Pilot Conference Will Update Shipping Professionals on Technical Improvements to Navigation Aids

UK – HQS Wellington, moored along the Thames Embankment in central London, will again be the venue for the upcoming UK Marine Pilot Association (UKMPA) conference which this year takes place on 4-5 November. The two day conference will offer members the chance to be updated on the Association’s business of the last year and determine future strategies whilst hearing from a bevy of expert speakers led by Shipping Minister Robert Goodwill MP.

A full list of speakers at the event can be seen here and an evening reception in the famous Lloyds Insurance building on the first day will provide a chance to discuss professional matters with other members and the conference proper will hear the opportunities and improvements being made to equipment designed to make a pilot’s life easier.

These will include the Transas Pilot PRO chart plotter and the recently launched T-Mapper desktop chart conversion & editing application. The latest release of the iPad version of Transas Pilot PRO features new functionalities such as AIS Target Table, allowing for quick real-time filtering and search between hundreds of AIS targets, AIS Targets Meeting Points, including graphical presentation of CPA (Closest Point of Approach) and BCR (Bow Crossing Range) points and the Tidal Widget for a selected tidal reference point.

Secured AIS feed over Internet allows integration with the Transas Vessel Traffic System in order to receive real-time AIS targets in defined areas. In addition the Pilot PRO’s user interface now supports Portuguese language. The T-Mapper software is a powerful tool for prompt multi-format chart editing of a selected port area, which supports ENC, bENC and Transas TX-97 chart formats. The T-Mapper, allows port hydrographers to alter chart object information based on notices provided by local HO’s between official chart releases and share this data with the Transas Pilot PRO users.

Photo: The elegant interior of HQS Wellington is an ideal location for the Pilots meeting.