Installation and method for total management of ships

Description [0001] The present invention relates primarily to a technical installation for the integral and permanent management and technical management and operation of ships with the features of patent claim 1. Secondly, the invention also relates to the operation of this plant according to a specific technical process for the holistic and permanent management and technical management and operation of ships with the features of claim 7.

Under the holistic management is understood here not only the financial management of the supervised ships, but also the logistical, personnel and technical management, because such ships must be provided for example with fuel, lubricants, with wear parts or repair parts, as soon as becomes necessary. And the crew needs everything they need, from drinking water, food and medicine to toiletries and other everyday necessities. In addition, maintenance regulations must be observed for all technical equipment belonging to the ship. But not only the purely technical maintenance is included in this management, but also the effective operation with all its technical aspects. For example, navigation plays a central role, but also the weather forecast and its interpretation, and further includes the management of the technical use of all sea and air rescue facilities. Finally, technical assistance and assistance for the preparation and handling of transits through delicate passages and port entrances, including all aspects related to the use of ports and berths, is also included. This includes technical communication with the competent authorities and operators of these facilities, but also with customs authorities and the exchange of technical, business and tourist information.

The hitherto pending problems in the management of ships are shown here by way of example based on the management of a yacht that is rented or chartered together with a crew. First, a yacht must be managed for the charter in the sense that its occupancy needs to be managed. Here is still much done by hand. It will be called, reserved, the reservation will be confirmed, and afterwards the ship will be provided for the next crew. It would be helpful if all potential users were able to view the occupancy schedule and technical specifications of many different yachts online and finally make reservations online with the necessary down payments.

In addition to the occupancy plan and the technical data on the boat and its equipment, a potential customer should also be able to retrieve many other, in connection with a desired or planned trip information available at the charter provider online. This is information about the location where the yacht can be taken over, such as port infrastructure, its characteristics and characteristics (type and number of berths, parking lots, tidal differences, technical service stations, port authority, customs, etc.), then shopping, generally local , tourist information on hotels, car rental companies, nearby airports and stations with flight and timetables, Information on cultural characteristics and attractions, weather and climatic conditions on land and sea, etc. Although some of this information is available on the Internet online today, but they are not centrally located and concentrated in one place - and therefore is a tedious and time-consuming Collect all relevant data needed.

The charter customer wants to be able to query all data related to the planned trip at the provider. Also the reservation of a yacht in a certain port at a certain time and for a certain duration including the payment must be possible online. At the same time, the customer should also be able to put together all the equipment beyond the basic equipment, which he additionally needs for a trip, at the click of a mouse. If the customer can not or wants to be a skipper himself, a skipper should also be able to be ordered with any needed crew. If the customer does not want to bunker food and fresh water, he should also be able to order this directly online. Even during the preparation at home, the customer should be able to compile and print out sensible itineraries with ports of call, anchorages and the associated weather and climate maps. All these additional services around the actual cruise, the charter landlords must be able to offer the customer immediately and online.

In addition, the customer is interested in the current exact location of his favorite yacht, even if the yacht is currently still on the high seas with another crew on the road. To date, providers of charter yachts can only make approximate information on the actual positions of their boats, based on the information of the respective crew and delayed hours to days can arrive at the headquarters, if any.

The object of the present invention is to provide an installation and a method for the integral management of ships, which all the problems listed above are solved.

This problem is solved on the one hand by a system according to the independent device claim 1 and on the other hand by a method according to the independent method claim. 7

In the drawings, the system is shown schematically with all its essential technical elements and will be described below with reference to these drawings and their operation and the system operable with the system will be explained and explained. It shows:

Fig. 1: A schematic representation of the mobile central unit 1 with control panel 2 on a single ship and with possible connections to peripheral devices;

Fig. 2: A schematic representation of all system components for operating the method, consisting of the mobile central units 1 and control panels 2 on the ships and the stationary service ConnectCenter 15 on land.

