Month: November 2018

KVH Videotel Announces Promotion of Raal Harris to Managing Director

Phil Page

KVH Videotel, a market-leading provider of training films, computer-based training, and eLearning for the maritime industry, announced today that Raal Harris has been named managing director. In his new role, Mr. Harris is responsible for the overall business, including creative production, content and licensing, product development, and sales. Based in KVH Videotel’s London office, Mr. Harris has extensive experience in the commercial maritime industry and is actively involved with numerous seafarer welfare organizations, ship management associations, and international shipping entities.

Previously, Mr. Harris held the title of creative content director for KVH Videotel and was responsible for production and development of eLearning materials and digital media strategy. He championed a creative approach to enhance product interactivity and user experience and spearheaded various projects to increase Videotel’s web presence and to deliver training online and on mobile devices.

Mr. Harris’s background includes university lectureships in interaction design, information product design, and computer games design, which gave him invaluable experience in structuring and designing learning material and evaluating learner performance.

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KVH Announces Two Key Leadership Positions for the Global Company

Phil Page

The promotions leverage business and maritime industry experience within the tech innovation company

MIDDLETOWN, RI – November 15, 2018 – KVH Industries, Inc., (Nasdaq: KVHI), a leader in global mobile connectivity and inertial navigation solutions, today announced that Brent Bruun has expanded his responsibilities as chief operating officer, and Mark Woodhead has been named executive vice president of mobile connectivity. The promotions leverage the business and maritime industry experience of the two leaders.

In his role as chief operating officer, Mr. Bruun will now spearhead corporate business development; oversee all operational and financial aspects of KVH’s mobile connectivity and inertial navigation businesses; lead financial planning and analysis; foster investor relations; and work toward organizational excellence across the global company.
Mr. Bruun joined KVH in early 2008 and served as executive vice president of the mobile broadband group, the company’s largest business unit. Prior to joining KVH, Mr. Bruun was senior vice president with satellite operator SES Americom, and gained his strong corporate financial background from positions held with GE Capital and KPMG earlier in his career.

“I look forward to accelerating growth for KVH as we continue to strengthen our leadership market share with our mobile connectivity products and services, particularly in maritime VSAT, and increase the demand for our inertial solutions in the fast growing autonomous markets,” says Mr. Bruun, who is based in KVH’s global headquarters in Middletown, Rhode Island.

In Mr. Woodhead’s new role as executive vice president of mobile connectivity, he takes on leadership for EMEA, Asia, and Americas commercial sales; global leisure sales; KVH VideotelTM and KVH Media Group; global sales operations; and product line management. Mr. Woodhead previously served as KVH’s senior vice president, EMEA, overseeing mobile connectivity sales activities in the region and also overseeing KVH Videotel on a global basis. Mr. Woodhead has a strong background in sales and the commercial maritime industry, having focused on these areas for more than 20 years; he is based in KVH’s Leeds, U.K., office.

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ICS Chairman Calls for Comprehensive Revision of STCW Seafarer Training Regime

Debra Massey

Speaking in Manila, the Chairman of the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), Esben Poulsson, has called for a comprehensive revision of the IMO STCW Convention which governs global standards for the training and certification of around two million merchant seafarers.

STCW was reviewed in 2010 with the adoption of the ‘Manila amendments’ but the previous major overhaul of the STCW regime was last undertaken by IMO Member States over 25 years ago.

Mr Poulsson said “It’s now commonplace for employers to routinely provide additional training and assessments prior to the deployment of many officers holding STCW certification which raises questions as to whether the Convention as currently drafted is still fit for purpose in the 21st Century.” Read more →

Indian Register of Shipping plays central role at INMARCO

Phil Page

The Indian Register of Shipping (IRClass) continues to play a central role at the International Maritime Conference and Exhibition (INMARCO) which is held every four years.

Organised by the Institute of Marine Engineers (India), this year’s INMARCO will see a packed programme of technical discussions and panel debates covering a wide spectrum of topics including maritime safety, environment, technology and security to oceanography and underwater technology.

A Platinum sponsor, IRClass will be providing three expert speakers who will be giving talks on the following areas:

The key to successful maritime cyber risk assessment by Mr. R. Srinivas, (Principal Surveyor)

Best practise in Ballast Water Management by Mr. Devrup Kabi, (Principal Surveyor)

Understanding hybrid power systems by Mr. S. Mutharasu, (Senior Surveyor).

The Conference is being organised from 1st to 3rd November 2018 at the LaLiT hotel in Mumbai and will be graced by Ministry of Shipping and maritime administration officials as well as senior industry representatives from across the maritime spectrum globally. Further information can be found on the INMARCO 2018 website.

“IRClass has always been a huge supporter of INMARCO and we’re proud to be providing the conference with experts from differing fields within the maritime sector giving talks on relevant industry issues” said Mr. Arun Sharma, Executive Chairman.

Mr. Vijay Arora, Joint Managing Director of IRClass added: “The conference and exhibition are well-attended, and the panel debates are always very interesting and stimulating, challenging the industry norms.”