Viking Line and Hibox Strike a Deal For New NB 1376 Ferry

Viking Line, passenger and cargo carrier ferry service, today announced they signed a deal with Hibox to install their IPTV (News - Alert) system on the Viking Line’s future vessel, the NB 1376.

Hibox is a leading Finnish technology company which offers advanced interactive information and entertainment solutions for the hospitality industry.

“After a long search and comparison, we found that Hibox provided the best quality-to-price ratio. Also their rapid development and knowledge in IPTV impressed us,” said Kenneth Kronström, IT project manager of Viking Line. “The main problem we had in searching for a provider was that we didn't satisfy with 'the straight out of the box' solutions, we wanted more. Hibox were ready to give us all the adjustments we needed to give our customers the experience of something special and new.”

According to Staffan Granholm, CEO of Hibox Systems, the state-of-the-art technology their IPTV system delivers will “enable interactive entertainment and information services without any requirements for smart cards or external boxes in the cabin.”

Each cabin within the cruise ship will also be equipped with Philips’ (News - Alert) new Internet enabled MediaSuite TVs, which will allow guests to access a world of online entertainment and information from within the comfort of their room.

Philips MediaSuite enables guests to access online apps, Facebook and Twitter (News - Alert) through their TV, meaning guests can be as connected in their cabin suite as they are at home. Philips introduced the TV last July and said the system also includes an innovative remote control specifically designed for intuitive navigation through the range of interactive services.

“With Philips MediaSuite installed in the cabins of Viking Line, guests will clearly have the advantage of staying connected whilst at sea. Through the open and configurable IPTV abilities of the TV, Hibox Systems has been able to create a tailor-made solution for Viking Line and their guests,” said Wouter Staal, senior global marketing manager of Philips Hotel TV.

“The MediaSuite's EcoFlower (with energy label A) assures the lowest possible power consumption, which was especially important to Viking Line. With its 1,100 TVs they operate the most energy efficient infotainment system available today.”

The NB 1376 is reportedly a new generation of ferries because of its revolutionary Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) fuel system. With LNG powered engines, the NB 1376 will be the greenest and quietest ferry in the Baltic Sea and, according to its website, in the world.

Currently the cruise ship is under construction at the STX Finland shipyard in Turku, but is expected to begin service on the Baltic Sea in January 2013.

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