recent developments in portable pilot units and e ... · recent developments in portable pilot...

Recent developments in Portable Pilot Units and e-navigation

Mariners’ Workshop 2016, Montreal

Mariners’ Workshop 2016

Presentation objectives by regions

•PPU systems and e-nav tools used in Canada by pilots

•Regional developments in PPUs; what PPUs and e-nav added to the toolbox and what is on the workbench

•Challenges and wish lists


Atlantic Pilotage Districts

PPU status – evaluation period

Software: SEAiq Pilot

Hardware:

- Ipad Pro

-Marimatech CAT ROT pilot unit (Wi-fi)

-Marimatech’s CAT 1 combined GPS\GLONASS and WAAS enabled


• There is 1 evaluation kit in Saint John, Cape Breton and Southeast Nfld and Halifax has two kits.

• In 2016, 8 units in Halifax and training for Halifax pilots

• Based on the assessment in Halifax, decision will be made whether to increase PPUs in other districts


PPU and e-nav developments

•Smart ATLANTIC buoys

- Allows timely pilot transfers

-Prevents the potential of unsafe UKC

-Met/hydro datas now displayed on PPU

• Air gap data from Halifax harbourbridges displayed on PPU


• Pilot boat ECS – Aldebaran III ECS

- Allows “virtual boarding” of incoming vessel from pilot boat and direct him to safe waters/ safe pilot transfer operations

• iHEAVE project

– Developed by OMC, carry on board inertial measurement unit for pilots


- Recording of roll, pitch, heave, yaw and sway datas compared to SmartATLANTIC wave height, direction and period datas

- Ships range 260-340m in length

- 2 month evaluation period of vessels’response to seastate

- DUKC report to enhance the safe navigation of large container V/L in seas greater than 3m


WISHLIST Atlantic

•Deployment of PPU units in all districts

•Secure funding, maintenance fees and development of smartATLANTIC buoys network – Chedabucto Bay in progress


Laurentian Pilotage Districts

1 – Lower St. Lawrence

PPU status

Software:

SEAiq Pilot v 4.0.0.0000

Primar update Tracker for chart correction

Hardware:

- Ipad Air 2 Wi-Fi + Cellular

-Marimatech CAT ROT pilot unit (Wi-fi)


• Marimatech’s CAT 1 combined fitted with Novatel GPS/GLONASS/GNSS & WAAS enabled


• SEAiq is designed to allow AIS targets to be displayed beyond VHF range via AIS AND internet (via cell coverage)

• A water level forecast web application also runs (via cell coverage) in real time

• A private web based application has been designed to view AIS Traffic


Wishlist and challenges

•A recent operation system upgrade has caused the connection with hardware equipment (firmware) to malfunction

-Considerations will be given to prevent such incidents to reoccur (blocking automatic operation system updates, etc)

-An internal discussion is underway to find ways to ensure that PPUs do not contribute to loss of skills and knowledge


2 – Mid St.Lawrence pilots

PPU Status

•Software:

– Navsim’s Navcruiser upgraded to ARGUS

•Hardware:

- 14in Laptop Lenovo Thinkpad 3444-AZF model

- Toshiba bluetooth adapter UD100-G01 to extend bluetooth range


– Raven BPI pilot plug

– Geneq SXII Blue DGPS with small antenna (GESXBANT-) with magnetic base



•Following the PRMM on Post Panamax vessels, the “meeting point” feature has been upgraded to follow meeting areas of multiple targets.

•“Almost real-time” info re: water levels and tide gauges allows continuous monitoring of static UKC


Wishlist and challenges

•“Maintaining and building on what you have”

-water levels network availability

-Extend AIS coverage of targets beyond VHF range

-Obtaining air gap under Quebec bridge via AIS

-Add ROT generator to PPU

-Obtain water level predictions


• Consideration of local PPU development and own software

- A customized software has been dreamed, designed and built from the ground up by a Mid St. Lawrence pilot, Capt Jacquelin Hardy

- This software has been bought by the pilot group and is currently under revision to expand its capabilities and compatibilities with different platforms


- A presentation on the software is on the agenda of the workshop and feedback will be welcome.

• Follow-up on Port of Montreal DUKC

- 50+ transits have been reviewed and compared with theoretical trips using DUKC system and methodology


- Several transits have been made by a consultant to test the system and exchange with pilots

- Port of Montreal’s Technical Committee is currently writing a preliminary report

- Simultaneously, the Port of Montreal is supporting efforts to create a web portal that will provide water level predictions. A presentation is on the agenda at the workshop.


