KVH YOURlink Helps Ship Operator Communicate with Crew During COVID-19

Rhea-AI Summary

KVH Industries (Nasdaq: KVHI) announced that its VSAT services are enhancing crew welfare and operational efficiency amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The YOURlink service allows Pacific Basin to swiftly share important videos with seafarers on its 116 vessels. A recent video addresses the challenges of crew changes due to port restrictions. KVH has also extended a 50% discount on data plan upgrades through December, which has driven demand for increased bandwidth amid heightened communication needs during the pandemic.

Positive

• Continued usage of VSAT services highlights operational efficiency during the pandemic.
• Pacific Basin's engagement with KVH for crew welfare reflects strong customer reliance on KVH's solutions.
• 50% discount on data plans led to increased service uptake in the maritime sector.

Negative

• Crew change challenges due to COVID-19 restrictions indicate uncertainty in maritime operations.

MIDDLETOWN, R.I., Aug. 26, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- KVH Industries, Inc., (Nasdaq: KVHI), is pleased to announce that its VSAT connectivity services continue to be used to support crew welfare and operational efficiency during the COVID-19 pandemic. KVH’s YOURlink^TM service is enabling global ship owner and operator Pacific Basin to quickly and simultaneously transmit videos to seafarers aboard its 116 Handysize and Supramax bulk carriers. Having purchased a plan for a year, Pacific Basin has already transmitted two time-sensitive videos, including one on the crucial topic of crew changes.

In the video, Pacific Basin’s Fleet Director Jay K. Pillai discusses the efforts being made to enable seafarers to disembark their vessels for crew changes during COVID-19’s worldwide port call restrictions. The issue of seafarers being unable to leave their vessels is widespread throughout the maritime industry, with some experts calling it the most serious situation the industry has faced in decades.

Jay K. Pillai says: “For Pacific Basin, the ability to send a video quickly to all our ships and seafarers simultaneously is an effective and appealing way for our company to get an important and heartfelt message out directly to our colleagues at sea.”

KVH’s YOURlink service uses patented technology to multicast proprietary media files via satellite link to vessels equipped with KVH VSAT connectivity. Because the YOURlink transmission takes place by multicast protocol over unused bandwidth, it has no impact on the vessels’ monthly data plans or onboard data speeds. YOURlink is part of a suite of value-added services that KVH provides, which include news, sports, and entertainment content delivered via satellite to enhance crew welfare, as well as the satellite delivery of weather, chart, and training content for operational efficiency.

At the core of KVH’s VSAT connectivity solutions are the TracPhone^® HTS series satellite antenna systems and the mini-VSAT Broadband^sm HTS satellite network; KVH provides connectivity services for thousands of commercial and leisure vessels worldwide.

To support crew welfare and maritime operations during the COVID-19 pandemic, KVH began offering a 50% discount on data plan upgrades in April and will continue the discount through the end of December. “We have seen hundreds of vessels opt for more bandwidth during the pandemic because communication is such a critical factor at this challenging time,” notes Mark Woodhead, KVH’s executive vice president for mobile connectivity.

KVH is a mobile tech innovator that provides connectivity solutions for commercial maritime, leisure marine, and land mobile applications on vessels and vehicles, including the award-winning TracPhone and TracVision^® product lines, the global mini-VSAT Broadband network, and AgilePlans^® Connectivity as a Service (CaaS). The company’s KVH Media Group provides news, sports, and entertainment content with such brands as NEWSlink™ and SPORTSlink™.

Note to Editors: For more information about KVH’s VSAT connectivity solutions, please visit KVH Maritime Solutions, kvh.com/maritimesolutions. High-resolution images of KVH products are available at the KVH Press Room Image Library, kvh.com/Press-Room/Image-Library.

About KVH Industries, Inc.
KVH Industries, Inc., is a global leader in mobile connectivity and inertial navigation systems, innovating to enable a mobile world. A market leader in maritime VSAT, KVH designs, manufactures, and provides connectivity and content services globally. KVH is also a premier manufacturer of high-performance sensors and integrated inertial systems for defense and commercial applications. Founded in 1982, the company is based in Middletown, RI, with research, development, and manufacturing operations in Middletown, RI, and Tinley Park, IL, and more than a dozen offices around the globe.

KVH Industries, Inc., has used, registered, or applied to register its trademarks in the U.S.A. and other countries around the world, including but not limited to the following marks: KVH, YOURlink, TracPhone, mini-VSAT Broadband, TracVision, AgilePlans, NEWSlink, and SPORTSlink. All other trademarks are the property of their respective companies.

For further information, please contact:
Jill Connors
Sr. Manager, Media & Industry Analyst Relations
KVH Industries, Inc.
Tel: +1 401 851 3824
jconnors@kvh.com

FAQ

What recent service update was announced by KVH Industries?

KVH announced its YOURlink service is being used by Pacific Basin to support crew welfare during the COVID-19 pandemic.

What discount is KVH offering on data plans?

KVH is offering a 50% discount on data plan upgrades through December.

How many vessels does Pacific Basin operate with KVH services?

Pacific Basin operates 116 vessels using KVH's VSAT services.

What significant issue is discussed in the video sent to seafarers?

The video addresses the challenges of crew changes amid COVID-19 port restrictions.

What is the significance of the YOURlink service?

YOURlink allows simultaneous video transmission to vessels, enhancing communication with seafarers.