What is Tender Tracking?
A tender tracking system provides an extra pair of eyes to alert the captain and crew of potential dangers and to reassure guests and crew alike of their personal security and safety when operating tenders, wet bikes and jet skis.
Very simply it tracks the position of each tender and wet bike operating around the mother yacht on the chart plotter screen with a manually operated alarm button to summon help.
In addition to the tender’s position the speed, course over the ground and depth under the tender are transmitted to the mother yacht. This information can also be displayed on the tender to replace the cost of additional instrumentation.
New ´seetrac´ Tender Tracking System launched
The new seetrac tender tracking system consists of a Mother Yacht base station and a transponder on each tender, wet bike or Jet Ski. The tenders that are operating are polled by the Mother Yacht and respond with data transmitted back on UHF or VHF. The Mother Yacht transceiver is connected to the yacht’s chart plotter and the tender’s position and ID are displayed in real time on the chart with a table showing speed and course in a side panel.
Safety
Has a tender ever gone missing with the owner’s son on board? How would you know that a wet bike or jet ski has broken down or run out of fuel and where it is?
This system allows the crew to monitor the position of each tender or wet bike, especially when multiple units are operating around the vessel. If a tender or wet bike breaks down, runs out of fuel or gets lost the user can hit the alert button which sends an alarm status which clearly shows on the chart the position of the tender on the chart plotter on the mother yacht.
Security
If a tender or wet bike is misused or stolen and even if the main batteries are disabled the unit will continue transmitting whilst in range using one of the optional power management systems with backup battery.
Sounding
Have you ever considered how useful it would be to use a tender as a remote pilot running ahead of the yacht transmitting depth data back to the yacht in an uncharted area?
An optional depth transducer can be installed in the tender (thru hull or transom) and the tender can be used to provide a sounding service to the mother yacht by surveying an anchorage or narrow reef entrance ahead of the mother yacht.
Tender Instrumentation
With the addition of the optional navigation display the system has its own GPS, depth and log instrumentation eliminating the cost for dedicated tender instrumentation.
Range
Typically 5nm for a 20m high Mother Yacht antenna. Range is related to antenna height on both the mother yacht and the tender.
Frequency
UHF or VHF licence free.
Chart Plotter Software Interface
Currently using Navmaster Super Yacht and Transas NS3000.
The differences between yacht and tender tracking
Yacht tracking systems send out a position report less frequently than is required for tender tracking. Typically a yacht would report its position every 6 hours whereas a tender or jet ski needs to report every 10 seconds.
A yacht needs to be tracked anywhere in the world whereas a tender is to be tracked within a reasonable range of the mother yacht, typically 5nm.
A yacht tracking system needs an infrastructure of satellites or GSM networks whereas a tender tracking system is totally self-contained and needs no external infrastructure.
For every report from a yacht there is a transmission cost whereas all reports from a tender tracking system are free.
The differences between AIS and tender tracking
AIS (Automatic Identification System) uses free radio transmissions as does tender tracking. However the AIS system is not designed to be used for this purpose, as it needs to interface with other sensors not typically installed on a tender or Jet Ski.
AIS equipment is physically too large and costly to install on a tender, let alone a Jet Ski or wet bike.
AIS equipment would be destroyed by vibration, G forces and sea water.
If you would like further information on the above product mentioned in this article, or any of E3 services please contact Erik Nieuwmeijer or Roger Horner at E3 Systems (Palma) on T:+34 971 404208 F:+34 971 404431 or email info@e3s.com
E3 Sound and Vision @ Home
E3 Systems have expanded their super yacht AV division to provide the same services and systems to the discerning property owner.
It´s now becoming de rigueur to have a system that supplies music not to just a single room but throughout the house. With multi room systems, DVDs, a whole variety of screens to choose from and touch-screen control pads that fabulous home cinema system is now a must for the 2004 rugby season!
Contact Neil Simmons our AV Systems Specialist on 971 404208/971 400738.
Head Office-Local 1, Calle Joan Miro 248, Cala Mayor, 07015 Palma de Mallorca, Spain
Tel: (+34) 971 40 42 08 / 40 07 38
Fax: (+34) 971 40 44 31
Email: info@e3s.com web: www.e3s.com