BW Selects KVH mini-VSAT Broadband for LNG and LPG Fleet
December 11, 2013
KVH
Industries,
Inc., has
been chosen
by BW as the
satellite
communications
solution for
its
Liquefied
Natural Gas
(LNG) and
Liquefied
Petroleum
Gas (LPG)
fleet.
BW’s vessels
will use
KVH’s
advanced,
dual-mode
TracPhone
V11-IP
onboard
satellite
communications
system and
mini-VSAT
Broadband
service for
the
“always-on”
broadband
connectivity
that is
essential
for today’s
commercial
maritime
operations.
BW recently
completed
field trials
of the
TracPhone
V11-IP
system, and
expects to
have 20
vessels
equipped by
the end of
2013, with
rollout
continuing
through
2014.
“We chose
KVH’s
dual-mode
antenna and
mini-VSAT
Broadband
service for
their global
coverage,
ease of
deployment,
and
reliability,”
says
Geraldine
Pang, Vice
President,
Information
Technology,
BW Maritime.
“The system
provides a
reliable
network and
some
hardware
redundancy
as both C-
and Ku-band
can operate
independently.
This is
important
for business
continuity.
Beyond
technological
considerations,
it is
important to
work with a
company that
designs,
manufactures,
and operates
both the
hardware and
network as
this reduces
communications
complexities.
The
simplicity
of a single
dome and an
extremely
compact
belowdecks
unit that
includes
everything
makes the
KVH VSAT
system very
simple and
fast to
deploy. We
managed to
deploy 15
vessels in
just one
quarter.
This would
be
impossible
with larger
C-band-only
domes.”
“BW is known
for its
outstanding
fleet of
vessels and
high
standards in
maritime
operations,”
says Vivian
Quenet, KVH
Vice
President of
Sales, Asia
Pacific.
“The global
coverage
from our
mini-VSAT
Broadband
service and
improved
broadband
connectivity
delivered by
our unique,
dual-mode,
C/Ku-band
TracPhone
V11-IP
system will
give BW’s
fleet the
ability to
optimize
operations,
collaborate
with
shoreside
offices, and
offer their
crews a
reliable
system for
accessing
the Internet
and staying
in touch
with their
families.”
With more
than 3,000
onboard
terminals
sold,
mini-VSAT
Broadband is
the world’s
most popular
maritime
VSAT
solution,
according to
independent
industry
reports
published in
2012 by
Euroconsult,
NSR, and
Comsys. The
network uses
ArcLight®
spread
spectrum
technology,
which was
developed by
KVH’s
partner,
ViaSat, Inc.
specifically
for mobile
use.
ArcLight is
unique due
to its
efficient
reuse of
satellite
channels,
fast speed,
low latency,
and its
ability to
support very
small
antennas
that provide
reliable
service,
even in poor
weather
conditions.
The
TracPhone
V11-IP uses
a single,
compact
antenna to
seamlessly
access both
the C- and
Ku-band
satellites
of the
mini-VSAT
Broadband
network. The
three-axis,
gyro-stabilized
antenna
system
delivers
premium
quality
multimegabit
connectivity
worldwide,
and is the
world’s only
dual-mode,
1.1 meter
(42.5-inch)
diameter
VSAT
antenna.
TracPhone
V11-IP
features
KVH’s new
Integrated
CommBox
Modem, a
streamlined
belowdecks
unit that
includes an
IP-enabled
antenna
control
unit,
CommBox™
Network
Manager,
ArcLight
spread
spectrum
modem, Voice
over IP
(VoIP),
Ethernet
switch, and
Wi-Fi
capabilities.
KVH
manufactures
two
additional
V-IP series
antenna
systems for
the
mini-VSAT
Broadband
service:
TracPhone
V7-IP, a 60
cm (24-inch)
diameter
Ku-band VSAT
antenna, and
the
ultra-compact
TracPhone
V3-IP, a 37
cm
(14.5-inch)
diameter
Ku-band VSAT
antenna.