Kaietelefoner

Kaietelefoner, or quay telephones, are public telephones installed along harbor quays and docks to facilitate ship-to-shore communication and emergency contact. The term kaietelefoner is used in Norwegian contexts to designate such devices, which are typically located at ferry terminals, cargo berths, and harbour offices. These phones were part of port infrastructure designed for seafarers who needed reliable access to harbour authorities, shipping agents, or emergency services when other networks were unavailable or unreliable.

Historically, quay telephones appeared with the expansion of municipal telephone networks in the early 20th century and were often coin-operated or card-based. They were built to withstand harsh maritime weather and featured durable housings, corrosion-resistant hardware, and protective enclosures. Some deployments offered direct dialing to a harbour master, a shipping line, or emergency numbers, and could include loudspeakers or paging functions for group announcements.

In modern times, the prevalence of mobile communications has reduced reliance on quay telephones in many ports. Some harbors retain units for redundancy, worker safety, or areas without mobile coverage, while others have replaced older phones with digital or VoIP-based systems or integrated emergency communications. The exact configuration—such as payment method, dialing options, and connection to harbour networks—varies by port and country.

See also: Public telephone, Maritime communication, Harbor master.