD 20 , around 6 GB data .
So I decided to start off and note down some of these information for my own future reference , it would be great if it turns out to be helpful for anyone else who may happen to read this .Any additional info is always welcome !!
These were a few ports I went to during my last sail .
Australia
Gladstone - RTM terminal -It is a bit off from the main areas and the travel to the seamans club will cost around 70 A$ on a good day , a bad day is when the bridge connecting the terminal and the main land is closed off for maintenance which happens quite regularly as per local taxi drivers.( this can be known in advance by calling up the local seamans centre. )
Phone cards: Optus , Go talk and Telstra
Optus is the best option among the three as it works well for data usage also .
Go talk is good for phone calls .
Telstra is a bit expensive 1 gb - 30 usd ,,4gb for 80 usd .
(Telstra activation will require a user account to registered and at that time the purpose for which the card is to be used for ( mobile or tablet or dongle ) can be chosen. Recharge can be easily done using this account .No need to wait for agent or some one to bring top up cards on board .
Weipa -
This port has very little facilities available as the entire port and town is built around the RTM mining operation there .Taxi's are available once you get out of the port and they are normally those 8 to 10 seater types .(It costs around 25 AUD if I remember correctly ).There are some stores in the city centre and general shopping can be done . Entering the water is Prohibited as it is crocodile infested .Phone card: Telstra is the only connection that works in weipa . So no other options there .
China
Caoefidian port -
Phone card - china unicom USD 7 dollar ( dial 10193... followed by 0091 and your )number
Internet card : USD 20 , around 6 GB data .
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