Web VTS designed for vessel traffic and monitoring centers and increases the safety, security and efficiency of operations within a port. Web VTS provides a complete AIS interface that includes the ability to view and track all vessels, display specific vessel information, and send and receive safety related and text messages. Web VTS’s interface and display of AIS related information offers port operators a substantial leap forward in their ability to communicate and interact with sea-based vessels. Since Web VTS is fully configurable, operators can adjust the size of the chart panel, customize color patterns for AIS targets, set alarms, create reports, filters, and zones specific to each user.

Web VTS designed to perform the following functions:

Displaying Google, Virtual Earth, MapPoint maps and BSB nautical charts.
Displaying unlimited number of AIS equipped vessels.
Generating a wide range of customizable reports (e.g. Arrival/Departure, Advance Arrival, Harbour Summary, Speed Violation, and others).
Providing an ability to filter AIS data.
Supporting different type of user-defined zones.
Generating user-defined alarms (e.g. Zone Enter/Exit, Speed Violation, and others);
Producing different types of customisable reports.
Providing an ability to save and replay historical data.

Web VTS intended for wide range of AIS (Automatic Identification System) users who prefer or have to use web browsers in their work.

Working with Web VTS

Before starting to use Web VTS you should obtain your login name and password.

Starting Web VTS

Open Internet Explorer and type into the address bar the following address: http://<yourwebsite>/VTS and you should see the Login screen.

Enter your name and password and then press the Log In button to open the Web VTS’ main screen.

Using the Toolbar

As soon as you start Web VTS, you’ll see its toolbar at the top of the application window. The toolbar contains tools to access commands and other actions. You click a tool to perform its action. Some tools complete the action immediately; others place you in a mode to complete the action.

Map tools in the toolbar:

- Refresh.

- Left move of the map.

- Right move of the map.

- Up move of the map.

- Down move of the map.

- Zoom out of the map.

- Zoom in of the map.

- Select scale.

- Select size of map window.

- Display the Microsoft Virtual Earth map.

- Display the Google map.

- Display the BSB nautical chart.

- Display the Microsoft MapPoint map.

Designers and other tools in the toolbar:

- Open Filter Designer.

- Open Zone Designer.

- Open Route Planner.

- Open Alarm Designer.

- Open Report Designer.

- Show the Alarm window.

- Open the Report window.

- Show the History Replay panel.

- Open Messages Inbox.

- Open Messages Outbox.

- Open Sent Messages window.

- Open Virtual Buoy Sender window.

Show names, select location, filtering, and action tools in the toolbar:

- Check the Names box to display the names of vessels.

- Use this box to set up a desired location, so next time you could move to it by the only one click.

- Click this button to edit the active filter or click this arrow to select a filter.

- Select the type of actions from the dropdown list (Move/Select, Move, Select, Zoom In, Zoom Out and Set Position).

In the lower part of the application window you will see the following tools:

- Click this button when you finish your work with the application.

- Click this button to open the Web VTS User’s Guide.

- Type the name of the vessel (MMSI number or Call

Sign) in the Search box and click Go to find the vessel.

- Use this button to obtain ETA (Estimated Time of Arrival) of the vessel.

Displaying Vessel Static and Dynamic Information

To display vessel static and dynamic information you could use two options:

Point your mouse cursor on any symbol of vessel (triangle) and make a left click;

- or -

Point your mouse cursor on any name of vessel in the Vessel list (that is located at the most left side of the browser window) and make a left click;

Then you will see the Vessel Data panel below the chart window.

Tip: You could close the Vessel Data panel at any time by clicking the close button at the upper right corner of the Vessel Data panel.

Displaying Distance and Bearing

To display distance and bearing to any vessel click an arrow of the On Click drop-down box and select Set Position.

Next point your mouse cursor on the map window and make a left click and then you will see the red dot.

The settings of the On Click drop-down box will switch to the default one: Move/Select.

Finally select any vessel and see distance and bearing in the Vessel Data panel.

Using Filter Designer

Filter Designer is a power tool that allows users to select what vessels (AIS targets) to display.

To start Filter Designer click the Filter Designer button on the toolbar and you will see the Filter Designer window.

Filter Designer description:

Select Filter: Use this dropdown box to select any existing filter or create a new one.
Filter Name: Use this box to display and edit a filter’s name (by default the program uses “FilterX” name for every new filter, where X is a first available number).
Rename: Use this button to rename any existing filter.
Delete: Use this button to delete any existing filter.

