New AIS Aerial at Davidstow Airfield, Cornwall

As part of the ongoing work to improve our global AIS coverage we have installed a new AIS aerial to provide better real time coverage for the seas around Cornwall in the UK.  There is a disused airfield at Davidstow. It was Coastal Command’s highest airfield in the UK at 300m (1000′) above sea level; a perfect place to get a long range view of the surrounding sea,  to the North, West and South of Cornwall.  We used a Digital Yacht AIS Net base station for the AIS receiver with a Shakespeare 6db AIS tuned aerial. There is no internet connection at the museum so we used a Huawei E3551 3G dongle and the excellent EE 3/4G data service to backhaul the AIS data to our servers.  You can check the live coverage from the new aerial here:-  http://boatbeaconapp.com/station/5353

Here is my son installing the aerial on the tower at the airfield.

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The DY AIS receiver hooked up at the base of the aerial.

 

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and live ships –  10,000 square miles of coverage including two major ports at Falmouth and Plymouth 🙂

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Many thanks to Steve at Davidstow Airfield and Cornwall at War Museum who is kindly letting us use his tower to mount the aerial on  (giving us another 12m (40′) of elevation 🙂 . The museum is very well worth visiting if you are in the area and even if you are not.

AISWatch – Live AIS monitoring with geofences and instant history replay

Pocket Mariner’s AISWatch service automatically monitors vessel movements and AIS SARTs in real-time using easily customisable geofences with audible and visual alerts. All AIS data is recorded and our industry first AISWatch instant replay service allows operators to retrieve data and instantly review events for incident analysis, marketing and training purposes. The AISWatch system is cloud  based with easily accessible web views to display the live AIS positions and geofence states over chart or satellite maps. The same web view is also used to replay AIS scenarios from the stored AIS data.

AISWatch’s state of the art and cost effective port, ship, fleet and asset management services and apps including our industry first cloud based “Instant history playback” are used by Offshore platforms, Ports, Harbour Authorities, Fleet Managers, Marine Services companies and Shipping Agents. Our customer roster includes Portsmouth International Port , Bristol Port Company Avonmouth, NautiskTransas, James Fisher, E.ON, Scottish Power Renewables, RWE Innogy,   SevenCs, Solis Marine  and  nauticAi. We also provide our AIS Watch service to Search and Rescue organisations like the RNLI , SARA and the AVCG which they use for tracking and training purposes.

More details on the AISWatch service are provided below. If you are interested in learning more or have any questions please contact us at  business@pocketmariner.com or phone +44 1291 689202.

avonmouthAISWatch in use at Bristol Port Company operations centre. Showing 3D live AIS views.

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AISWatch Live view lets you monitor the current situation and geofence status on a live chart web view. Real-time ship positions and AIS targets with tracks, information and photos. 2D and 3D views available. Hydrographic office charts  with customisable chart overlays and objects ( cables, pipelines, station etc.)

AISWatch Geofences allow you to easily create and edit real-time visual and audible alerts for area entry, exit , crossing , status (arrivals and departures), SART MOB, AtoN Off Position  etc.. using a simple and easy to use visual web based map view.

AISWatch Playback allows you to replay all shipping movements in your area instantly from any time in the past to assist with event investigation, resource utilisation, market research, training etc. Playback can be run at normal time or faster and supports forward and backward time “Scrubbing” allowing you to view an hours data in seconds to quickly determine the event you are looking for. Our live and historical AIS feeds can be also used to power other navigation systems such as those on Portable Pilot Units (PPUs) and other monitoring equipment.

Our professional services team can rapidly provide customised and tailored solutions for specific requirements and purposes.

You can try our history playback service in action here in 2D – boatbeaconapp.com/aisdemo – use the slider at the bottom left to move backwards and forwards in time and press the play button to play forwards. You can also see our 3D playback in action with this replay of the Hoegh Osaka grounding in 2015 – double click on a ship to fly in close up and then use your mouse to change the zoom (scroll) and viewpoint.

Pocket Mariner also provide global real time AIS monitoring and surveillance for ships far out of reach of shore based AIS systems using our innovative  Internet over Satellite AIS (iSAIS) service. with 98% global coverage (using Inmarsat services).

1. Live view

Real-time ship positions with tracks, information and photos. 2D and 3D views available. Hydrographic office charts  with customisable chart overlays and objects ( cables, pipelines, station etc.)

AISWatch monitors and records live ship positions via our local and global AIS services and when an event is triggered, forwards an alert via email and optionally SMS. The alert email includes details on the alert including maps of the alert area and ships around the ship’s current position. These maps can also be viewed via the web interface in 2D and our 3D service.

