GNS Launches Free E-Navigation Solutions

At SMM in Hamburg, Germany this week, Global Navigation Solutions (GNS), the maritime services group announces the launch of (i) its new free Essentials package, as well as (ii) an upgrade to the Voyager Planning Station dashboard, and (iii) a new bundle purchasing option.

Essentials Package
With effect from 1 October 2014, GNS customers will be able to use its new Voyager Essentials Package free of charge. This will enable vessels to benefit from GNS’s navigational purchasing and information management tools irrespective of whether they are using chart updating and other added value services on board.

Vessel’s using the Voyager Essentials package can save time by using its route planning and chart inventory management tools as well as benefiting from easier navigation purchasing and compliance by using its map based product catalogue and simplified order management system. When used in conjunction with GNS’s new free VMS service for office personnel, ship managers gain better control over navigational costs and reduce time spent on related administration.

Voyage Planning Station (‘VPS’) Upgraded
This week GNS is launching the latest upgrade to its highly successful Voyager Planning Station which has the added benefits of a new dashboard access point which provides customers with a wide range of safety and efficiency enhancing tools, together with the integration of tidal information provided by the ADMIRALTY TotalTide product.

Voyager’s new interface design is the result of significant investment by GNS to create a new standard for navigation software. Working with UX (user experience) specialists, GNS has used first principals to restructure how the software is used. The result is a simpler, more elegant solution that makes Voyager even easier to use and enhances efficiency on board even further.

GNS Bundles
As part of the transition to digital, GNS is announcing a new way for customers to purchase its market-leading navigation services with the launch of its bundle purchasing facility. This provides an easier, more affordable way for ship managers to purchase charts and publications, in both paper and digital format. It also significantly improves the cost and simplicity with which New Build vessels can be fitted out with an initial chart and publication inventory.
The new GNS Bundle includes a complementary quarterly review of the chart and publication holdings on each vessel in the fleet, to ensure the optimum mix of charts and publications is held at all times, either in paper or digital format.

Commenting on these developments, Mike Robinson, CEO of Global Navigation Solutions said: “GNS is the first company to provide a ship to shore e-navigation solution to its customers free of charge. This is a major departure from the way that leading chart suppliers have traditionally marketed their back of bridge tools.”

He added: “Our Voyager Planning Station product provides access to a wide range of navigation tools and information which are beautifully integrated to save time and help improve efficiency on board. Our navigation toolset is now even easier to access in just 3 clicks of a mouse, together with options to optimise a route for weather and tides as well as vessel specific factors in just seconds.”

“We are very excited about all these developments at GNS and the benefits and savings which they bring to our customers, as well as the underlying progress we are making in the transition towards total e-navigation.”