Navigational Aids Module

Usage Overview

ICAN’s Nav Aids Module is an optional add-on to the Aldebaran II & Regulus II Electronic Charting System (ECS) that helps maritime administrations manage and service aids to navigation. It provides a comprehensive database to store key information regarding buoys and other aids, as well as document current and historical servicing activities. 

Nav Aids are visually overlaid on the Chart Plotter Window showing the aid’s advertised position and on-position (swing) radius, and optionally the most recent recorded position. Information regarding the active buoy can be visible at all times via the InfoPanel, and the full database is only a click away.

Buoy Tending Mode provides a full screen view of the aid and the vessel (including the active drop position on the vessel), and a movable InfoBox with key navigation indicators such as Speed, Course, and Range/Bearing from the drop position to the buoy. When configured to auto zoom, buoy tending mode provides virtually hands free operation. Placing and other services can be activated by a single hot key, and automatically capture the lat/lon of the current drop position, as well as vessel, chart and positioning system details.

The primary benefit of integrating Nav Aids data with an ECS is to visualize the aids on screen, correctly positioned in relation to the vessel and other features. ICAN displays each aid based on information saved about the aid. This information is stored in a database containing a record for each Nav Aid and a record for each Service (lift, place, repair, etc) of each aid. The Nav Aids Manager and Service Manager allow you to search and list the data. Edit windows with multiple tab pages to categorize the information are provided to edit individual Nav Aids and Services. InfoBoxes provide convenient displays of information that the user organizes into InfoPanel pages on the left side of the display.

One of the primary benefits of ICAN’s NavAids Module is the real-time visualization of the vessel’ s position relative to the buoy position. This is useful for navigation purposes, but even more useful for buoy tending work. A typical buoy tending mission involving the Nav Aids Module includes these activities:

• Determine the buoys to service. This is typically done in consultation with the appropriate management authority.
   

• Ensure up to date for information for the buoys to be serviced is present. Depending upon your organization’ s implementation, this may involve use of the import/export features. 
   

• Plan a route that encompasses the buoys in a logical order. You may wish to create approach and exit waypoints for each buoy.
   

• Activate the next aid to be serviced.
   

• Service the aid. The system will automatically fill in key information about the service activity. Additional information can be keyed on the fly or at later time.
   

• Repeat for each aid in the mission.
   

• If applicable, transfer the data to shore-based systems or other vessels using the import/export.

Buoy Tending Mode

Once the vessel reaches the approach waypoint, ICAN recommends invoking Buoy Tending Mode while approaching and servicing the aid. When servicing work is completed, turn off Buoy Tending Mode and return to the route where the exit waypoint should already be activated. As the vessel approaches the aid, the fix symbol at the vessel’ s drop point will change color from red to yellow once it enters the OPR (on position radius). Once the drop point overlaps with the advertised position (the center of the OPR), it turns from yellow to green.

The following information will be automatically captured when the service record is created:

• Basic Nav Aid information such as name and list of lights number.

• The advertised position of the aid at the time.

• The recorded position of the vessel’ s active drop point at the time of the service. If the vessel needs to take an additional position fix to accurately obtain this value.

• The type of service performed. If necessary, this can be changed and additional service types can be selected.

• The date/time of the service activity.

• D/GPS info regarding the quality of the positioning system in use at the time.

• Information about the chart that was active (if any) at the time of the service.

Buoy Tending Mode (shown to the right with a blue plotter background) provides a full screen view of the aid and the vessel (including the active drop position on the vessel), and a movable InfoBox with key navigation indicators such as Speed, Course, and Range/Bearing from the drop position to the buoy.

When configured to auto zoom, buoy tending mode provides virtually hands free operation. If Auto Zooming is set on in the Nav Aids Configuration dialog, the system will progressively zoom in to the maximum specified zoom level as the vessel approaches the aid.

When Buoy Tending Mode is deactivated, the system returns to the same state with the same settings as before Buoy Tending Mode was invoked.