In Fig. 1, a mobile communication box 16 is shown in a schematic representation as it is housed on each equipped ship. The example embodiment consists of a central unit 1 with all necessary outputs and inputs (interfaces), with the possibility of networking the central unit 1, if necessary, with several expansion modules 3. Such an expansion module 3 can be configured, for example, as an intelligent interface for connection to the vehicle electrical system, so that active ship components such as rudder and hydraulics are thus controllable. The second important element of the communication box 16 is the control panel 2, consisting of an LCD touch screen 13, knobs and input buttons. The yacht operator communicates primarily via control panel 2, which displays all information on the LCD touch screen 13. In addition, the control panel 2 is also used for communication in that the yacht operator can enter data both via touchscreen and via input keys or through a computer mouse that can be connected. By connecting multimedia devices such as photo and film camera, telephone, etc. creates a complete multimedia station (e-mail, SMS, MMS, video telephony, etc.). Thanks to all known interfaces (such as USB, serial, Ethernet, NMEA, CAN etc.), the central unit 1 can be connected to measuring sensors 8 and to nautical devices 9, radar 11 or even to an external laptop 10. The central processing unit 1 processes the accumulated data and displays them on the LCD touchscreen 13 of the control panel 2. It is very important that the central unit contains various tailor-made software modules 6 which are necessary in order, on the one hand d process the accumulating data from the peripheral devices and, on the other hand, the extensive communication to the control panel 2 as well as perGSM, maritime radio or satellite communication to the service connectivity. Center on land to ensure. The central unit 1 has the necessary interfaces to connect various antennas 4 (such as GPS, VHF, VHF, satellite network IRIDIUM, Inmarsat-CSatellite communication system, Seefunk, etc.). In addition, the central unit 1 is connected to a power supply system 5 and an associated alarm unit 7. The alarm unit 7 is used to monitor the system and the electrical circuit.

In Fig. 2 is a schematic representation of all components for the operation of the system is shown. The onboard communication box 16, consisting of the mobile central unit 1 and the control panel 2, communicates via GSM 19, marine radio and satellite communication 18 with the stationary service connect center 15 on land. The Service Connect Center 15 has one or more servers 14 containing appropriate software modules and also consists of a service center (call center) where staff members 21 answer the in-depth questions, requests and problems of the yacht guides around the clock take at sea, forward and process. Fleet management can also be carried out from this center, as all ships are in constant contact with the ServiceConnect Center 15. There are preferably several distributed around the globe service communication center 15 operated with personnel 21, so that at least one can be operated in the daylight hours. All important technical data of the fleet come together here and can be managed centrally in one place. The cumulative data provides the fleet manager with important decision-making aids as to which work is due on which vessel, because the ship-relevant data is permanently transmitted by the installation installed on each ship belonging to the fleet. The method is provided by the logical connection of the mobile communication box 16, constructed from central unit 1, software modules 6 and operating panel 2 installed thereon and the stationary service connect center 15 with at least one server 14, databases and software modules, wherein the service connect center 15 of Staff 21 is operated. Another important part of the procedure is that different ships of a fleet can also communicate with each other via GSM, radio or satellite, which is very helpful, for example, in a concerted Atlantic crossing of several ships of a charter. Thus, all participants always know about the status and position of the other ships and their crew and information, tips etc. can be exchanged with each other at any time. The on-land fleet manager in the Service Connect Center also knows the relevant data and the position of each ship involved in this regatta. Important information can be collected and sent to all ships at the same time.

The professional providers of charter yachts and charter customers need to the already mentioned information for an active fleet management and remote maintenance of the yachts or for their direct operation at sea many additional data and information. These are made available by a technical facility which, as a whole, as shown in FIG. 2 shown schematically from a central, stationary service connect center 15 with at least one server 14 and corresponding software, and one installed on each boat communication box 16, with the via maritime radio, GSM and satellite communication at any time, that is around the clock, a bidirectional data transfer can take place. The central unit 1 (interface) with control panel 2 (LCD touch screen 13 with input functions via buttons and via touch screen) is equipped with various technical measuring sensors 8, nautical electronic devices 9 and various transmit and receive antennas 4 (VHF, VHF, GPS, INMARSAT, etc.) ) through the corresponding interfaces (USB, serial, Ethernet, NMEA, CAN, etc.) and includes various software applications 6. It thus forms a central communication box 16 and allows the provider at any time the current position of all his