Our real time AIS feeds can also be used to power network aware AIS marine applications and systems such as  our own SeaNav AIS Marine Charts and Navigation apps and third party systems like Portable Pilot Units (e.g. Transas’s Pilot Pro and  SevenCs Orca G2 pilot. ).

2. Geofences

Geofences let you configure alerts for all ships (Zone Alerts) or your specific fleet of ships and AtoN’s (Fleet Alerts).  Fleet alerts are not confined to your zone of interest. They can be set anywhere in the world subject to our system having live coverage of the region. Many different alerts are available from entering or leaving an area, crossing a line, arrival and departure (status), anchor watch, proximity, collision, SART, AtoN off position etc.  Mobile Geofences can also be attached to moving ships and objects. When an alert fires an email/SMS is sent to all the alert addresses containing details for the event including a map of what and where triggered the event and a  second map showing the ship’s current position.

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You can create and edit the fences using this management screen or using our interactive map. Just click on the view fences button top left on either the Fleet Alerts or Port Alerts screens.

Tap View fences near the top left to view you currently configured fences on the chart. You can also edit existing fences by tapping on them and create new fences using the drawing tools. Rectangular, circular and polygon geofences are all supported (see example green fence areas below).

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In the detail view for an alert you can also see the geofence alert position on a map to help you identify and set it.

As well as sending alerts to email addresses all Alerts are recorded in the searchable Events table. Tap on an event and see a map showing where and when it happened. Alternatively you can use the Ships tab to see details on the most recent events for a ship. Tap on an event to see a map of where it fired and the geofence area that it triggered.

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3. Instant History replay – playing back ship movements and events

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AISWatch records all the time stamped AIS data for your port or area of interest second by second. The data is securely stored in our highly available (99.995%) and redundant cloud based computing platform for as long as you want from months to years or forever. You can retrieve ship movements from any day and time in your AISWatch past instantly at the click of a mouse button using a calendar picker and then replay them on our web map view and via dedicated internet ports to other AIS apps like our iOS and Mac SeaNav chart plotter with ENC vector charts and other marine navigation apps like on of our partners SevenCs’ Orca G2 Pilot (PC display with Vector charts).

When the AIS playback is running it also outputs the recorded AIS data stream over a dedicated TCP port so that you can connect other apps and devices to view it. The playback also has our unique enhanced Type 5 AIS messages added so the static data for ships show immediately a ship appears rather than waiting for the static AIS messages to be re-sent (which can take up to  6 minutes to receive).

Fast scrubbing playback view (see live demo here http://boatbeaconapp.com/fleetwatchdemo)

On the fast scrubbing view you can use the slide at the bottom left to scroll back and forth through the whole period. You can also press play to playback from the current scrubbing position.

External app (SeaNav) driven from AISWatch Playback using the TCP connection.

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Output from the playbacks can also be captured to video for viewing again independently of the AISWatch service. We recommend using the excellent and free VLC app on PC’s to capture the video or Apple’s free QuickTime app to record the screen on Macs.

You can see an example of a short video recording (1.5 minutes) replaying the arrival and docking of the Normandie ferry at Portsmouth International Port here :- Watch now

If you have any questions or for further information please contact us via business@pocketmariner.com or phone +44 1291 689202.

Transas iSailor app now powered by Pocket Mariner’s live AIS service

Pocket Mariner’s real time AIS data and photo API service has been selected by Transas , a global leader in marine navigation systems, to use with their iSailor iPhone and iPad app. The latest version 1.7.0 of their app  now provides a real time map view of ships around you with instant details including name, range and bearing together with a photo of the ship to help you recognise it.

You can get the latest version of  iSailor from the app store now

IMG_0022           Mikhail Andrianov, Product Manager at Transas says “We are really excited to provide our Transas iSailor users with live AIS data on their charts via the Internet. Pocket Mariner’s live AIS API, SDK and sample code made integration with our product easy and fast. This option makes it possible to show on charts the next AIS target types: AIS Class A, AIS Class B, AtoN (Aids-To-Navigation, virtual or real), Shore Base Stations. This functionality will be useful for users of different kinds: from sailors, boaters or water tourists, – who have no AIS Class B or receivers on board to ship owners, dockers and marine logistics personnel, who need to monitor vessel traffic in a given area. To use this functionality, you will have to have WiFi, 3G or 4G/LTE internet access on your Apple device.” Steve Bennett, Pocket Mariner’s CEO commented: “This is another great endorsement of Pocket Mariner’s “real time” AIS data service and API’s that we use to power our own Marine Navigation Apps and we look forward to providing additional AIS data services enabling Transas’ iSailor users to share their boat’s position and course in real time using our internet AIS transmit and track api’s”.   IMG_0052

