D+ Neptune

HF & ARIANE

Inmarsat WF-D+ Fish Marking Buoy

The fish marking buoy WF-BD+ has been specifically designed to mark flotsam used for tuna fishing. This buoy is moored to a flotsam released at sea to mark shoals. The WF-BD+ buoy is a sturdy half-sphere of 400 mm diameter, made of moulded plastic. It is equipped with an integrated antenna, an INMARSAT D+ transceiver, a GPS, a temperature sensor and a flashlight.

The buoy operates by transmitting its GPS position, the water temperature and the battery level once a day on the up link of INMARSAT D+ satellite communication service. The data is forwarded to the ship by INMARSAT D+ or by Internet if the boat is equipped with such a link. The NEPTUNE software designed by SERPE IESM manages the buoys and the associated data.

One of the advantages of this buoy is discretion. Its gray color and leveled shape make it difficult to see and to locate by radar. Due to the type of signal encryption, data decoding by "pirate receivers " or by the server is impossible and this makes the system all the more secure and confidential. Another important advantage is permanent global coverage area which allows the ship to receive the signals from the buoys regardless of its distance from the vessel.

Neptune Reception System

The Neptune reception system has been specially developed to process the data transmitted by the WF-BD+ buoys. It is installed in the wheelhouse of the tuna fishing vessel to monitor the FAD's position and drift on display. Moreover, the system indicates the water temperature and the WF-BD+ battery level.

Each buoy has its own characteristics stored in an electronic key. Once the characteristics are downloaded into the PC, the reception system decodes the messages transmitted by the buoy. The buoy positions and information (water temperature, battery level) are automatically displayed on the PC. The data is forwarded to the ship by INMARSAT D+ or by Internet if the boat is equipped with such a link. The Neptune software designed by SERPE IESM manages the buoys and the associated data. The Neptune software benefits from a graphics interface under Windows 2000. A protection key insures the security of the data.

Perhaps the most outstanding advantage of the WF-BD+ buoy and the Neptune Reception System is the ability to remotely control the buoy directly from the ship. This allows the possibility to modify, if necessary, the following parameters directly from the ship:

• This service allows increasing gradually the number of daily buoy transmissions from 1 to 24 in order to optimize the information quantity and the buoy battery life.

Transmission intervals of the buoy position

• Activation of a flashing light to locate the buoy visually in the 24 times a day transmitting mode.

This WF-RD+ receiver benefits from many protections to optimize the confidentiality of the fishing information: Data transmitted by the WF-BD+ are ciphered Reliability of the Neptune Software under Windows 2000. High level of security and reliability of the server. USB key to secure Computer data.

Internet NEKSA option: High secured connection with virtual private network (VPN) and strong authentication.

The NEPTUNE receiver is supplied with an NMEA output to communicate with outside systems and software interfaces are available to export the buoy positions to MAX SEA or TURBOTHON software.