No matter if they are in a harbor, on the open sea or ashore in a shipyard for overhaul. The central unit 1 with associated control panel 2 is an all-in-one device that allows to retrieve, store, analyze, evaluate and graph all available data. Such data are not limited to ship-related information, but not only the data prepared by the service connect center 15 (with personnel 21 / server 14) are available via GSM, maritime radio and satellite, but in principle also all on the Internet existing data. Of course, the connection to the Internet also enables the use of services such as email, multimedia, video telephony, SMS, MMS, MP3 etc. About the sensors 8, which are connected to the boats with the central unit 1, the provider or the team can retrieve all relevant technical data and represent. This can eg telemetric data such as position, travel, and direction of the ship, weather data such as air and water temperature, humidity, barometer with forecast, wind speed and direction, then data on fuel supply and other engine-specific information, data on the fresh water supply, the state of charge of the battery, data for power supply, data on the type and area of ​​set sails, sea depth, heeling of the ship etc. Of course, the communication with the ship or the crew can be made at any time, be it via e-mail / Internet, GSM and satellite telephony or via maritime radio, depending on the position of the yacht at sea - this of course also applies in the opposite direction for the crew at sea to the service station ashore. The transmission of multimedia data (image, film and sound) in both directions between base station and yacht is easily possible with this technical system.

By the intelligent linkage of the mobile communication box 16 with corresponding sensors 8 and measuring devices 9 and with corresponding transmitting and antenna systems 4 on the ship, which guarantee the data transfer between the ship 17 and the central server 14, it is the charter bidder or fleet owner possible to always have a precise overview of the technical condition of all his ships. With this intelligent fleet management, the owner always knows when which vessel needs to be technically maintained, refueled, overhauled, when the next service is due on the diesel engine, which equipment and equipment will need to be replaced after a certain period of operation, etc. This makes for a proactive, intelligent, cost effective and slim fleet management feasible. The existing in a fleet yachts and boats are no longer unbelievable satellites, but clearly defined and controlled units and become quasi "glass ships". The use of the ships becomes traceable and predictable, which also results in a huge amount of time gained by reducing downtime between trips and thus increasing the efficiency of fleet management.

The use of the technical system and the process operated with it also provides the customer from his arrival on the ship very valuable services when it comes to the concrete preparation of the planned trip. The installed on the ship central unit 1 in the communication box 16, connected to a control panel 2, the skipper provides all the important and necessary information that it needs for optimal preparation of his individual trip. On the one hand, the skipper can retrieve all location-related, relevant data, such as information about the port where the ship is located, local infrastructure units, local shopping center hours, shops, restaurants, etc. However, the skipper must also carry out planning tasks before departure the communication box 16 are greatly facilitated. The communication box 16 provides all the important data on the meteo with forecasts for the next few days, creates weather maps as well as electronic charts, calculates possible routes, etc. and waypoints can be entered with a mouse click. By entering the departure time and the average speed, the itinerary is quickly created and the estimated time of arrival at each waypoint is automatically calculated. The dynamic display of weather patterns (wind, air pressure, wind sea, wave height, Schwell), the graphical representation of weather conditions and weather warnings are available 24 hours a day. Weather forecasts up to 5 days in advance are possible. Weather data is sent by the central service connect center 15 by radio to the mobile central unit 1 and displayed on the electronic nautical chart. Thus, route planning can be calculated automatically depending on the weather conditions. All images and maps can be printed with a connected output device such as a printer or plotter.

Also ship related data are determined by means of the central unit 1 permanently and displayed on the control panel 2. The skipper has at all times the current state of technical condition of the ship. He knows the existing equipment with stowage, he knows immediately where the life-saving safety equipment is located, knows the current state of fresh water and diesel stock and can, if desired, at any time retrieve operating and repair instructions for all on the ship located technical equipment , Furthermore, he can contact the personnel 21 of the central service-connect center 15 on land by radio in order to solve problems with specialists and to clarify questions. The medical care is thus ensured around the clock. The communication box 16 provides the skipper with important information and, if necessary, also establishes the direct connection to a doctor, or indicates where on-site the nearest hospital and doctors can be found. The resource management of the food can also be monitored and controlled by the central unit 1. The purchased food is recorded before bunkering by barcode reader, the same applies to the removal and consumption. Thus, the information box 16 at any time indicate the state of the food stock, point out expiration dates or give specific tailored to trips recommendations for meals and recipes. This way, the costs of consuming food can be recorded and calculated directly online. Of course, alarms can also be generated if the supply of food falls below a defined value or the fresh food date threatens to expire. Due to the presence of this communication box 16 on the ship, it is possible for the skipper or boat owner to participate in extensive service and security services.

