New App Offers Fleet Protection and Monitoring

These days technology offers the ability to track virtually anything. There are apps available to monitor security cameras, HVAC systems, and even appliances. Going even further, apps now offer peace of mind to parents by allowing them to keep track of their children through smart watches and smart phones. People are even able to monitor their health, including blood pressure and glucose levels. Monitoring just one of these takes time but imagine keeping track of a dozen HVAC systems at different locations, or even 30 children at one time.

For fleet managers, keeping track of 30 vessels can be an overwhelming task. Operators are now able to monitor the precise GPS locations of multiple vessels, establish geo-fences, and receive notifications when critical events occur thanks to SirenFleet® from Siren Marine, a manufacturer of remote monitoring and security systems for the marine industry. From one intuitive display, SirenFleet tracks and monitors an entire fleet of vessels in real-time. Because business on the water already carries enough uncertainty, the SirenFleet app provides confidence through current and critical data.

As the fleet manager of Freedom Boat Club of San Diego, Sean Wilson relies on SirenFleet daily. When asked about the system’s benefits, Wilson recounts one experience in Ventura when a member ran out of fuel in the Santa Barbara Channel. “The fog was very dense, and they didn’t know where they were and didn’t know how to use the mapping system, so I had to deploy Sea Tow. I gave Sea Tow the exact coordinates of their location. They brought them fuel and led them back in safely.”

With breadcrumb GPS tracking, the complete history of a vessel’s location is recorded for later review. “It’s always on, always tracking,” said Alex Puskar, sales director for Siren Marine. “If [fleet managers] want to see the exact position of a boat they can do that. They can go through historical tracks and enter a specific time and date, see where that boat was, how fast it was going.”

Wilson recounts another incident when a club member returned with a damaged vessel. “We have a place called Zuniga Jetty that’s exposed at high-tide and submerged at low. I got to see at what time their track line went right over the jetty,” he said. “It was enough information to say, this vessel was damaged by you taking this vessel where it’s not allowed.”

Custom geo-fences can be created effortlessly within the app to identify hazardous or unauthorized zones. When a vessel has crossed a geo-fence, a notification is sent to users through the app. Being in San Diego, near the international border, Wilson finds daily value in the geo-fence feature. “Some of our vessels are not allowed offshore,” he said. “We have people who think they’re being tricky and try to go offshore, and we get a ding [notification].

That happens quite often. It really helps me control my fleet and keep it safe for people who use our vessels.” The geo-fence feature is also invaluable at times when a vessel is docked, alerting the owner if it has left its slip or mooring. A breach of a geo-fence ramps up the frequency of GPS “pings”, providing even more precise vessel location and facilitating a swifter response.

The workhorse of the SirenFleet system is the Siren 3 Pro, a stand-alone cellular-based onboard unit with a GPS receiver independent of the vessel’s instruments. Connecting to a vessel’s NMEA 2000 (N2K) communications system, the Siren 3 Pro, allows for direct, real-time monitoring of tank levels and engine performance within the SirenFleet app. “The fleet manager can determine if a boat is due for service or if oil level is low,” added Puskar. “All of that will be picked up and reported in the SirenFleet app.” All notifications can be set for delivery through the app, SMS, and email so these critical events and service intervals are never missed. Wilson started out with 35 Siren 3 Pro units, later bumping that total up to 60 when his fleet grew.

Customized to Fit Needs
The depth of real-time knowledge available to the user is limited only by their imagination, as the catalog of sensors available for system customization is extensive. Available sensors include temperature, high-water, bilge pump, shore power, battery, and a multitude of different security sensors. Tim Cohan, director of Sales, Marketing & Customer Services at Madougalls’ Cape Cod Marine Services, has installed Siren products for years. Cohan noted that remote monitoring of assets is something that clients have come to expect for their home and autos, so it only makes sense for the same service to apply to boat ownership. “Being able to see shore power, bilge pump cycle, to monitor those things remotely they’ve really found appealing,” said Cohan. “Anytime we do a major refit or install it tends to be a topic of discussion. Now with the wireless high-water and temp sensors, it really allows the customer to customize and it’s also a little easier on the install side of things.”

For boat clubs and third-party rental operations, SirenFleet eliminates some of the guesswork in a business inherently packed with unknowns. And while accurate real-time data allows a boat rental company to track their own assets, the resultant confidence and professionalism ripples outward to their working relationships. “This gives a marina some peace of mind if they are hosting a rental company,” Puskar said. “One of the largest challenges for these rental companies is finding a marina.” Many insurance companies are now recognizing the value of SirenFleet by offering discounts on premiums. Fleet pricing is also available for outfits looking to incorporate the SirenFleet system into their business model.

Trusting cherished vessels to strangers, when it is a marina’s business to do so, shouldn’t be stressful. A system that can track and monitor the health and whereabouts of a fleet can ease minds and result in a more successful business.