France''s MaxSea has now launched its 12.5 version to update 10.3 and says it offers skippers more effective use of features such as 3D, Automatic Radar Plotting Aid (ARPA) Automatic Identification Systems (AIS) radar overlays and weather modules.
It says fishermen will now be able to optimise the use of their 3D database for forward looking depth profile (FLDP) and the automatic follow-up of the contour lines. It also offers trawl positioning and a new waypoint database.
Forward looking depth profile
The echo sounder gives a depth profile behind and below the boat. Now one can have the depth profile in front of the boat. The FLDP displays depth changes up to 500m in front of the boat. Through a MaxSea partnership with FURUNO it is also possible to have a display the echo sounder. This should mean more safety and accuracy, Maxsea says.
The system also follows contour lines after the user selects a depth and using previously recorded depth data, then converts it, with one click, into a route. This can then be used for autopilot towing.
Trawl Positioning
The 12.5 package also allows the bridge to see the trawl (pelagic or bottom) in two ways: on the chart and on the depth profile. MaxSea says this is useful to reduce the risk of losing or damaging the trawl. By selecting "Trawl Positioning" on the screen menu the user can display the estimated trawl position. The user enters rope length, depth and tension data in the appropriate window. The result should be avoiding 100 per cent straining and the tension parameter makes it possible to simulate, as near as possible, the real position of the trawl. MaxSea says that if the skipper releases 2,000m of rope, the trawl could be 1,000 behind the boat. The skipper then selects a tension of 50 per cent.
MaxSea is still refining the way this feature produces results. Essentially, the trawl will be displayed as a half circle located behind the boat based on centre of gravity (COG). The problem facing the skipper is that usually the trawl deviation angle behind the boat is difficult to assess due to currents, bottom type etc. "That is why we prefer representing it approximately," Maxsea says and adds: "this representation will be done on the cartography and in the profile window (not in 3D).
"It will indicate the trawl positioning estimate at a given time but it will not be possible to track it. It is less accurate than dedicated trawl door positioning systems but it is a good value solution," they say.
Waypoints Database
Maxea says that professionals can also manually enter information as: marks, hazards, wrecks etc. It will be automatically exported to a spreadsheet in which they can add names and comments. The fisherman can save quickly and easily all major information. The icons and colours of the added information can be modified according to his needs.
This new feature enables the user to computerize any data like logbooks, visualize and print out significant data in one single spreadsheet.
MaxSea software version 10.3 which has been successful for several years among the professional fishing market in France and worldwide with more than 9,000 equipped boats.
