How does it work?
[1] Upon subscribing to the ENCTrack service, the vessel will receive a world folio of ENC permits that are valid for 2 months. With this world folio, the vessel is able to install all available ENC charts on the ECDIS system. The vessel will also be entered into the ENCTrack system; the ENCTrack tracking service uses both Iridium and Inmarsat networks.
[2] Vessels will be tracked with a minimum interval of 1.5 hours. They are able to enrol on the ENCTrack service with an existing licence. As soon as the vessel enters cells outside its existing licence, those cells will be registered automatically by means of an advanced business-to-business link with Primar. However this ordering is for administrative purposes only, as the vessel already holds the permits for these cells in the word folio. All available scale bands that the vessel enters will be registered and charged.
[3] The ordered cells will be invoiced periodically together with a monthly subscription. The system will optimise the validity (3, 6, or 12 months) of the individual cell licences in line with the usage frequency of a cell. A new world folio of ENC permits is issued on a regular basis and sent to the vessel for as long as the vessel subscribes to the service.
The ENCTrack service ensures that all ENC cells installed on an ECDIS system can be updated without exception and minimises the need for any licence management as all ENCs are accessible. The nature of the system means that only ENCs that have actually been used are charged. The automatic optimisation system ensures that the most efficient licensing period is chosen. The ENCTrack service can be used on any ECDIS system, as it uses the well-known S-57/S-63 standards. ENCs can be updated through the regular CD Service via the Internet or by e-mail.
ENCTrack is supported by a dedicated web platform that allows a shipowner to monitor all the activities of his fleet and of individual vessels. A ship’s ENC “consumption” can be analysed in detail, whilst reports on the current licence status and a detailed history of the ship’s position, speed, and course can also be created. The tracking service in itself is a valuable fleet management tool, providing detailed information about the fleet’s performance.
