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GNS helping owners and managers buy only the navigational data they needGNS helping owners and managers buy only the navigational data they need

It is not something you hear every day but Paul Stanley, ceo of GNS, actually wants to help customers by less of the company’s electronic charts and navigational data.

Marcus Hand, Editor

October 8, 2018

2 Min Read
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GNS has just launched Voyager Fleet Insight which uses analytics so that customers buy only the data they need in these in days of digital navigation rather than loading up with charts they may never actually use.

Explaining the apparently counter-intuitive business strategy to Seatrade Maritime News Stanley said: “It’s sort of interesting isn’t it? But I think as the industry makes the transition to digital it’s extremely complicated for ship managers and owners to understand what they should be buying and staying compliant and the old navigational habits around paper charts don’t translate readily into the digital world.

“We thought we should take a longer term view of the digital analytical and software relationship with customers and help them to be more effective in managing what they buy, how they buy it and when they buy it.”

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Initial users of the service report savings of 30% to 70% on their outlay for navigation data according to GNS.

Part of the reasons savings can be so great is that passage plans are naturally risk adverse taking account scenarios such as diversions and in the world of paper charts the physical charts for all eventualities would need to be on board the vessel. This habit has continued into the world of digital navigation resulting in unnecessary spend.

“People are using these old fashioned passage planning methodologies and using them in a way they don’t have to,” Stanley explained.

“In the connected digital world you just need charts for that passage plan you intend to make and if something causes you to vary that passage plan in 10 minutes you have the permissions that allow you to unlock the cells for that diversion.” The navigational data is already pre-installed on the computer on the bridge so all the officer needs to purchase is the encryption key to unlock the required charts.

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Commenting on the experiences of early adopters of the service he said: “People like this transparency and visibility it helps them manage their business and help them stay compliant. Anything we can do to help people understand the operational efficiency of the asset seems very welcome.”

The service maintains up-to-date lists of the technical library publications required by each vessel’s Flag State, SIRE vetting and other key stakeholders.

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About the Author

Marcus Hand

Editor

Marcus Hand is the editor of Seatrade Maritime News and a dedicated maritime journalist with over two decades of experience covering the shipping industry in Asia.

Marcus is also an experienced industry commentator and has chaired many conferences and round tables. Before joining Seatrade at the beginning of 2010, Marcus worked for the shipping industry journal Lloyd's List for a decade and before that the Singapore Business Times covering shipping and aviation.

In November 2022, Marcus was announced as a member of the Board of Advisors to the Singapore Journal of Maritime Talent and Technology (SJMTT) to help bring together thought leadership around the key areas of talent and technology.

Marcus is the founder of the Seatrade Maritime Podcast that delivers commentary, opinions and conversations on shipping's most important topics.

Conferences & Webinars

Marcus Hand regularly moderates at international maritime events. Below you’ll find a list of selected past conferences and webinars.

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