What services and products does your company provide to the shipping industry?

We are an end-to-end integrated solution provider with an office in Greece and a long-established history of working in partnership with Greek fleets. Our multi-channel, multi-orbit approach enables us to support the shipping industry with a comprehensive connectivity and value-added services solution that includes:

·         Our KVH ONE global network, which delivers data and communications using VSAT via GEO satellites, 5G/LTE cellular, LEO via Starlink, and LEO via OneWeb coming soon

·         Award-winning communications terminals

·         Our advanced CommBox Edge network and bandwidth management

·         KVH Link crew wellbeing content and services

·         24/7/365 airtime service, technical support, and global field service

In your view, what is the future of connectivity and telecommunications in the shipping industry?

We are seeing an increase in demand for connectivity via new LEO services with GEO services as a supplement. This hybrid approach offers superior reliability, enhanced versatility, and a future-proof approach to connectivity at sea to support an increasing ecosystem of applications that help reduce costs, increase efficiency, and meet regulatory needs – IoT, support decarbonisation efforts, voyage optimisation, etc.

With these new services, there is also a growing demand for the tools to control and manage these services. Emerging LEO services offer high speeds, low latency, and affordable data but limited native tools to manage how they are used. We deliver those features seamlessly. As a result, we can support the increasing demand for data for operations, IoT, and crew wellbeing, while enabling fleet managers to have very precise control over how their data is being used, who is using it, on what applications, and over what networks.

At the same time, fleet operators are concerned about cybersecurity – malware can shut down a vessel or fleet for days or more and at a cost of millions. Fleet owners want to know how their integrated solution provider will help mitigate risk and solution providers like KVH must be ready to work in partnership to reduce risks from and respond to cyber threats.

The global shipping community places particular emphasis on seafarers’ welfare. What feedback do you receive from shipping companies regarding the connectivity services you provide to ships? Do your services and products facilitate seafarers’ daily lives?

Connectivity is vital and always has been. The new generation of seafarers are digital natives and accustomed to always being connected. As a result, connectivity is a vital benefit to entice crews to join a fleet, build morale, and keep them on board by reducing turnover.

Fleet owners recognise that and want to work with us to provide it. Our solutions are designed to meet a wide range of crew needs – crew calling, crew internet access, cloud email, daily news, entertainment content and more. Our KVH Link crew well-being and content service offer many benefits, positively impacting both crew dynamics and regulatory compliance.

With KVH Link/linkHUB’s extensive movie and TV options, karaoke, music, and social videos, the crew can enjoy multiple reasons to gather in recreational areas to spend downtime together, fostering social bonds and a positive onboard atmosphere. The result is improved social cohesion.

Major streaming services like Netflix and Amazon set viewing restrictions globally, with VPN bans and IP address limitations. KVH Link ensures uninterrupted access to entertainment, even in the face of tightening regulations.

Finally, we support compliance with the Maritime Labour Convention 2006, KVH Link aligns with recommendations for ship managers to provide regularly updated entertainment libraries, contributing to the overall well-being of the crew.

What are your expectations for the Greek shipping market? What do you anticipate from KVH’s participation in the Posidonia exhibition?

We are very excited to be here. Posidonia came roaring back two years ago and has been even more vibrant and exciting this year. It has offered a fantastic opportunity to meet with long-standing customers and renew relationships. It’s also an outstanding venue to meet new prospects, learn about their unique needs, and discuss how our integrated solutions will help them succeed.