Great Lakes district

PPU status:

•Software: Navsim’s Argus

•Hardware:

-Panasonic toughbook CF-S9 12” screen

-RG4 ROT generator and pilot plug

-Geneq SXBlue II-B DGPS

-CHS charts through Navsim with chart updater



•The “meeting points” feature allows better awareness and planning

•The ETA for locks sequence

•Water levels


• Wishlist and challenges

• Continuous efforts re: training to ensure the equipment is used to its fullest potential and to identify errors and limitations

• Obtain water levels info from chart datum instead of above sea level

• Obtain more info via AIS such as buoys removal and deployment


• Having the information from the web portal MARINFO on to the PPU. Information such as shoals, water levels from chart datum,etc would be a great advantage; in a world of “integration”, there should be a web-based resource, combining information from USCG, CCG and Seaway Authority “pushing” the information on PPU.


West Coast Pilotage

•Software: Navsim’s Argus

•Hardware:

-Panasonic FG-Z1 Mark 1 tablet

-Geneq SX Blue II DGPS

-RG4E ROT generator with pilot plug connection


• PPU and e-nav developments

- The “Arrow 100” from EOS will replace SX Blue II (ongoing)

- More precise

- Will be able to use Galileo and BeaDui sats

- Capable to upgrade to RTK differential

- RG5 Will replace RG4 (february)

- Able to detect a gyro failure and provide a heading source


• PPU and e-nav development

• A lot has been accomplished on the West Coast in a short time

• The design and advent of the RG5 ROT generator in partnership with BCCP has raised awareness of pilots for a new tool

• The “passion” of the West Coast Tech Committee has pushed service providers to deliver better, faster


• The rigorous testing of systems, software and hardware alike, have brought objective confidence in using the equipment.


• Wishlist and challenges

• The following projects are currently either underway or being discussed

– Berthing scale charts

– Real time bridge height for 1st narrows

– More access to Real Time met/hydro datas

– Recommendations of Smart buoys at some pilot stations

– Noise study project with regards of effect on killer whale


– AIS targets to plot whales and whale pods that would show on PPU and ECDIS units to prevent whale strikes. Collaborative project with Ocean Networks Canada, Port Metro Vancouver, Port of Prince Rupert, Fisheries and Oceans, and Vancouver Aquarium, PPA and BC Coast Pilots.


Some general comments on PPUs

•The “wishlist” of the regions corresponds largely to the comments provided by pilot groups to the AIS user needs survey

•As more information becomes available, the importance of each information must be assessed in order to guarantee its access 100% of the time; redundancy will have to be considered


• AIS POSITION

- The quality of the AIS as a position greatly varies from one ship to the other.


• The quality of the AIS position depends – On the quality of GPS/DGPS feeding

the equipment

On the smoothing (“averaging”) of the position

On the accuracy of the “AIS”antenna position on the vessel


- This may lead to misinterpretation ofone’s position by mariners if not

checked against other means.

- Furthermore, it may lead to misinterpretation of a meeting situation by mariners onboard if one or both positions are not correctly displayed on PPU and ECDIS

- More insidiously, the same thing may happen be true on a VTS screen …or an investigator’s review


• There must be a fix for this!!

Should it be legal to broadcast a false position?

Shouldn’t the AIS position of a ship (antenna position) be part of some inspection?

Shouldn’t the AIS antenna position be verified and displayed on the bridge?

“This is 2015”- Worse! 2016!


• Another consideration is the danger of overreliance on e-navigation.

Everyone in the room should be “suspect” of that crime at one point or another;

e-navigation; “e” doesn’t mean everything

e-navigation can be a great tool to add to the toolbox, not induce complacency.


• E-navigation will support the meeting of new challenges when added to the existing tools and aids to navigation.

• Put bluntly, “Adding e-nav does not equate to substracting” other tools

• There should be an “internal battle”led by mariners and industry leaders to ensure that e-navigation does not contribute to the loss of “non synthetic”knowledge and skills


• At the same time, we must recognize that the use and need for e-navigation may vary from one area to the other, even within one pilotage assignment.

• “Look out the window” should not be seen as a defensive response to invasive technology but rather as a reminder to bring and to use all the tools in the toolbox.


Instead of thriving to “think outside the box”,

We should

“Put it in the box,

Bring the box,

Use all that’s in the box”


Questions?

Comments?

Rants?

Capt Bernard Boissonneault

Chairman, CMPA Technical Committee

[email protected]

www.marinepilots.ca

mailto:[email protected]

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