Locating, Tracking and Reporting via App – the new kind of Fishing

The German Weatherdock AG has developed the small locating beacon vmsTRACK-PRO which can be mounted easily on every seagoing vessel. The vmsTRACK-PRO is transmitting GPS based position reports in a pre-set reporting interval via VHF frequencies to the harbor or the control center. Additional to a huge range of special features the vmsTRACK-PRO system is a very cost effective alternative to other tracking systems, because there are no fees or charges. The vmsTRACK unit is able to store up to 1,000s of nautical miles for route documentation afterwards.

Geo-fencing and additional “push-to-alert” button

Special areas of non-entering or non-leaving can be programmed easily into every vmsTRACK-PRO unit placed on the vessels. Additional to all the tracking functionality there is a separate “push-to-alert” button which increases the safety of the fishermen especially on the small artisanal vessels. By pushing the alert button In event of emergency a AIS MOB safety message is send out into the standardized AIS traffic system that every vessel in the vicinity of the victim is able to help as fast as possible.

ABALOBI mobile app suite

ABALOBI is a co-designed and fisher-driven mobile app suite to transform small-scale fisheries governance from “hook to cook”. ABALOBI wants to “turn the lights on” when and where the catch has been made. No legal grey area –  just pure and full transparency for community catch monitoring to fulfill all IUU regulations.

The ABALOBI app installed on a mobile device like a smartphone or a tablet is able to read out and integrate the vmsTRACK-PRO data stream when connected once. Key outputs of ABALOBI will be a more complete fisher log for operation fine-tuning, a better seafood traceability chain and a huge improvement of community safety at sea. The data stream will be forwarded to the ABALOBI server located onshore.

vmsTRACK-PRO – high flexibility, but rugged and palm

The mobile transmitter unit vmsTRACK-PRO has got a high flexible power management from battery driven mode to current power supply via solar panel or vessels engine. The usage can be done on regular AIS frequencies because of built-in CSTDMA technology or on customized VHF frequencies to create “closed used group” behavior.

In upcoming September Weatherdock is going to present the vmsTRACK-PRO on the SMM trade show in Hamburg, Germany from 4^th to 7^th September 2018 on the own booth B6-405.