Routes Navigation Program
Oy Finnish Softcode Ltd
Oy Finnish Softcode Ltd is a licensed ARCS Original Equipment Manufacturer. The company is manufacturing Routes navigation program for ARCS charts.
Routes Navigation Program
The program is ARCS compatible Raster Chart Display System (RCDS) with route planning, voyage monitoring and recording functions. The program has been developed in a real-life environment on board a tanker. The software package includes a separate program for installing, updating and managing user's ARCS charts.
Route planning with the program is simple. The waypoints and course lines are drawn on the ARCS chart in use with mouse clicks. When the program notices that the route has reached the chart border, a new chart is loaded automatically. If desired, the program can select the largest scale chart for route planning automatically.
When connected to a GPS receiver, vessel's position is shown in real time on the largest available ARCS chart in relation to the planned course lines. Vessel's course, speed and ETA to the next waypoint and destination are continuously displayed and updated. A route plan from vessel's present position to the destination with estimated passing times for each waypoint can be displayed or printed with a click of a button. Vessel's position, course and speed are saved in a log file once a minute, and this file can be replayed later in the Routes navigator looking similar as the display was when it was recorded.
When connected to an ARPA radar capable of sending NMEA compatible data, the plotted targets together with radar heading line can be shown on the chart.
ARCS Charts
ARCS charts are high quality raster facsimiles of the Admiralty paper charts and they have almost world-wide coverage consisting of about 3000 charts. They are manufactured by The United Kingdom Hydrographic Office. ARCS charts are available from distributors all over the world.
Experience has shown that ARCS charts are very accurate and they can greatly increase the safety and efficiency of navigation.
In type approved ECDIS-systems, in the areas where no IHO S57 charts are not yet available, ARCS charts can be used instead as primary navigational charts. Routes program is not type approved, and ARCS charts must be considered only as an aid to navigation in this case. SOLAS vessels using this program must have also officially approved paper charts on board. However, the accuracy and functionality of ARCS charts in Routes program is the same as in the type approved systems.
ARCS charts are supplied in CD-ROM disks containing up to 300 charts each. Selective access to the charts is obtained with chart permits, which are supplied to the user together with the chart CDs. A cumulative update CD is published weekly. With this the charts can be updated automatically in the Routes Manager program.
New charts can be licensed by telephone, fax or e-mail even at sea if the destination changes during the voyage. Remote e-mail updating of charts selected by the user will be available soon. Routes Manager is ready for this also.
Program Development
Routes program is under continuous development in practical navigation on board. The latest Routes Navigator is freely available for downloading from this web site. The size of the self extracting zip file is about 5 MB.
To use Routes Navigator the security key delivered with the original program must be attached to the the parallel port of the computer.
The free Demo Program with 4 charts runs without the security key, but it can not be used for live navigation or displaying commercial ARCS charts.The size of the self extracting zip file is about 10 MB.
Computer System Requirements
Oy Finnish Softcode Ltd, Metsäniityntie 7 A, 24280 Salo, Finland
Phone/Fax: +358-2-733 2880 e-mail:pauli.suhonen@finnishsoftcode.com