Further the Filter Designer contains several identical lines; those have the same controls: the Enable check box, the Group field, the MMSI field, the Name field, the Call Sign field, the Ship Type dropdown box, the AIS Type dropdown box, the Show check box and the Color dropdown box.

Each of these lines represents a condition of the filter. The first line has the highest priority.

Enable: Check this box to enable a condition.
Group: Use this field to select any predefined group.
MMSI, Name, or Call Sign: Use these fields to identify a desired vessel (target). Type a name of the vessel (MMSI number, or call sign) into a corresponding field. Note: Enter only one parameter: Name, MMSI, or Call Sign.

Tip: Use an asterisk symbol * to specify all vessels’ names, MMSI numbers, or call signs; you can type it in any field (MMSI, Name, or Call Sign). Use an asterisk symbol, if you want to apply those settings for all vessels.

Ship Type: Use this dropdown box to select a type of the vessel or dangerous cargo.
AIS Type: Use this dropdown box to select AIS targets based on AIS type (Base Station, Class A, Class B, AtoN or SAR Aircraft).
Show: Leave this box checked to display the selected vessels or uncheck this box to hide vessels.
Color: Choose any desired color from this dropdown box.
OK: Click this button to save the changes and return to the main view.
Cancel: Click this button to cancel all changes and return to the main view.
Apply: Click this button to save the changes but keep the designer window open.
Groups: Click this button to open the Group Designer panel and create the group of the vessels.
Help: Click this button to open the Web VTS User’s Guide.

Filter Examples:

a) Display only one vessel:

This filter will show only the HUSTLER II vessel and hide all others.

· Click to open the Filter Designer panel.

· Select <New> from Select Filter.

· Instead of “Filter1” type “Display only one vessel” in the Zone field.

Note: The Filter Designer allows a user to create as many conditions of the filter as wanted.

Each line contains one condition. The fist line has the highest priority and so on.

Now you can start to make settings for displaying HUSTLER II. Use the fist line.

· Leave Enable checked.

· Leave Group blank

· Leave MMSI blank.

· Type “HUSTLER II” in the Name field.

· Leave Call Sign blank.

· Leave “All” in Ship Type.

· Leave “All” in AIS Type.

· Leave Show checked.

· Select “Lime” from Color.

You can use the second line to make settings to hide all other vessels:

· Leave Enable checked.

· Leave Group blank.

· Type the asterisk symbol * in the MMSI field (it means “all vessels”). Tip: Use the asterisk symbol *, when you want to apply the condition to all vessels (targets).

· Leave Name blank.

· Leave Call Sign blank.

· Leave “All” in Ship Type.

· Leave “All” in AIS Type.

· Clear Show.

· Leave “Transparent” in Color.

Here is the result of applying this filter:

b) Display only cargo vessels:

This filter will display only cargo vessels and hide all others.

· Click to open the Filter Designer panel.

· Select <New> from Select Filter.

· Instead of “Filter1” type “Display only cargo vessels” in the Zone field.

Now you can start to make settings for displaying cargo vessels. Use the fist line.

· Leave Enable checked.

· Leave Group blank.

· Type the asterisk symbol * in the MMSI field (it means “all vessels”).

· Leave Name blank.

· Leave Call Sign blank.

· Select “Cargo” in Ship Type.

· Leave “All” in AIS Type.

· Leave Show checked.

· Select “Violet” from Color.

You can use the second line to make settings to hide all other vessels:

· Leave Enable checked.

· Leave Group blank.

· Type the asterisk symbol * in the MMSI field (it means “all vessels”).

· Leave Name blank.

· Leave Call Sign blank.

· Leave “All” in Ship Type.

· Leave “All” in AIS Type.

· Clear Show.

· Leave “Transparent” in Color.

Here is the result of applying this filter:

c) Display only base stations:

This filter will display only base stations and hide all other AIS targets.

· Click to open the Filter Designer panel.

· Select <New> from Select Filter.

· Instead of “Filter1” type “Display only base stations” in the Filter Name field.

Now you can start to make settings for displaying base stations. Use the fist line.

· Leave Enable checked.

· Leave Group blank

· Type the asterisk symbol * in the MMSI field (it means “all vessels”).

· Leave Name blank.

· Leave Call Sign blank.

· Leave “All” in Ship Type.

· Select “Base Station” in AIS Type.

· Leave Show checked.

· Select “Blue” from Color.