Are all preparations completed, a checklist can be processed by dialogue before dropping by means of the communication box 16, whereby the skipper has the security that nothing central has been forgotten. As soon as the yacht has set sail, the central unit 1 constantly measures the important, relevant data on the ship and is always connected to the service connect center 15 stationed on the mainland, that is to say with the at least one server 14 and the personnel 21 there via GSM, satellite or marine radio and provides the skipper constantly all the information you need. The central unit 1 on the ship monitors all safety-relevant data and is programmed so that the control functions trigger an alarm as soon as a certain value is exceeded or undershot. On the control panel 2, this information is displayed clearly and clearly. Engine data such as diesel fuel, oil level, hours worked, consumption, next maintenance service, etc. can be displayed at the push of a button. The central unit 1 can be connected to various measuring sensors 8, whereby the monitoring, ie the monitoring of the boat or eg cargo ships and their charge is guaranteed. In this way, measurement data on charge deficit, inert gas pressure, steam line pressure, charge temperature, pressure and temperature of the charge lines, draft, trim and list side, level of ballast and service tank, inert gas pressure in voids, pressure of ballast pump and line, valve and pump control, which play an important role, are constantly monitored. A fire alarm system, consisting of smoke, ionization, heat, flame, optical and manual detectors can be connected to the central unit 1, whereby an early fire detection - especially in smoldering fires is possible and the alarm is ensured.

Other technical devices and measuring sensors can be directly controlled and queried via the central unit 1, as shown in Fig. 1. For example, a radar 11 (with distance, bearing, electronic cursor, echo magnification, wake-up mode, with receiver for AlS signals), a sonar 9 (with shallow water and depth alarm settings, fishfinder and anchor guard) and a compass 9 (eg Fluxgate control compass with digital display and fully gimbal-mounted sensor). The meteo data can also be displayed by the central unit 1 on the control panel 2, as well as indoor and outdoor temperature, humidity and dew point, wind chill, wind direction and speed (with apparent wind), barometer with weather forecasts, moon phases, precipitation amount and rate, hygrometer and Tidenanzeige.

The central unit 1 also works as a travel computer with sm / km recording, speeds, driving through the water (log), traveled and upcoming (calculated) travel time (day miles and total miles), it displays sun / moon times and calculates the current tidal data and currents valid for the current position, which are very important especially near the coasts. Other functions and alarms like TracBack, MOB (Man over Board), GOTO are available. Like Navtex, weather data can be displayed on the control panel 2 by means of a separate, separate information system which, in addition to navigational warnings, search and rescue messages, etc., also sends weather reports as well as storm and strong wind warnings. The track recording is done automatically with several thousand waypoints storage capacity, with the position of the ship 17 continuously using WAAS-enabled GPS (WAAS = Wide Area Augmentation System according to US standard) and / or EGNOS-enabled GPS (EGNOS = European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service) is recorded for the most accurate position determination. From all the available data, the central unit 1 calculates the necessary course according to the target of the skipper. The central unit 1 records the data and generates an electronic logbook, which is continuously transmitted to the central service station. In addition, this log can be viewed and printed by the team at any time, be it directly from a storage facility on the ship or from the central service station, so that redundancy is ensured. All data from the built-in 14-channel GPS receiver is displayed on the LCD touchscreen 13 of the control panel and can be displayed on electronic map systems based on the latest technology for on-screen charts (such as C-Map ™ NT plus or NT MAX) and printed on a chartplotter if needed.

