Boatracs Announces Growing Demand for Fleet Management Software With Over 2,000 Vessels Online

Boatracs Inc., a leader in providing integrated satellite communications and software solutions to the maritime industry, announced today that over 2,000 vessels are now being managed with Boatracs BTConnect®, making it the most widely used vessel tracking and fleet management software in the U.S. commercial maritime market.  BTConnect is the only fleet management platform to combine visual monitoring of vessel positions on an interactive map with location based two-way messaging and reporting, providing intelligence that enables owners and operators of offshore service, inland waterways, coastal workboat and commercial fishing fleets to run their companies more efficiently, safely and profitably.

BTConnect was launched to the maritime industry in North America as Boatracs’ next generation fleet management platform in early 2012, introducing a shore-side user interface that is web-based for flexible access to fleet-wide data from any computer, tablet or smart phone.  The shore-side software was designed to improve efficiency with a single display that combines automated position reports with a host of other valuable features including route planning, map overlays, custom landmarks and historical vessel positions as well as two-way messages, logs and reports that include detailed vessel position information on all ship to shore communications.  An optional vessel side application is also available with a simple user interface for captains to receive and send messages and logs to facilitate collecting critical vessel data.

“BTConnect is an outstanding product for managing our liftboats,” said W.D. ‘Butch’ Bazer, Operations Manager for the Liftboat Division of Aries Marine.  “The software is very easy to navigate and the mobile access to fleet information is fantastic.  The ability to log on from any computer or phone to see accurate vessel positions, messages and logs in real time greatly improves my visibility into fleet operations.  We love the new application and use it every day to manage our boats more efficiently!”

BTConnect supports hardware on the OmniTRACS, AIS, KVH mini-VSAT and Iridium satellite networks.  Boatracs is one of the few companies serving the maritime industry that provides both software and satellite communications hardware.  That unique perspective has driven software development optimized for maritime communications networks by utilizing data compression and least cost routing to minimize data transmission costs. 

Other unique benefits of Boatracs BTConnect include:

• Integrated view to allow dispatch to monitor vessel positions and send a message or work order from the same display to streamline operations; positions are included on every ship to shore communication sent so fleet managers know what and where events occur.

• Custom landmarks and global map layers to monitor and manage vessels with greater precision to increase vessel productivity and ensure compliance with regulations.

• Extensive permission settings for granting limited or full information access to select employees, customers or third parties to put the right information in the hands of the right users.

• Notifications tool to automatically route messages and logs to designated departments – billing information can go to accounting while safety information goes to HSE and vessel information goes to engineering - distributing vessel data easily and efficiently.

• BTConnect API to access data for back office integration with databases and other applications such as accounting to streamline billing.

• BTConnect integrates AIS data in its interface for even greater operational value.

“The adoption rate of this new product has been tremendous,” said Irwin Rodrigues, President and CEO of Boatracs.  “Signing up over 2,000 vessels in just over a year underlines the value users are receiving from BTConnect as a shore-side fleet management solution.  BTConnect is being used by maritime operations ranging from a single vessel to 100+ vessel fleets and customer feedback has been outstanding on the ease of use and access to operational data, demonstrating the broad range and versatility of its features.  Staying connected to your fleet has become a critical component of successfully managing fleets today, and BTConnect provides the visibility owners and operators need to be competitive and profitable.”