Survey Shows That up to 30% of Maritime Market Could be Ready to Fit VSAT Within 24 Months

LONDON and HERNDON, Va., June 7, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Stark Moore Macmillan, a specialist maritime marketing agency, and VT iDirect, Inc. (iDirect), a company of VT Systems Inc. (VT Systems) and a world-leader in satellite-based IP communications technology, today released the results from the largest and most comprehensive maritime VSAT survey ever undertaken. The survey revealed that up to 30% of current non-VSAT users planned to conduct trials of VSAT within the next 24 months. Among other key findings was an indication that establishing a clear business case for VSAT would encourage greater adoption among shipping operators.

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The survey measured the drivers and barriers of VSAT's expansion in the commercial shipping sector by interviewing IT Managers, Fleet and Technical Managers, CIOs, and CTOs at 60 shipping companies, representing approximately 5,500 vessels, or 13% of the world's commercial trading fleet of 1,000GT or over.

Key Findings

Commissioned by iDirect, the survey was conducted to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the commercial maritime market's perception and adoption of VSAT. Among the key findings were the following:

• Approximately 30% of the available market is considering VSAT within the next 24 months. Demand for VSAT services in the commercial maritime sector has increased significantly in the last five years and the survey indicates that this trend will continue.
• Companies not considering VSAT cited cost as the primary barrier to adopting the technology. The survey provided insight into ship owners and operators' weaknesses in quantifying the cross-business benefits that VSAT has brought, and can bring, to their organizations. The survey indicates that, if provided with the necessary tools and methodology to accurately evaluate cost savings and efficiencies derived from improved communications, a business case for VSAT can clearly be found and ship operators are prepared to make substantial investments in VSAT technology.
• Nearly 80% of participants believe that VSAT enables access to new enterprise software applications that improve operational efficiency and business processes. The most popular applications being implemented or considered include enterprise resource planning, remote IT solutions, Sharepoint/Citrix collaboration tools, weather routing and video conferencing.

"There has been a lot of discussion about VSAT in the maritime industry but until now no comprehensive data upon which ship owners and operators and maritime suppliers can rely. The survey overwhelmingly demonstrates that ship owners and operators have begun to understand that their communications must be considered in the context of a strategic business investment, but that in many cases neither they, nor the VSAT suppliers, are able to easily produce the necessary business case. Were they equipped with the right methodology, VSAT adoption could easily accelerate beyond our predicted levels."

~ Roger ADAMSON

Director of Maritime Business, Stark Moore Macmillan

"With nearly 30% of the market considering, or are ready to implement VSAT, the survey results indicate an immediate opportunity for VSAT in the commercial shipping sector. Sharing the findings will be of benefit to the maritime community as a whole by encouraging ship owners, operators and suppliers to focus on how they may go about quantifying the value of VSAT and its potential to improve maritime businesses."

~ Christian BERGAN

Director, Verticals Marketing - Maritime, iDirect

The in-depth telephone survey measured both quantitatively and qualitatively:

• Knowledge and understanding of VSAT systems and networks within the shipping community;
• Maritime VSAT market and its potential – both from existing and potential VSAT user perspectives;
• Drivers and barriers to evaluating/fitting VSAT;
• Comparative expenditure of VSAT versus other communications systems; and
• VSAT purchasing behavior and decision making of ship operators

To download the 'VSAT: Present & Future A comprehensive survey of maritime VSAT' whitepaper please visit www.idirect.net.

Stark Moore Macmillan is a global strategic marketing and communications agency specializing in the commercial maritime sector. It provides a range of services from market assessment, research and opportunity analysis to corporate, product and brand positioning strategies, digital and social media communications programs and traditional PR, for companies with an existing presence in the maritime industry and those seeking to enter the market.

Stark Moore Macmillan's maritime marketing team includes former CEOs, Marketing Directors and Brand Directors of some of the most well-known names in maritime. Appreciating that the maritime market is truly global in nature, the maritime marketing team provides a correspondingly structured service to their clients. Their collective experience, together with market research and ongoing dialogue with the maritime market, informs the agency's recommendations and the programs they develop for their clients. The agency has become a trusted partner to maritime organizations which value its strategic insight, creativity and clear commercial focus.

iDirect, a subsidiary of VT Systems, is transforming the way the world gets and stays connected. The company's satellite-based IP communications technology enables constant connectivity for voice, video and data applications in diverse and challenging environments. The iDirect Intelligent Platform™ integrates advanced technology into iDirect's portfolio of hubs, routers and network management software to address the growing complexity of deploying and managing global IP networks. With more than 15 years of global satellite communications experience, iDirect serves customers in over 50 countries through a diverse network of service provider partners, including seven of the World Teleport Association's Global Top Ten operators. Headquartered in Herndon, Virginia, iDirect has offices in Europe, Middle East, Africa and Latin America. In 2007, iDirect Government Technologies (iGT) was set up to drive adoption of its IP-based solutions in the US Government market. In 2008, iDirect Asia Pte Ltd was established in Singapore to enhance its value-add and responsiveness to customers in the Asia Pacific region.  Please visit www.idirect.net.

VT Systems is an engineering company providing integrated solutions to the commercial and government markets in the aerospace, electronics, land systems and marine sectors.  VT Systems' innovative solutions, products and services include aircraft maintenance, repair and modification; software solutions in training and simulation; satellite-based IP communications technology; network solutions that integrate data, voice and video; rugged computers and computer peripheral equipment; specialized truck bodies and trailers; weapons and munitions systems; road construction equipment; and ship design and shipbuilding. Headquartered in Alexandria, Va., VT Systems operates globally and is a wholly owned subsidiary of ST Engineering.  Please visit www.vt-systems.com.

SOURCE iDirect