The present invention provides an auxiliary berthing method and system for a vessel. Position information of a vessel relative to a berth is determined by a solar blind ultraviolet imaging method; meanwhile, by a GPS method, an attitude angle of the vessel relative to the berth is determined by at least two GPS receivers. Thus, the vessel can be berthed safely when getting close to the shore at low visibility. Further, in the method and device of the present invention, it can be preferable to integrate coordinate data and angle data received by a solar blind ultraviolet imaging module and GPS signal receiving modules by a normalized correlation algorithm and a data fusion algorithm, so as to improve the positioning accuracy.

[Problem] To provide a collision damage reduction system for watercrafts, which system is usable even when a user watercraft stops or is moving at slow speed.

[Solution] A collision damage reduction system for watercrafts comprises: an information acquiring device for acquiring information on a user watercraft 2 and a target watercraft 11; a turning device for turning the user watercraft 2 to change a front-rear direction thereof; and a control device configured to acquire the information from the information acquiring device, and control the turning device based on the acquired information. When detecting a risk of collision between the user watercraft 2 and the target watercraft 11, the control device controls the turning device such that the turning device turns the user watercraft 2 to a state in which the front-rear direction thereof is parallel to a moving direction of the target watercraft 11.

A navigation information device is provided with a position acquisition unit for acquiring a position information of its own ship, a memory for storing display settings corresponding to a waypoint that is a via point on a planned route, and a display processing unit for performing generation processing for generating a screen in which the position information is superimposed on a chart, and performing change processing for changing display settings to display settings corresponding to the waypoint based on a positional relationship between the position information and the waypoint.

A water activity board is described, comprising: a. a plurality of sensors, b. a data unit interconnected to the sensors. c. a communication unit interconnected to the data unit. wherein the communication unit is configured to communicate to a cloud-based database. In some embodiments the sensors are selected from a group consisting of Environmental sensors, sea platform sensors and User sensors.

Apparatus and computer-implemented method for autonomous marine vessel docking, the method including determining a transit control mode associated with route plan data defining transit operation between ports; determining an autonomous docking control mode associated with harbor track data including a set of waypoint properties and defining approach zone information and track segments joined at waypoints. Method further includes determining vessel location, speed and heading; comparing the vessel location, speed and heading to the approach zone information and changing from the transit control mode to the autonomous docking control mode in response to: the vessel location included by the location area information; the vessel speed being lower than the maximum vessel speed for entering the approach zone; and the vessel heading matching criteria defined by the maximum heading deviation for entering the approach zone.

A watercraft safety lighting system includes one or more light sensors for measuring ambient light levels, which are operatively connected to an electronic controller, such as a programmable logic controller or any suitable programmable computing device. The navigation lights are operatively connected to the electronic controller, as well as docking lights, interior lights, and instrument panel lighting, such as the lighting for gauges, instrument panels, video screens, GPS monitors, and the like. When ambient light levels reach a predetermined level of low light (as darkness is setting in, for example), the electronic controller is programmed to switch on the navigation lights, and to adjust other lighting to appropriate levels for night-time operations. The system may also shut off docking lights at a predetermined speed after dark, and may include alarms to warn the boat captain of improper lighting settings in low-light conditions.

A device for measuring shoreline distance and distance to objects on a boat, including a measurement mechanism for measuring shoreline distance and object distance including a global positioning system (GPS) in combination with a camera and sensor. A method of determining shoreline distance and distance to objects on a boat, by actuating the device, measuring the shoreline distance and object distance from the boat, and displaying the shoreline distance and object distance on the graphical interface display.

This application relates to an apparatus for tracking location using a control platform of a small buoy for simulating marine pollutants, in which at least one small observation buoy floats on the ocean, and a relay buoy collects location information from the observation buoy and provides the collected location information to a weather information management server. The apparatus may include at least one observation buoy and a relay buoy, the observation buoy including a GPS receiver which receives a signal transmitted from a GPS satellite and generate location information. The apparatus may also include a communicator performing wireless transmission and reception of signals with the relay buoy, and a power source providing driving power to the GPS receiver and the communicator. The relay buoy may receive location information from the at least one observation buoy and provide the received location information to a weather information management server.

An autonomous vessel and method for transporting a cargo from an origin to a destination utilizing water currents, a satellite location system, and a satellite communication system includes a hull for navigating a body of water. A communication module is adapted for wireless communication with local contacts and the satellite communication system. A propulsion module is adapted to propel the hull through the body of water and preferably includes one or more relatively low-power electric motors. A navigation module is adapted to steer the hull towards a next waypoint. The navigation module preferably includes a rudder control system and is connected with a location module that is itself adapted for communication with the satellite location system to find a current location of the hull on the body of water. A controller is adapted for controlling the modules, sending information, and for receiving commands and information.

A marine autopilot system is disclosed. While in autopilot mode, the marine vessel's autopilot system autonomously steers the marine vessel's rudder. Steering input provided using the helm typically results in counter-steering to the autopilot. If the autopilot is following a current heading or course (route), the autopilot may continue its efforts to remain on the heading or course in response to the deviation caused by steering input to the helm. The disclosed autopilot system improves this problem by including one or more sensors that measure helm movement and wirelessly transmit helm movement data to one or more components of the marine vessel's electronic network. If the operator of the marine vessel manually steers the helm to deviate from a current heading or course, helm movement exceeding a predetermined autopilot disengagement threshold may cause the autopilot control to temporarily disengage, allowing a user to manually steer the marine vessel.