MIDDLETOWN, R.I., Nov. 21, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- KVH Industries, Inc., (Nasdaq:KVHI), announced today that numerous global fleets have subscribed to or expanded their
deployments of its IP-MobileCastTM content delivery service in recent months, reflecting the increased
importance that ship managers are placing on the competitive advantages of a focus on staffing optimization.
Major fleets that have selected the IP-MobileCast content delivery service recently include:
- Navigator Gas, operator of a fleet of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tankers with worldwide clients, selected IP-MobileCast
for 28 vessels.
- OSG Ship Management, one of the world’s leading energy transportation services companies, has chosen IP-MobileCast for more
than 20 vessels.
- Wisby Ship Management, operator of a global fleet of tankers, is providing 18 vessels with IP-MobileCast content
delivery.
- Klaveness Ship Management, an Oslo, Norway-based global fleet operator has selected IP-MobileCast for more than 10 vessels in
its container and bulk fleet.
- Valles Steamship (Canada) Ltd., of Vancouver, a long-time customer of KVH’s mini-VSAT Broadbandsm SATCOM services,
recently added IP-MobileCast content delivery for six vessels.
- United States Seafoods, a major North American seafood company, has subscribed to IP-MobileCast for three vessels, enabling
their seafarers to receive content via their personal devices.
In addition, Vroon, a global maritime fleet operator, and Seaspan, a leading independent owner, operator, and manager of
containerships, have continued to add the IP-MobileCast service to more vessels in their fleets, after being among the earliest
adopters of this innovative content delivery service. More than 65 vessels between the two companies now subscribe to the
IP-MobileCast service.
“The IP-MobileCast service is well-liked and used extensively by our crewmembers at sea, who tell me they particularly
appreciate the ease of use and the availability of the news, sports, and entertainment content on smartphones, tablets, and ships’
TVs,” says David Kramer, director at Seaspan Ship Management, which is based in Vancouver, British Columbia. “From our point of
view, we see IP-MobileCast as certainly a value-add for the crew, and a draw card in employment!”
The ability to feel connected to home via news, sports, and entertainment content – staples of life on land – is undeniably
powerful, as expressed recently by a training officer onboard a Vroon vessel: “Now we can watch the latest news from the
Philippines. We can feel connected to our loved ones, family, and friends. Everybody onboard is very happy for the movies
subscribed to by the company,” says Robert Calais, training chief officer onboard the vessel Iver Best.
“The adoption rate for IP-MobileCast has gained a tremendous amount of momentum in the last six to eight months, and we are
seeing a number of major fleets adding and expanding the content delivery service,” says Martin Kits van Heyningen, KVH’s chief
executive officer. “There is simply no other comparable service available for keeping seafarers informed and entertained on
transoceanic voyages. By providing content at sea, these fleets can become employers of choice in the competition for the most
competent seafarers, particularly top-notch officers. That in turn can help reduce costs for recruiting, training, and retention
efforts.”
IP-MobileCast was launched by KVH in 2014 as the first service to multicast daily news and sports, movies, and TV shows, as well
as operational data via satellite to vessels at sea, without adding communications costs or affecting vessel communications
performance. The resulting benefits include improvements in cost containment, crew recruiting and retention, operational
efficiency, and competitive advantage.
The efficiency of the IP-MobileCast service is particularly appealing to shipmanagers and operators striving to improve
operational efficiency. IP-MobileCast’s multicasting technology is designed to remove traffic from the vessels’ networks and
protect against the impact of individual crew members each downloading unlicensed videos or accessing streaming audio or video
services for their personal entertainment.
The news and entertainment content delivered by IP-MobileCast includes a wealth of options that are typically not available to
mariners at sea. The NEWSlinkTM channel provides daily print and broadcast news from around the world in dozens of
languages; SPORTSlinkTM provides sports events and highlights; MOVIElinkTM provides newly released Hollywood
and international movies; and, TVlinkTM offers complete seasons of popular programs.
In addition, shipmanagers and vessel IT directors are seeing the operational benefits of the IP-MobileCast service as a way to
efficiently and affordably transmit large files such as charts, weather updates, customer-supplied company-wide video messages,
software updates, and other important operational files. “The thought of having a completely separate way of transmitting large
files is proving to be a true game-changer in the way fleet operators are looking at their operations,” says Robert Hopkins, Jr.,
KVH’s director of IP-MobileCast services. “Feedback from ship owners and operators speaks to the excitement the IP-MobileCast
service is generating, where our subscribers tell us they go from disbelief that multicast content delivery is technically feasible
to high praise for the quality of the results.”
Note to Editors: For more information, please visit KVH’s IP-MobileCast website. High-resolution images of KVH products are available at the
KVH Press Room Image Library.
About KVH Industries, Inc.
KVH Industries is a leading provider of in-motion satellite TV and communications systems, having designed,
manufactured, and sold more than 200,000 mobile satellite antennas for applications on vessels, vehicles, and aircraft. KVH is also
a leading news, music, and entertainment content provider to many industries including maritime, retail, and leisure.
VideotelTM, a KVH company, is a market-leading provider of training films, computer-based training and eLearning. KVH is
based in Middletown, RI, with research, development, and manufacturing operations in Middletown, RI, and Tinley Park, IL. The
company’s global presence includes offices in Belgium, Brazil, Cyprus, Denmark, Hong Kong, India, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway,
the Philippines, Singapore, and the United Kingdom.
This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. For example, forward-looking
statements include statements regarding our anticipated revenue, competitive positioning, profitability, product orders, and the
functionality, characteristics, quality, and performance of KVH products and services. The actual results we achieve could differ
materially from the statements made in this press release. Factors that might cause these differences include, but are not limited
to: potential reduced sales to companies in or dependent upon the turbulent oil and gas industry; the impact of extended economic
weakness on the sale and use of marine vessels; the need for, or delays in, qualification of products to customer or regulatory
standards; unanticipated declines or changes in customer demand, due to economic, seasonal, and other factors; and increased price
and service competition in the mobile communications markets. These and other factors are discussed in more detail in KVH’s most
recent Form 10-Q filed with the SEC. KVH does not assume any obligation to update its forward-looking statements to reflect new
information and developments.
KVH, IP-MobileCast, NEWSlink, SPORTSlink, MOVIElink, TVlink, and Videotel are trademarks of KVH Industries, Inc.
mini-VSAT Broadband is a service mark of KVH Industries, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective
companies.
For further information, please contact: Jill Connors Media Relations & Industry Analyst Manager KVH Industries, Inc. Tel: +1 401 851 3824 jconnors@kvh.com
