Maritime Systems have released their I-VMS for English fishing boats below 12 metres. From 2022, the MMO requires all English registered fishing vessels under 12 metres to fitted with an approved I-VMS (Inshore Vessel Monitoring System).
Unlike previous VMS schemes, each boat’s operator has freedom to choose a preferred supplier from the devices Type Approved by the MMO.
Maritime Systems consulted with fishermen, marine engineers, the MMO and local representatives around the country for six months and has released an approved, one-stop solution that meets all their requirements for reliability and support, at the lowest cost and minimal disruption to fishing.
‘Inshore fishermen already have a tough time, so for me it was vital to reduce any stress where possible. We have made the registration and installation as simple as possible, with one fee covering everything. We expect to subscribe the majority of the English fishermen to our I-VMS and are committed to making sure it does not hamper them in any way,’ said James Glover, managing director of Maritime Systems, commenting that the introduction of I-VMS may not be appreciated by all members of the fishing community, so Maritime Systems has worked hard to prove itself as the fisherman’s friend.
Local engineers are required to always keep spare units in their vans, they have organised discounts with marine suppliers for subscribers and the company is also making a donation to the Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society with every subscription.
‘It was also important to me to donate to the Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society and I am proud that we are able to support this deserving charity as part of our ongoing commitment to the fishermen. These are tough times and none of us know what the future may bring,’ he said.
The MS44 is a compact I-VMS with internal GPS & GSM antennas. Mounted within the wheelhouse, it does not require any holes to be drilled or external mounting like previous VMS systems. Status indicators inform the skipper it is operating correctly and after installation it will operate autonomously, with firmware upgrades and settings adjusted remotely from the factory if required.
He said that Maritime Systems is offering the most competitive price and is the only supplier to include free installation, free local support and a five-year warranty. The MMO grant for purchasing the I-VMS fully covers the device costs and fisher only pays the monthly subscription of £15 which covers the airtime, support and replacements.
With up to 2000 systems to install next year, Maritime Systems is offering 12 months free subscription with registrations in December. This allows their engineers to better plan the roll-out and coordinate with the boats in their patch, doing installation at convenient times to the fishermen.
