Boat Trackers (The devil inside us:))
Boat trackers are like a technology that brings all kinds of scenarios to mind and awakens the devil in us. They are undoubtedly very necessary, but on the other hand, it is a technology that makes people even more paranoid.
In general terms: Boat Trackers are devices that use technologies such as GPS (Global Positioning System) and GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) to determine and track the position of naval vessels in real time. GPS is an American satellite, Glonass is a Russian satellite and the tracking devices use both satellite systems, so there is no escape. The main purpose is to take precautions against boat theft, but they can also be used for other purposes and bring all kinds of scenarios to mind.
For example, we have heard that boat owners have started to use it to control their captains. There are captains who rent the boat when the boat owners are away, and it is a very effective method to follow them. I just wondered if there are such smart captains that they can find a way to escape from these devices. I mean, maybe they can dismantle the device and attach it to a tree in the marina. If you are watching a detective series, you may think of more possibilities. I asked Mr. Gökhan from Motorist, the boat tracking company with the most widespread installation network. Mr. Gökhan said, “They can’t dismantle it very clearly, even if they do, the boat owner will immediately get an alarm and report that someone has touched the tracking device and tried to interfere”. He said that since they did the installation of this system themselves and the installation is quite complicated, it is not possible for the captain to dismantle and then install it.
I asked him bluntly, does the current technology provide one hundred percent protection against the evil in man? He laughed and said no. If there are more creative scenarios you want to ask him, I suggest you ask him. Share with him the situations that make you feel uneasy, he is a person who cares about adding every possibility to his systems. Boat trackers certainly minimize the demons. For example, you want to protect the engine. You don’t want the captain to overload. The speed limit is set immediately. Notifications are sent when the limit is exceeded.
For example, you don’t want to leave an area, this can be a marina, a safe zone is determined on the map, and a notification is sent as soon as you leave this area.
For example, when the engine is turned on or the door is opened, it sends a signal to the cell phone. What happens if the battery runs out? It has a battery that lasts for two days.
For example, we know that engines on stern drive boats are easily stolen. The best way to keep your boat engine safe, especially if you leave it outside the marina, is to use a boat tracking device. If someone removes the engine (theft), you will instantly receive an alarm on your phone and you can track your engine live and pinpoint its location. Even if the tracking device is dismantled, it continues to inform you because it has its own battery.” On the other hand, boat owners who use this device are no longer worried about their boat or engine, and it provides a serious psychological benefit 🙂 It’s a tremendous piece of technology for bareboat charterers. It even tracks the route it’s traveling. If they miss the boat, they can call the Coast Guard immediately.
What I am curious about is, do insurance companies give premium relief to boats with this device? Normally I would call and find out, but this time I will wait for an answer from someone who knows: info@marinakedisi.com please write if you know.
The video below is from a movie scene, watch how boats are tracked when there are no boat tracking devices:)
In general, the functions of boat tracking devices can be listed as follows.
Safety Boat trackers are used to increase the safety of vessels. They continuously track the position of vessels to prevent possible maritime accidents and provide rapid response in emergencies.
Route Tracking: Boat trackers help to monitor the planned routes of ships. Thus, ship owners and operators can make sure that the ship is traveling on the designated route and can make changes to the route when necessary.
Fuel Efficiency: These devices monitor and analyze the fuel consumption of ships. Ship owners can then take appropriate measures to improve the fuel efficiency of their vessels.
Inventory Management: Boat trackers facilitate the tracking of cargo and equipment on board ships. This enables ship owners to effectively manage the inventory on board.
Vessel Performance: The devices help optimize vessel operations by recording vessel speed, navigation and other performance data.
Theft Prevention: Boat trackers help ship owners protect their vessels from potential theft or unauthorized use. They can play an important role in detecting and recovering stolen vessels.
A Brief History of Boat Trackers
Boat trackers began to be used in commercial shipping in the 1970s and 1980s with the development of GPS (Global Positioning System) technology. GPS is a satellite-based positioning system developed by the US Department of Defense and was originally designed for military purposes. As GPS technology became available for civilian use, the maritime industry also started to benefit from this technology. Boat tracking devices were developed to record and track the location of vessels by receiving their GPS signals. In this way, the location of marine vessels could be determined and tracked in real time. In the early days, boat trackers were large and complex devices and were only used on large commercial vessels. However, with the development of technology, smaller, more sensitive and easy-to-use devices have been produced. Therefore, today, boat trackers are widely used on various types of vessels, from commercial ships to yachts and other marine vessels.