KVH Keeps Fish On Trac While In School (Satcom)

[SatNews] No joke — it stinks to be left behind in the competitive world of fishing companies. Fishery management is all about data and administering the sale of the catch more efficiently, and on budget while simultaneously meeting regulatory requirements, such as reporting catch-share to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

To meet these needs and improve their competitive position, commercial fishing fleets are turning to KVH Industries, Inc., (Nasdaq:KVHI) and its TracPhone(R) V7 satellite communications system with mini-VSAT Broadband(SM) service for affordable high-speed Internet connections and crystal-clear voice calls.

“Without full-time broadband onboard, boats have to wait until they get in to find out bycatch rates and other pertinent data. Thanks to mini-VSAT Broadband, I feel our boats will have a distinct advantage by having full-time access to this data as well as blog sites to find and share information about the fishing grounds,” says Christian Asay, operations manager for Trident Seafoods of Seattle, Washington.

Industry experts agree that web-based catch reporting and fishery management will play a greater role in the future. As a result, broadband connections at sea are imperative. That’s where the TracPhone V7 steps in, allowing fishing vessels to exchange data with fishing management centers at speeds reaching 2 Mbps shore to ship and 512 Kbps ship-to-shore.

Another fishing company to adopt the TracPhone V7 is the Ginneton Fishing Company of Sweden. When asked about the benefits of the system to the Ginneton GG203 and its crew, engineer Philip Claeson comments, “The TracPhone V7 and mini-VSAT Broadband are changing the entire way we do business — the always-on connection makes it easy for us to communicate with our onshore offices and get weather updates which help with route planning and fishing site selection. The operation advantages of having the TracPhone V7 onboard allows the crew to spend more time fishing and simplifies the catch profile reporting we send to the National Board of Fisheries.”

KVH’s mini-VSAT Broadband network offers affordable, fast data service, optimizing the ability to share important information about fishing conditions and the weather for effective route planning and fuel use. “We knew we wanted broadband, considered KVH a reputable operation, and like the mini-VSAT service plans because they allow us to accurately budget and control our communications costs without any month-end billing surprises,” explains Asay.

Captains and crew members remain in contact with onshore engineers and facilities for daily business issues or training, and periodically, telemedicine conferencing should an accident occur. Many harvesters and processors retain qualified crew members by outfitting their vessels with improved living quarters, and amenities such as television and the TracPhone V7 for Internet access so the crew can keep in touch with family, friends, and stay on top of the news. “We have seen a boost in crew morale due to the increased opportunities for them to stay in touch while being gone for extended periods,” declares Asay.

More than 1,000 of the rugged KVH TracPhone V7 systems, the first FCC-approved 24-inch (60 cm) VSAT antenna, have been shipped in the three years since the product’s introduction, making the mini-VSAT Broadband network the fastest growing maritime VSAT solution.

Please visit  for additional details regarding the TracPhone V7 and mini-VSAT Broadband service and coverage as well as KVH’s new case study, “Trident Seafoods Chooses KVH’s mini-VSAT Broadband to Support Web-based Fishery Management Programs.” It offers a firsthand account from Trident about the benefits of having mini-VSAT Broadband service onboard a fishing vessel.