Tag Archives: VMS

Notice Regarding Loss of Vessel Monitoring Service

The McMurdo (formerly Boatracs) Omnitracs Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) operated by vessels with Greater Atlantic Region (GAR) permits will not be supported by its satellite provider after March 31, 2020. All current owners of the Omnitracs unit were notified via a letter from McMurdo dated December 19, 2019 about this issue. What should you know if you own an Omnitracs unit? >click to read< 10:27

VMS – Fishermen living in a police state – makes the Stazi and Big Brother look benign!

Here’s an example of what has happened to the fishing industry and how closely monitored its operations have become – now, almost the entire fleet are policed remotely using a VMS (vessel Monitoring System) that tracks their every move.  Fishermen have to pay for the privilege of being watched 24/7 and maintain the equipment directly from what comes out  out of the cod-end – which they are happy to do – but, if for any reason the system fails, they are immediately contacted by the MMO who insist that they report their position manually every 4 hours and return to port immediately to fix the problem – when they will be detained until they have done so!…This is exactly what happened to the Spirited Lady III yesterday click here to read the story 08:09

Wally Gray Sr. makes an emotional appeal at the 6/20/2013 NEFMC meeting

Listening to the webinar of the NEFMC meeting today during the VMS report, Wally Gray Sr. was invited to make a public comment at the end of the presentation.

He lost his son, Captain Wally Gray Jr, F/V Foxy Lady II and deck hand Wayne Young. The vessel was last pinged on 12/15/2012 about 15 miles north of Provincetown Saturday evening, when its vessel monitoring system (VMS) transmitter automatically sent out the boat’s location. The vessel was reported missing 12/17/2012.

What he said made a lot of sense, and it is something that can be implemented right now. Use the VMS as a tool for safety.

He pointed out that VMS is used for enforcement issues in real-time with penalty’s, and the VMS could have given S and R and at sea fishermen a chance to find these guys at the time.

There is no reason that this VMS should not be used today as a tool to save time in the life and death struggle of fishermen in trouble. Fisherynation.com