Portsmouth Pilots choose Pocket Mariner’s AIS Live and Replay services

Pocket Mariner’s real time AIS data service, FleetWatch,  has been selected by the Pilots at Portsmouth International Port  to use with their Portable Pilot Units (PPUs) running SevenCs ORCA Pilot G2 solution.  The Pilots use Pocket Mariner’s real time enhanced AIS data feed to display live ship positions and courses on and around their client’s ship as they travel out to pilot it. The enhanced feed ensures all the vessel information including name (so you can call the ship via VHF radio) and dimensions is instantly available as soon as the PPU connects unlike VHF AIS where it can take several minutes to acquire the extra data. Ben McInnes, Harbour Master and Portsmouth Pilot said: “The real time internet AIS feed allows us to “virtually board” the ship and assess the situation before we even get there.” Portsmouth have also selected Pocket Mariner’s AIS Replay service to review and playback incidents and for training purposes.
Steve Bennett, Pocket Mariner’s CEO commented: “This is a great endorsement of Pocket Mariner’s “real time” AIS data service that we use to power our own Marine Navigation Apps and we look forward to them using our additional AIS data services including geo-fence event triggering and instant history replay capabilities “.
Please contact us at business@pocketmariner.com to learn more about how our FleetWatch and PortWatch service can help you.
Here is a screenshot of live ship traffic around Portsmouth using the Pocket Mariner AIS service and SeaNav charting app:-
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To learn more about Pocket Mariner’s AIS data services, SDK and API’s please email us at business@pocketmariner.com

New NAVIOTAB+ tablet with built-in Boat Beacon for AIS

 

We have been working with IntelliWeather Inc. who have been developing an exciting new marine-rated rugged and waterproof navigation tablet device. The device is now launched and we are delighted they chose to build in our Boat Beacon AIS – Marine Navigation app  to provide a fully operational AIS collision avoidance system. Here are some more details on this exciting new device.

 

NAVIOTAB

A new IP66 rated waterproof and dirtproof Android tablet for marine use provides an all-in-one solution at a fraction of the cost of traditional separate marine electronic devices. It provides navigation, AIS collision avoidance, weather radar, weather bulletins, communications, entertainment, and optional fish finder/sounding capability in one portable device.

The NAVIOTAB+ tablet has been introduced by IntelliWeather Inc., a provider of weather instrumentation, weather display systems, and weather content and comes pre-loaded with ready to run applications and navigation charts for the United States. The user has options to purchase additional navigation charts for most regions of the world provided by Navionics. In addition, in an agreement with PocketMariner of the United Kingdom, the NAVIOTAB+ comes ready to use with a fully operational AIS collision avoidance system. Making use of the built-in GPS and Internet connectivity capabilities to provide a real-time AIS radar like display of vessels near your position in highly trafficked ports and navigable waterways worldwide. This provides an extra level of accuracy and protection allowing you to “see and be seen” with or without MMSI registration.

The NAVIOTAB+ also comes equipped with free weather radar plots and weather bulletins in the USA, including marine weather bulletins. The data is provided free by NOAA and has no subscription requirements. All that is required for live weather radar data and live AIS is an Internet connection via the built-in 3G/4G data capability of the NAVIOTAB+. This can be via a SIM card and most any cellular data carrier that supports a “bring your own” plan for connectivity. Alternately, NAVIOTAB+ can communicate via any 3G/4G capable cellphone that is WiFi hotspot enabled, or any other WiFi Internet connection.

When equipped with a SIM card and cellular data/voice plan, users can initiate and receive telephone calls using the built-in speaker/microphone, earphone, or use a Bluetooth enabled speaker or headset like they would with any cell-phone. Web browsing, email, and MMS messaging are also standard features.

As an entertainment system, NAVIOTAB+ provides a built-in FM radio tuner as well as streaming music services such as Pandora Internet Radio (free) and Sirius XM radio (subscription). Both come installed and can be operated without external antennas. Movies can also be played from streaming services such as YouTube, Netflix, Hulu, and others as well as locally stored files.

Unlike traditional marine electronics, the NAVIOTAB+ is not married to your boat, it can be taken “on the go” anywhere as a regular tablet and can also serve as an automobile navigation system via the built-in Google Maps application.

