Replacement service for ARCS Skipper at Seawork
Following the UKHO’s decision to withdraw their ARCS Skipper Service as from November this year, Norfolk UK based Meridian Chartware now has a replacement service which it will be demonstrating on its stand at Seawork.
The new service consists of a series of raster chart folios covering the English Channel, the North Sea, Ireland, the Eastern Atlantic Coast and the Mediterranean. The raster charts have been derived from data obtained from various national hydrographic offices including the UKHO, SHOM (France) and BSH (Germany). Raster chart coverage includes UK, Ireland, Netherlands, Belgium, France, Germany, Iceland, Spain, Portugal and Croatia. Meridian is currently in discussion with the Greek, Turkish, Danish and Norwegian authorities and hopes to add raster charts for these areas shortly. Meridian also has Imray raster chart packs available to supplement these raster chart folios.
In order to keep this data up to date, Meridian will have weekly Notice to Mariners (NMs) and quarterly chart updates available on its website for downloading. The Meridian chart plotting software has the ability to overlay the NMs onto the raster charts.
Meridian chart plotting software comes with each chart folio, making the system ready to use on any Windows based laptop or marine PC. The software is compatible with Windows XP, 7 and 8.
Together with the raster chart data Meridian includes tidal data (except Mediterranean) which can be used to compute tidal heights and tidal streams. The tidal stream data can be used with the Meridian chart plotting software for passage planning.
With the UK and Ireland chart folio a wrecks database is included, making the package suitable for divers and fishermen.
The charts and correction service is sold as an annual subscription from the date of purchase. At the end of the year’s annual subscription the user can either continue to use the charts uncorrected or renew the subscription.
Meridian will continue to sell it’s SeaTrak software for use with ARCS Navigator charts. Until ARCS Skipper is discontinued, Meridian will continue to support existing customers and assist them to either convert to ARCS Navigator charts or the new Meridian chart service.
