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KVH Industries Named Media Sponsor for Seafarers’ Welfare Awards

November 06, 2013

KVH's Crewtoo and NewsLink brands to raise awareness of the International Seafarers' Welfare Awards; deadline for nominations, 26 November

KVH Industries, Inc., (Nasdaq: KVHI), a leading provider of in-motion satellite television and communications systems, has been named Media Sponsor of the International Seafarers' Welfare Awards 2014. KVH's Crewtoo® social media network and NewsLink™ digital newspapers, which are based in Liverpool, are leading providers of maritime crew welfare services. Crewtoo and NewsLink were formerly part of Headland Media, which was acquired by KVH Industries earlier this year. Headland Media is now called KVH Media Group. KVH Industries, Inc., has global headquarters in the United States.

The International Seafarers' Welfare Awards 2014 are organised by the International Seafarers' Welfare and Assistance Network (ISWAN), a U.K.-based organisation dedicated to promoting the welfare of mariners and the implementation of the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) 2006, which mandates a wide range of crew welfare benefits.

The Awards are an opportunity for seafarers around the world to nominate their favourite shipping company, their favourite seafarers' centre and port, and their choice for welfare personality of the year. Nominations for the awards can be submitted at www.seafarerswelfareawards.org from now until 26 November 2013.

"We have a strong ethos that the voice of the seafarer should be heard and the International Seafarers' Welfare Awards highlight this aim perfectly", said Mark Woodhead, managing director of KVH Media Group. "We are delighted to work with ISWAN and feel that the Awards can help to inspire others and encourage the development of new and improved services that can build on the framework put in place by MLC-2006."

KVH's content services provide key aspects of crew welfare that meet MLC-2006 regulations, such as communications and entertainment. For example, Crewtoo, a social media network for mariners created last year, is the worlds' largest and most popular social media site dedicated to seafarers, with 85,000 members worldwide. The NewsLink daily international newspaper service delivers publications in 17 different languages onboard 9,000 ships across the globe.

"All of our maritime services, which additionally include sports, movies, music, and training videos, provide a comprehensive solution for commercial maritime companies striving to meet the new requirements of MLC-2006", said Mr. Woodhead. "We have close direct relationships with the crew and we listen to their requests so that we can create a productive and cost-effective solution for both shipping company and seafarer. Our TracPhone® V-IP series terminals, mini-VSAT Broadband network, and new IP-MobileCast™ service are designed to provide efficient and affordable transmission of Hollywood movies, training videos, and more, which all helps to create better conditions for the modern seafarer."

The International Seafarers' Welfare Awards 2014 ceremony will be held at the International Labour Organisation (ILO) in Geneva on 7 April 2014, with the presentation made by Guy Ryder, Director General of the ILO. The ILO is the agency behind the creation of the MLC-2006.

Visit www.crewtoo.com for more information about the social media network for mariners.

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