To round out the features, with the addition of a DEEPER Bluetooth enabled transducer, fish finding, water temperature, and depth sounding capability can be added to the NAVIOTAB+.
A powerful 10,000 mAH Lithium-Ion battery provides operation which can exceed 8 hours. The tablet can also be continuously charged/powered directly from your boat via the included Blue Sea Systems marine rated 12 volt cigarette lighter to USB power adapter and the included USB power cable.
Sporting a Quad-core 1.2 GHz A9 processor, 1 GB of RAM, and 8GB of FLASH storage, the NAVIOTAB+ is fast and responsive. Storage can be expanded up to an additional 32GB with insertion of a micro SD storage card. The bright 7″ screen is protected by toughened scratch resistant glass and can be seen in daylight, plus offers automatic dimming for night use. The built-in GPS receiver system does not require an external antenna, and is accurate to within 3 meters (10 feet).
Weighing just 1.36 pounds, NAVIOTAB+ is easily portable, and easy to secure to windshields, dashboards, and rails with a wide variety of readily available tablet mounting systems. It also comes with a palm rest/strap to enable portable use.
Tally up and compare the cost of all the separate marine rated devices that are replaced by the NAVIOTAB+ and you’ll understand why it makes the most sense for the recreational boater that doesn’t want to spend a fortune on getting their boat equipped. For the professional mariner, NAVIOTAB+ also makes a great backup system for your bridge, or as an emergency navigation system.
The NAVIOTAB+ has a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $649.00.

Dealer inquiries are invited.

For further information these resources are available.

PRODUCT WEBSITE: http://naviotab.com

SPEC SHEET: http://naviotab.com/docs/NavioTab+_flyer.pdf

 

Navionics Boating (free US NOAA Charts) vs SeaNav

Navionics have  launched a new version (7.0) of their Navionics Boating app which now includes free US NOAA vector charts. If you are boating in the US you can now get a well respected and functional marine navigation app on your iPad and iPhone without spending a cent. What are they up to? Why should you go anywhere else? How can they give away a full blown marine navigation app for free? We hope the following comparison  and charts around San Francisco can help you decide which route to follow.

Here is the view of San Francisco from SeaNav within a 3 mile radius  – the horizon for most leisure boat users (6NM x 6NM square) :-

and the same scale on Navionics Boating with their free NOAA charts :-

What?

We zoomed in and eventually (at three times the scale) details appeared:-

 

Compare this with SeaNav at the same scale:-

We hope you will agree that its a lot less cluttered, has more relevant information and is a lot easier to view. Zoom in and more details and spot depths will be shown. You can also choose what level of detail to show in SeaNav.

Other key differences:-

  • SeaNav includes full live navigation features including COG, SOG, HDG, ETA, Waypoint distance and time, Cross Track error, Course and North up view etc. – it’s at least a $5 extra for Navionics and that doesn’t get you much of what SeaNav offers.

  • SeaNav includes Tides – Navionics Boating free doesn’t – you have to buy their  USA chart set  at $70.

  • SeaNav has a unique and highly recommended AR Camera view showing buoys, ships, landmarks  etc. overlaid on the real time camera view.

  • SeaNav has free support for the amazing fully waterproof Pebble SmartWatch – forget a $500 Garmin Quatix!

  • SeaNav has live AIS Ship data overlay including collision detection. (via Boat Beacon).

  • SeaNav – buy once  and runs at full HD on both your iPad and iPhone with no need to purchase another version.

  • SeaNav including full charts is just $19.99 in the US and £14.99 in the UK. See how this unfortunate user ended up paying over £70 ($100) for Navionics “Free”:-

And, SeaNav iPhone and iPad is now available for you to try for free. Click here to learn more.

(SeaNav is also available for Mac)

Boat Beacon now supports AIS and GPS from a VHF AIS receiver.

Boat Beacon now allows you to use AIS and GPS NMEA data directly from an AIS receiver and GPS on-board your boat via WiFi (over UDP or TCP) or Serial(USB). Boat Beacon seamlessly combines this with the AIS information it receives over the internet. If  you travel outside mobile internet coverage or in an area where we don’t have good coverage from a local shore station, Boat Beacon can now continue to work displaying live ship data, calculating Closest Point of Approach (CPA) with alarms etc. from your VHF AIS receiver or AIS enabled VHF radio. On Android you can connect  the  NMEA  serial  or usb output from an AIS receiver or connect via WiFi. On iPhone you need to use WiFi. Here are some of the AIS receivers we have tested with  Lowrance, Simrad, B&G, Digital Yacht, Comar NMEA-w2-Wifi, Weatherdock EasyAIS, Chetco Digital SeaSmart , dAISy AIS, Navico GoFree, Quark AIS (dual channel and usb stick)  etc. More information on how to hook all this up is given below.

 iPhone and Android AIS and GPS over WiFi.

