The Portable Pilot Unit (PPU) will be used in nearly all pilot assisted operations within a few
years. Technology has brought the weight down, electronic charts are becoming more accurate, and software has become more powerful and user friendly. Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) such as GPS, GLONASS and soon GALLIEO are working hand in hand offering unique reliability and accuracy and lets not forget pilots are becoming more IT minded in adopting this new tool.
Several types of systems are available. It is important, before purchasing, to acquaint oneself with the performance of the large spectrum of choices, in order to ensure that the system selected will do the job needed.
SYSTEM OVERVIEW
The task
The task of a deep sea piloting operation is very different from a berthing operation at an oil or LNG terminal or when performing side by side mooring at sea. Choosing the right tool for the appropriate task is essential for receiving all the benefits a PPU can offer. There are 5 essential attributes that a PPU must fulfill when being used for all piloting tasks:
Lightweight (The pilots will have to carry the equipment by hand everyday)
Quick and easy to set up (A pilot must concentrate on piloting, not computing when on board a vessel)
Small compact size
Robust and reliable
Easy to use
These five attributes have been central to the developing process of MARIMATECH’s latest generation
of E-Sea Fix systems – E-Sea Fix CAT I, CAT II & CAT III. During the development of the E-Sea Fix system
a mix of expertise, experience and user feedback was available when one attribute conflicted with another. This combined with a lot of time and effort has allowed us to proudly present the E-Sea Fix CAT series to the industry.
The way to safety
The way to safety is a cocktail of several elements. A level of precise communication between ships on par with that of aircraft communication sounds simple. However in practice, connected to the many problems associated with a lack of understanding between pilot and ship officers, is a well-known problem linked to poor phraseology. AIS has become a fantastic tool which is getting better and better as it is adapted by the user, but pilots have become aware of its limitations and so its danger. Through the implementation of AIS, VTS seems to play a less important role, but in reality the opposite is proving true as traffic continues to increase and more importantly, the vessels grow larger. The latest range of PPUs now being launched offer unique advantages due to their extremely high reliability and accuracy. The new PPU also has a prediction accuracy which is essential for operating with extreme precision in confined areas for safe and efficient berthing.
How to select the right PPU
Choosing the most accurate PPU, which includes any and all features you could dream of, could prove too expensive and maybe too complex. Therefore it is important to have a general idea about the classification of each system on offer. In order to keep it simple, these have been divided into three categories, (CAT I, CAT II, CAT III). There are some options within these three categories which lie somewhere in the middle.
(click on product to see details)
