Shipping Group Unicom Selects KVH TracVision M9 to Improve Crew Welfare in its Fleet

TracVision M9 satellite TV system installations are underway for long-term project that will benefit crew members on 60 vessels at completion KVH Industries, Inc., today announced that it is working with Unicom, a member of Sovcomflot, Russia's largest shipping company, to equip the Unicom fleet with entertainment at sea via KVH's TracVision® M9 satellite TV antennas. A total of 60 antennas will be installed over the duration of the project, representing the largest single maritime TracVision order in KVH's history. Installations, which are being managed by KVH's Russian distributor, Navicom are well underway and the project is expected to reach completion within one year. KVH's 82 cm TracVision M9 is a powerful, HDTV-ready satellite TV system that offers outstanding entertainment for large commercial vessels while maintaining a streamlined appearance. "The TracVision M9 was purchased for crew entertainment purposes and to improve crew welfare onboard our vessels," says Sergey Minakov, Unicom's electrical engineer superintendent. "The equipment was easy for our vessels' electrical engineers to install. Now, the TracVision M9 allows our crew to watch the latest news. Having live TV onboard clearly increases the morale of our people." Powered by KVH's exclusive RingFire™ antenna technology, integrated GPS, automatic, and fully stabilised skew adjustment, the TracVision M9 offers passengers and crew access to high-quality satellite TV entertainment from regional services around the globe. It delivers outstanding performance, even in the grueling conditions that are often a part of commercial maritime operations. This powerful system is manufactured in compliance with the rigorous ISO 9001:2000 standard for quality and is subjected to the most stringent performance evaluations in the industry, making it the most rugged and reliable option for offshore commercial vessels. "We are excited that the TracVision M9 is proving itself as a valuable part of the crew recruitment and retention strategy for a large, respected company like Unicom," says Svend Lykke Larsen, director of sales for KVH Europe A/S. "This project is an important example of our comprehensive suite of products that connect commercial operators and crew around the globe to satellite TV entertainment and broadband communications." Vadero Ship Management Using KVH TracPhone V7 to Cut Communications Costs TracPhone V7 and mini-VSAT Broadband offer flexible, affordable business communications at sea and enables future crew communications Businesses around the globe are working to balance cost with performance in many areas, including communications, and shipping companies are no different. However, conducting business aboard a fleet of tankers, often thousands of miles away from each other and from offices on shore, brings its own challenges. That's why Vadero Ship Management, Inc., based in Sweden, turned to KVH Industries, Inc., and its TracPhone® V7 with mini-VSAT Broadbandsm service to reduce business communications costs and offer their crews faster, more affordable data connections. The initial TracPhone V7 installation took place on the M/T Primula, which was already equipped with a diverse communications suite, including Inmarsat C, mini-M, and GSM cellular systems. However, Vadero was looking for a complementary system that offered significantly faster data speeds, lower data costs, and versatile telephone service in all areas of the ship while providing reliable service for business communications between the crew and offices on shore. In addition to meeting these requirements, Vadero also required a small system that would be simple to install, with minimum impact on the ship's operations. The TracPhone V7 fit the bill, offering significant savings in installation costs. "The installation was performed by the vessel's chief engineer and electrician," says Eddie Kristensson, personnel/purchase manager for Vadero. "Since the antenna is so small, we were able to install and commission it during the vessel's normal operation. We had it delivered and activated onboard in less than 48 hours." The company also uses the TracPhone V7 as part of a telephone system that allows the Master to make and receive calls from colleagues on shore at all times, regardless of where he is working. "It does not matter if he is on the bridge, in the mess room, or even in the engine control room," says Kristensson. "This gives us a very flexible system that can also be used by the chief engineer to obtain technical assistance via telephone from the control room, where no GSM phone will ever work." In light of the system's success, Vadero is now considering installing TracPhone V7 systems on new vessels, as well as opening them up to crew telephone and Internet use, an attractive benefit for crew recruitment and retention. The TracPhone V7, a rugged, 60 cm (24") antenna, delivers mini-VSAT Broadband service with data rates as fast as 2 Mbps shore-to-ship and 512 Kbps ship-to-shore. A fraction of the size of standard 1-meter VSAT systems, the TracPhone V7 (and its fully integrated below-decks modem and control unit) offers easy connections to shipboard networks, fully stabilised tracking, and a significant reduction in hardware and installation costs, without compromising performance. "Our TracPhone V7 is the perfect solution to the challenges Vadero faced for communications aboard the Primula, and we couldn't be happier with the support given to the customer by our Swedish distributor Cordland AB and the speedy installation and final results achieved," says Svend Lykke Larsen, KVH Europe's director of sales. "Reliable broadband connections are crucial in the maritime industry, for business efficiency as well as crew morale. KVH is able to offer a comprehensive commercial solution for broadband Internet, telecommunications, and digital satellite television services, linking vessels and crews to the world around them." About KVH Industries Middletown, RI-based KVH Industries, Inc., and its wholly owned subsidiary, KVH Europe A/S, are leading providers of in-motion satellite TV and communications systems, having designed, manufactured, and sold more than 150,000 mobile satellite antennas for applications on vessels, vehicles, and aircraft. KVH's mission is to connect mobile customers around the globe with the same digital television entertainment, communications, and Internet services that they enjoy in their homes and offices. This release may contain certain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements include, for example, the functionality, characteristics, quality and performance of KVH's products and technology; anticipated innovation and product development; and customer preferences, requirements and expectations. The actual results could differ materially. Factors that may cause such differences include, among other , those discussed in KVH's most recent Form 10-Q filed with the SEC. KVH assumes no obligation to update its forward-looking statements to reflect new information or developments. Media Contacts International Media: Jens Gegner Andreasen Marketing Coordinator KVH Europe A/S +45 45 160 180 jga@kvh.dk North American Media: Chris Watson Marketing Manager KVH Industries, Inc. +1 401.845.8138 cwatson@kvh.com