You can use the second line to make settings to hide all other vessels:

· Leave Enable checked.

· Leave Group blank

· Type the asterisk symbol * in the MMSI field (it means “all vessels”).

· Leave Name blank.

· Leave Call Sign blank.

· Leave “All” in Ship Type.

· Leave “All” in AIS Type.

· Clear Show.

· Leave “Transparent” in Color.

Here is the result of applying this filter:

d) Display the group of vessels:

This filter will display the group of vessels and hide all others. Before an applying the filter, we need to prepare a predefined group of the vessels. In this case we are going to display BC Ferries.

· Click to open the Filter Designer panel.

· Click the Groups button to open the Group Designer panel.

· Select <New> from Select Group. If you open the Group Designer panel first time, then <New> is already on the spot.

· Instead of “Group1” type “BC Ferries” in the Group Name field.

· Type the names of the vessels in the Name field one by one.

Tip: By default the Group Designer panel has 8 lines. If you intend to type more than 8 names then when you are finished the 8^th line, please click Apply and you will see additional lines.

· Click the OK button to save your changes and return to the Filter Designer panel.

· Select <New> from Select Filter.

· Instead of “Filter1” type “BC Ferries” in the Filter Name field.

Now you can start to make settings of displaying BC Ferries. Use the fist line.

· Leave Enable checked.

· Select “BC Ferries” from Group.

· Leave MMSI blank.

· Leave Name blank.

· Leave Call Sign blank.

· Leave “All” in Ship Type.

· Leave “All” in AIS Type.

· Leave Show checked.

· Select “LightCoral” from Color.

You can use the second line to make settings to hide all other vessels:

· Leave Enable checked.

· Leave Group blank.

· Type the asterisk symbol * in the MMSI field (it means “all vessels”).

· Leave Name blank.

· Leave Call Sign blank.

· Leave “All” in Ship Type.

· Leave “All” in AIS Type.

· Clear Show.

· Leave “Transparent” in Color.

· Choose the OK button to save your changes and return to the main view.

Here is the result of applying this filter:

Using Zone Designer

Zone Designer allows users drawing any precise zone on the map. That is powerful tool for visualisation of any desire monitoring zone on the map. Also that is a basis for reports.

Zone Designer tool allows creating two types of zones (Circle and Polygon) and two types of lines (Line L and Line R).

To start Zone Designer click the Zone Designer button on the toolbar and you will see the Zone Designer window.

Zone Designer description:

· Select Zone : Use this dropdown box to select any existing zone or to create a new one.

· Zone Name: Use this box to display and edit a zone’s name (by default the program uses “ZoneX” name for every new zone, where X is a first available number).

· Rename: Use this button to rename any existing zone.

· Delete: Use this button to delete any existing zone.

· Enable: Leave this box checked to enable a zone.

· Zone Type: Use this box to select a type of a zone (Circle or Polygon) or a type of a line (Line L or Line R).

· Radius: Type a length of the radius in Nautical Miles (NM). Note: available only for Circle.

· Color: Use this dropdown box to select any predefined color of a zone.

· Fill: Check this box to hatch a zone.

· Latitude and Longitude: Type in these boxes a zone’s position. For the circle zone that is a center of the circle. Tip: Use the Add Points button to simplify this action.

· Delete: Check this box to delete any points (latitude and longitude pairs).

· Add Points: Use this button to create zone points by clicking on the map.

· OK: Click this button to save the changes and return to the main view.

· Cancel: Click this button to cancel all changes and return to the main view.

· Apply: Click this button to save the changes but keep the designer window open.

Zone Examples:

a) Drawing the circle zone:

· Click to open the Zone Designer panel.

· Select <New> from Select Zone.

· Instead of “Zone1” type “Delta Port” in the Zone field.

· Leave Enable checked.

· Select “Circle” from Zone Type.

· Type “2” in the Radius box (default: 1.000).

· Select “Lime” from Color (default: “LightCoral”).

· Leave Fill checked.

· Then you need to select a center of the zone; please click the Add Points button and you will be redirected to the map view.

· Next, left click on the desired location to establish a center of the circle zone.

· Click the Return to Zone Designer button to return to the Zone Designer window.

· Choose the OK button to save your changes and return to the main view.

b) Drawing the polygon zone:

· Click to open the Zone Designer panel.

· Select <New> from Select Zone.

· Instead of “Zone1” type “Delta Port Polygon” in the Zone field.