Inshore VMS project

Here's an update on progress with the Inshore VMS project from Seafish.

Although things may have appeared quiet on the VMS front since February a lot of development work has been going on in the background designing and manufacturing a hybrid SC2 unit improving the unit’s performance and capabilities of transmitting using both mobile phone and satellite communications.

The SC1 VMS units currently fitted onboard 30 vessels have continued to report consistently at one minute intervals with very little loss of positional data out to 12 miles offshore. CEFAS is currently analysing the quality of the positional data and will be reporting back within the next month.

Development of the SC2 units has been slightly delayed due to manufacturing holdups and specification changes. The SC2 when delivered will have GSM (mobile phone) & satellite communications as well as e-logbook capabilities -renamed the SC2i. Skippers can choose what level of service they require from the simple mobile phone VMS covering the inshore waters to a full e-logbook system meeting the EU requirements for the larger 12m+ vessels(subject to type approval).

The SC2 GSM, which will have mobile phone communications, similar to the SC1 currently fitted, but with an improved recording and transmissions system linked to a new mapping program, will be available on the 21st of July. The SC2i will be launched early September. In order to test these new units we will be upgrading some of the vessels SC1 units with the SC2 GSM. Further SC1 units will be upgraded with the SC2i towards the end of July. Once tested, upgrades will be available for all the vessels on the trial either as a simple swap for the SC1 or at a much reduced rate.

In addition to the Inshore VMS project, the MMO, with the assistance of SWIFA, are currently running a pilot SAC management trial in Lyme Bay to assess the use of VMS as a management tool. In order to monitor activity around the Abbotsbury ledges two further scallop vessels working in the Lyme bay area have been fitted with SC1 units (Called VMS plus) with a further six vessels to be fitted when the units are available.

For more information contact the Seafish Project Manager Gus Caslake


Tel: Office 01736 362625
Mobile: 07876035738
http://sin.seafish.org