The central unit 1 on the ship is connected to a modern VHF marine radio, which with integrated DSC-D controller (Digital Selective Calling) modern VHF communication and the security of the global GMDSS emergency call system (GMDSS = Global Maritime Distress and Safety System) in one device. The digital selective call allows the direct radio contact with ships, coastal stations and in distress the emergency call with indication of the position and the vessel identifier (MMSI = Maritime Mobile Service Identity). In combination with the existing GPS, the ATIS and Digital Sélective Calling (DSC) features will automatically transmit the exact position of the vessel along with the emergency call. The maritime radio allows not only terrestrial radio communications, but also satellite radio communications for the transmission of private and marine communications between land-based and ship-to-ship stations and between shipboard stations. The maritime service makes a significant contribution to maintaining the safety of shipping and protecting human life at sea. It is the basis of the worldwide Maritime Distress and Safety Radio System (GMDSS). Rescue station stations and radio buoys for identifying the emergency position are part of this radio service. The present communication box 16 with central unit 1 allows that from the ship both by GSM, marine and satellite (satellite network IRIDIUM) can be communicated and also the admission criteria (SOLAS) for the radio beacon (radio buoy, distress beacon) can be met , The distress beacon is based on EPIRP (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon), a safety system used on ships that marks the position of a ship in an emergency. The transmitted signals are received by a worldwide salt cell-based search and rescue system (COSPAS-SARSAT), the position is determined and forwarded to ground stations. In addition, aircraft and ships can receive the signals and aim at the emergency position (homing). The EPIRP is activated either by hand or by a water pressure release.

It is also possible that the central unit 1 is connected to a satellite telephone, which uses the satellite network IRIDIUM. The IRIDIUM network guarantees true global radio coverage for satellite phones, and it also provides unique roaming facilities for many existing telephone systems. In addition, the central communications box 16 also has appropriate interfaces to connect to a fully GMDSS-compatible InmarsatC transceiver, providing fast and reliable communication links via the Digital Ship Earth Station (SES), which complies with the Inmarsat C system specifications and the GMDSS Requirements. Fast, reliable and worldwide 2-way telex, e-mail and data transfer is guaranteed.

It happens again and again that during a trip a team member becomes ill or injured. So far, the team was mainly on its own or had to laboriously gather medical knowledge from board books. Due to the permanent communication path via the central unit 1 to the stationary ServiceConnect center 15, the medical assistance can be obtained immediately and specifically, since the staff 21 in the service ConnectCenter 15 provides all the necessary medical information and, if necessary, also works directly with doctors. It is even possible through multimedia communication in complicated medical cases, eg in the case of a broken leg, to lead the crew on board one-to-one via video telephony, as in this case it is best to proceed

That is, the doctor on land at the Service Connect Center 15 shows the crew step by step how the broken leg is to shine and what else is needed to bring the patient safely to the nearest port. Even life-saving emergency procedures are possible, which could not be carried out without the system according to the invention or only at the highest risk. Of course, even on the high seas, all necessary measures can be arranged, which are necessary for the rapid rescue of the patient. The central unit 1 provides information on nearest ports that could be called, together with the pre-calculated, optimal course, distance (GOTO function / Wayfinder) and estimated duration and time of arrival. Staff 21 at the Service Connect Center 15 can schedule ambulances and doctors on time for the arrival of the yacht and inform the hospital in advance.

Unfortunately, minor accidents and technical defects on board belong almost to every longer ocean cruise. Despite the best preparation and high-quality material, motors can fail, devices can no longer function, leaks occur, bilge pumps fail, the tree or mast can break, etc. In such cases, the help provided by the system presented here guarantees all the necessary information via Service Connect Center 15. The operating and repair instructions of all devices and the engine on the ship can be viewed, displayed and printed out. Just as in a medical emergency, the situation can also be analyzed in these cases by video telephony with an expert and, under his expert guidance, a problem can be remedied in a step-by-step process. If damage can not be repaired by the crew, the system provides information on how and where the repair is possible. The system also provides the best, optimal routes with calculated travel time and arrival to the next port. Required spare parts can be ordered in advance. If necessary, a replacement ship can be organized or hotel rooms and flights can - even at sea - be booked.

