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Elcome launches offline VoD service for ship crews

The innovative system allows offline streaming to as many as 26 devices simultaneously via a local network, eliminating the need for costly satellite data usage during content playback. Maritime technology specialist Elcome International has unveiled a new Video on Demand (VoD) service designed to deliver high-quality, culturally relevant entertainment directly to ship crews’ personal devices, without affecting the vessel’s internet bandwidth. The new Elcome VoD service facilitates the simultaneous broadcasting of a diverse range of content across up to 26 separate devices via offline streaming, with no impact on the vessel’s Internet speed. The service is based on flexible subscription models, with monthly, quarterly, or annual options managed by the ship operator, rather than the crew. 'Until now, most crews could only watch a single TV channel at a time in the mess hall, often in a language foreign to their own,' said Elcome’s Senior Manager – Connectivity, Asneed Ameer. 'With Elcome VoD, seafarers can now unwind in their own cabin with a library of movies, TV series, podcasts, and news programmes in their preferred language with zero impact on ship’s satellite bandwidth or connectivity costs.' Unlike conventional streaming services that rely on costly satellite data, Elcome’s VoD system installs an onboard media server that pulls content updates overnight, on a daily and monthly schedule, during low-traffic windows. The continuously refreshed library streams entirely over the ship’s local network, meaning satellite Internet is used only during the scheduled update window. The platform is available with two subscription options. A basic package includes 160 movies and 189 hours of TV content, while a premium package offers 200 movies and over 830 hours of TV. The premium package also includes Euronews or ABS-CBN’s TV Patrol. 'Shipowners gain a cost-effective crew welfare enhancement that supports retention and morale, while crews get entertainment that respects their cultural and language preferences,' added Ameer. 'Access to daily news also helps crews feel informed, connected to home, and part of the wider world, something many seafarers feel they miss out on with a career at sea.' The content catalogue is curated for seafarers of all nationalities, with genre-rich selections and cultural bundles tailored to Indian, Filipino and multinational crews. The service is already being trialled aboard a number of vessels, including offshore support ships and merchant fleets. 'This isn’t a consumer app repurposed for ships. It’s a custom-designed solution built for life at sea. We are not only providing a better experience, but we are also protecting the shipboard bandwidth vital for business-critical communications.' According to Elcome, VoD pricing is competitive and comparable to the monthly costs equivalent to two consumer streaming subscriptions, but without the hidden data costs typical of online entertainment.