If you already have AIS data available over Wifi on board then just enter the UDP port number (or ip address and port number for TCP) for the source and Boat Beacon will start using the data. With Navico GoFree and iPhone/iPad this is even more simple as there is a “GoFree” connect button in settings – just press and go.  If you only have a usb or nmea output available you will also need a serial or usb to internet or Wifi adaptor. They range in price from $50 to $200. This is one example we have tested with at the $70 level – USR-TCP232-400 that we hook into our on-board WiFi hub.

Here are some specific instructions for connecting Boat Beacon on Android to GoFree – http://pocketmariner.com/?p=1538

Android AIS NMEA 0183 and GPS over USB or serial

Boat Beacon will automatically launch and use local AIS  data (and GPS if available)  when a USB cable is plugged in between the AIS receiver and your Android device. You can set the USB mode on or off in settings in Boat Beacon.

For an Android NMEA 0183 connection you will need the following:-

1. An Android device that supports USB host mode (typically OS3 or later)
2. If your receiver doesn’t have a USB output you can simply convert the NMEA 0183 2 wire  output to USB for a few dollars more using an RS232 to USB cable. Typically $7 or so.  The most common USB to RS232 cables use the Prolific 2303 driver which we support. The cable we tested with is this one :-
We also support many other serial usb drivers (see below).
3. You will also need an Android OTG micro usb adaptor which only cost a couple of dollars. Here are a couple of links to the type of OTG micro usb adapter you will need:-
and this one allows you to charge your device at the same time:-
20 cm Micro USB OTG Y-Cable + extra power supply http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00EJP5XR2/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_awdl_adfhtb0B8YQ4B via @amazon

More information.

You can get Boat Beacon from the iTunes or Android stores – Boat Beacon

If you have a problem connecting with Android over usb you can run this free simple serial usb tester program on your Android device once you have an OTG adaptor to report and test what driver is required and let us know :-
http://boatbeaconapp.com/ybw/app/usbtest.apk (just click on the link on your tablet to download the app).
Please email us if you have any questions or suggestions at support@pocketmariner.com
There is also a great article here about hooking up NMEA to serial :- http://cms.nobeltec.com/CMS/Files/Connecting%20instrument%20serially%20to%20the%20computer.pdf

 

 

Improved Live AIS coverage in Australia for Boat Beacon and Boat Watch

Thanks to the help of the Australian Volunteer Coastguard (AVCG) and Australian Navigation and Communications company, Electrotech we now have much improved real-time AIS coverage in Australia.

9 new stations are feeding us AIS data live directly from Sydney, Brisbane (3), Gladstone, Melbourne, Karratha, Cairns and Darwin.

We have been working on a pro-bono basis with the AVCG  in Mooloolaba, Brisbane to provide enhancements to Boat Beacon to support their world leading computer based Radio logging service. Boat Beacon now enables users to automatically “login” their boat and trip details including MMSI, Destination, ETA and Persons on board when they start a trip and “logout” again when they arrive by simply tapping the Boat Beacon Sailboat icon at the bottom left to start and stop sailing mode. We have provided these enhancements for free and AVCG , Mooloolaba are recommending Boat Beacon for use with  their Radio logging service (click the link to see the video about it).

 

 

Here’s a screenshot from Boat Beacon showing the Alexander Passenger ship right now in  Sydney, last update 20s ago!

 

 

 

 

Win B&G Zeus Touch 7, iPad Mini, Pebble Watch and SeaNav

Your chance to win an awesome package we have put together with our SeaNav app and B&G.  SeaNav automatically hooks up with the B&G Zeus Touch over WiFi and uses the navigation data from their system (gps, course, wind, speed, lay lines, depth, AIS etc.) to display in SeaNav and on the Pebble SmartWatch with our free Pebble SeaNav app. Check out the competition details here

 

 

SeaNav and Simrad,Lowrance and B&G GoFree at METS.

SeaNav now hooks up with Simrad, Lowrance and B&G MFD’s via WiFi GoFree  and can use all the live navigation data including Position, AIS, Wind and Depth to display on your iPhone , iPad or Pebble Smartwatch wherever you are on your boat. We’ll be at the METS trade show in Amsterdam November 19th -21st . Come and see for yourself and try out the Pebble Smartwatch too – METS 2013 – stand(s):01.120, 01.147