KVH: Connect your connectivity

Connect your connectivity – this is not a typo!

When we look at the history of maritime connectivity, we see that it has come a long way in terms of technological advancements. ShipHistory.org details the timeline of communications that were limited to only what could be seen or heard by seafarers: lighthouses, trumpets, signal flags, and blinker lamps. Then came radios and GPS technology, along with a range of satellites, including GEO, MEO, and LEO options. 

Most modern connectivity solutions utilize a multi-channel, hybrid approach and integrate a range of technology options. For example, KVH’s TracNet hybrid solution has integrated satellite, 5G/LTE, and Wi-Fi capabilities with automatic switching, allowing a vessel to use the connectivity option with the strongest signal, best performance, and lowest cost intelligently. A hybrid approach makes sense on the sea just as it does on land; there are many reasons that a given communication channel can fail, and a hybrid approach ensures there are multiple options available, affording the vessel a reliable connection with the best speeds, lowest cost, and multiple backups.

With these modern hybrid solutions, the maritime industry is facing a new challenge: the need to connect and control these many connectivity channels. A shipping company’s IT department, as well as the captain and crew on the vessel, are looking for seamless integration and control for every communication channel found onboard, including 5G/LTE, VSAT, OneWeb, Starlink, Wi-Fi, Ethernet, and more. A network management tool like the KVH CommBox Edge not only provides ease of use and integration for multiple channels onboard, it also serves to boost the vessel’s connectivity capabilities by:

• Allowing you to add new channels as technology changes and new vessel requirements emerge
• Expanding the capabilities of your current channels, such as ‘converting’ a standard VSAT terminal to a hybrid solution with the addition of a LEO or 5G/Wi-Fi system
• Utilizing advanced bonding capabilities to improve performance and multiply data speeds
• Creating rules that dynamically alter the behavior of onboard networks based on changing parameters, data use, and network availability
• Analyzing performance and managing data usage for both crew and operational channels
• Enabling you to use remote service and support options to keep your communications up and running

Clearly, a hybrid approach and the use of network management tools can bring your connectivity to the next level.  And while they provide operational improvements and efficiencies, they also play a critical role in another area: crew welfare.

According to the International Chamber of Shipping, there are 1,892,720 active seafarers on commercial ships. The last few reports of the Seafarer’s Happiness Index have indicated that lack of connectivity and inadequate data allocation remain key sources of discontent among these crew members.  Connectivity is essential to seafarers.  So why are crew not typically a consideration in choosing connectivity options? Some shipping companies cite cost, others are concerned with out-of-control data usage by crew, and still others are worried about cybersecurity. Yet a hybrid approach to connectivity with an effective communications gateway can afford ample, fast data with data management tools and channel switching to ensure crew are using the most cost-effective channel in a safe, responsible manner.

Crew welfare and connectivity are an essential combination to consider given the unique characteristics of Gen Z, those born between 1996 and 2015. Gen Z is the primary generational group entering the workforce over the next several years. A Seafarer Workforce Report warns of a severe shortage of seafarers by 2026, a shortage that must be filled by this all-important group. Gen Z mariners have never lived a life without the Internet. They are accustomed to interacting with each other, their family, and friends daily – and this does not change when they’re at sea. Shipping companies will need to ensure adequate connectivity on board in order to recruit and retain these mariners.

In conclusion, connectivity technology has come a long way in meeting a vessel’s needs for basic operations and crew welfare. Today’s solutions are just that: solutions (plural), not a single channel, and a hybrid approach ensures your fleet will utilize the fastest, safest, most cost-effective options to meet your needs. Connecting these solutions with a communications gateway like KVH CommBox Edge will provide much-needed management, integration, and control to keep your vessels always connected in a cost-effective, safe manner as they travel across the globe.

Are you looking to provide the highest level of management, integration, and control of your connectivity solutions? Visit here to learn how KVH can help connect your connectivity!