Now, if the yacht operator after successful drive in front of a nearby island to anchor or dock a ship's port, offers the central communication box 16 very valuable help. The yachtsman can always get in touch with the service connect center 15 and get the necessary and up-to-date information and data - so he does not have to laboriously gather data in (obsolete) books for long, which creates uncertainties and lost time. In particular, he can make an early booking of the berth, long before he enters the port. The charterer makes programmable chip cards available, which allow access to all facilities and facilities of the marinas. This means that the berth brokerage no longer requires a visit to the Capitanerie to receive a key or chip card for the sanitary areas in the port. These cards are programmed online by the call center directly with mooring for the respective period. This offers great benefits: there are no more speech problems in communication and the crew is no longer tied to any office hours of the captainy. In many marinas, the various locking systems have already been replaced by such smart card systems. If this is not the case, then the call center arranges appropriate offers for the conversion, so that it can come to the personnel saving. If the yachting guide wants to anchor in front of an island, the necessary detailed maps can be loaded onto the control panel 2, together with the indication of good anchorages, taking into account the relevant current meteorological and nautical data. The system includes an automatic anchor guard, which detects any change in position of the ship at anchor and triggers an alarm when larger changes are made. The mooring search and route guidance can be graphically displayed, whereby a safer crossing of even tricky passages is possible. The Service Connect Center 15 also provides all the information about the island the skipper needs to ensure safe anchorage. In addition, tourist information is available on the island, its inhabitants and culture, restaurants, etc. The same procedure can also be applied when entering a port. The central unit 1 provides the important data on the technical port facility, indicates where vacant berths for new arrivals are available, shows the spatial conditions of the port, where the

Customs authorities are, they provide a specific checklist, which is all about the immigration formalities to meet, and if necessary or desired, the automatic routing to the berth is possible.

If the yacht is safely in the harbor, so by means of the central unit 1 and the control panel 2 as already at the beginning of the trip in the home port (start port) all the information that is required and needed, retrieved, graphed and printed. Hotel, taxi, car or airline reservations are easy and quick to do. This can be done by the skipper by consulting the internet, or he can call the service-connect-center 15 and explain his wishes, which will be fulfilled immediately. Also spare parts for the ship, new sails, repair services etc. can be ordered, if this was not done even before the arrival on the high seas. The ordering, shopping, paying and bunkering of new food and fresh water takes place in the same elegant manner as has already been done for the home port before the start of the trip. By means of the central unit 1 in the communication box 16, all these tasks are greatly simplified. Cost management also remains transparent at all times, since all service costs generated during the trip are always available on call. The communication box 16 also provides information about the technical condition of the ship such as operating hours of all major technical facilities, necessary services or repairs. In particular, this information is very important to the fleet manager who needs to re-float the ship for the next crew and the next trip. The central unit 1 provides him with accurate data and proposes all necessary measures. It should also be mentioned that the fleet manager does not have to be on-site, but can have his location somewhere on Earth, since the technical data can be queried by GSM, maritime radio or satellite communication. This makes the technical management of a fleet very easy, because the data of all existing ships converge centrally, no matter where the individual ships and headquarters are located. The central unit and the method that can be used with it can be deployed completely globally and spatially independently of one another, but form a single unit, which makes the business model Tele-Connect-System (TCS) possible in the first place. The related services are charged to the customer - this can retrieve the cost at any time on the ship, so long as the trip takes. After completion of the trip, the relevant data including all costs of the trip will be retrieved online by entering the customer number and password and paid online. The charterer settles a corresponding share with previously paid the deposit.

The method enables a greatly improved fleet management by permanently monitoring all important data of the mobile vessels, and thus a more rational, leaner and more cost-effective farming of the fleet through better utilization and shorter standstill and repair times in ports or shipyards. The process therefore leads to a significant increase in the value added of the fleet and, on the other hand, offers significantly improved service and a new form of safety at sea.

Legend:

Mobile central unit installed on the ship

Control panel with LCD touch screen, knobs and input buttons

Extension box, networkable

Antennas for sending and receiving data (GPS, VHF, VHF, Radar, Inmarsat-C, etc.)

Power supply, battery

Software modules, on central unit 1 and extension box 3

Alarm unit, voltage monitoring

measuring sensors

Nautical devices

Laptop, connectable to central unit 1

Radar, connectable to central unit 1

Multimedia interface on control panel 2

LCD touch screen

Server Station with software modules and databases

Tele-Connect Center

Communication box, consisting of central unit 1 and control panel 2

Yacht, ship, boat

Satellite, satellite communications

Radio station, earthbound

Earth, globe

Call center, mans

Transceiver, for Inmarsat C satellite communication system