The programme developed by Stockholm Radio in collaboration with electronics specialist True Heading reduces the distance between the chart plotter and iPad once again. It masters route navigation and offers a speed and course display. In addition, a speed-dependent heading vector can be set and the display can be orientated either to the north (north up) or the current course (head up).
One of the real innovations is the chart material used. According to Stockholm Radio, Seapilot is based on the Ecdis standards for commercial shipping. The nautical charts therefore correspond to the official data of the respective national authorities. Chart sets are currently available for Sweden, Denmark and Finland. Stockholm Radio is still in negotiations with the BSH for German waters, but the chart data may follow in the course of the summer.
Each map set must be purchased separately, whereby you take out an annual subscription and the data is updated twice a year with the official corrections. While the subscription for Sweden is relatively inexpensive at around 31 euros, the Danish maps cost around 95 euros. The data is loaded onto the device at the time of purchase so that you can navigate even without an internet connection. If you cancel the subscription, the maps also remain on the iPad, they are just no longer updated.
In addition to the official maps, the extremely high-resolution special maps from the private surveying company Hydographica are also available for Sweden; they cost 9 euros per sheet.
As long as there is a data connection via Wi-Fi or a mobile phone network, Seapilot can do even more: the app loads AIS data from the Internet and displays the 100 ships closest to the current position on the map. In addition, the programme also receives the current weather data from the 60 Swedish AIS weather stations and displays the wind speed and direction of the nearest station.
Update:
According to initial practical tests, the usefulness of the AIS functions is limited, at least in Denmark. Apparently, the app only accesses data from Swedish land stations. Accordingly, only ships in the vicinity of Swedish waters are displayed. In the Great and Little Belt, on the other hand, there is a yawning emptiness
Seapilot costs around 43 euros and can be purchased in the App store can be loaded.
Further information in English at www.stockholmradio.se/seapilot-for-ipad-0.
