Guardian:mark

Make assets and hazards visible to marine vessels

Place “digital buoys” (virtual AtoNs) for enhanced safety and protection

Create “Virtual Buoys”

Guardian:mark enables you to make hazards at sea visible when physical buoys are not appropriate, too expensive or impossible to deploy. The Guardian Shore Station is configured and controlled by Guardian Cloud, taking advantage of Vesper Marine’s unique AIS technology.

With secure cloud access for configuration and creating Virtual Aids to Navigation (VAtoNs or virtual buoys), Guardian:mark allows marine asset owners and authorities easy installation with secure remote access from anywhere.

What are Virtual AtoNs

(virtual buoys)

Using the international AIS standard, our Virtual AIS Station allows you to remotely create electronic “marks”. These marks are called “Virtual Aids to Navigation” (VAtoN) or AIS marks or virtual buoys. They are visible on the navigation screens of any vessel with AIS enabled equipment.

Approaching vessels can clearly see that there is a hazard approaching and understand the nature of that hazard (the AIS mark can provide information about the hazard).

Uses for Virtual Aids to Navigation:

Marking both visible and invisible hazards, including; cables, pipes, underwater equipment, bridges, offshore platforms, jackup rigs, marina/piers, wrecks, reefs or shellfish beds
Marking shipping channels, used to “join the dots” between physical buoys to improve shipping lane visibility
Marking areas where navigation conditions change frequently, including; overhead clearance, ice, tidal levels, weather, etc

Marking moving hazards such as sand bars to regularly provide changes in location and provide alert warnings
Create temporary cordons around events such as salvage, repairs, yacht races and swim courses or other exclusion areas such as hazardous spills, marine protected areas, etc

* Information displayed on board depends on type of equipment and/or navigation software being used.

Advantage of virtual AtoNs

Mark hazards or protection zones providing visibility to vessels
Place AIS marks (virtual buoys) in locations where it is impossible to install physical markers
Add, remove or change positions of AIS marks (virtual buoys) according to changing conditions such as tide, wrecks or temporary safety areas
Access from anywhere knowing your data and access is secure

Guardian:mark Benefits

Cost Effective

Eliminate the need for expensive installation and maintenance of physical buoys or infrastructure.

Tough and reliable

Fully waterproof (IPx7) for external mounting using either mains or DC power, including solar

Scalable

Place up to 65 virtual marks or virtual buoys up to 25 nautical miles away (depending on mounting height)

Fast and simple

Everything you need is provided, setup and configuration is easy

Flexibility

Move or create new virtual marks to reflect changing conditions, safety zones, etc

Secure

Protected communication to and from your Station for privacy and data integrity

International Standard

AIS Virtual Aids to Navigation are recognized by the International Maritime Organization

Proven

Virtual AIS buoys are used all over the world to protect assets and people every day

Learn how Guardian works

LEARN MORE

Client Examples

Repsol – Caribbean

The constant flow of crew and supply vessels around Repsol’s 14 oil and gas platforms in the Caribbean now navigate safely with Guardian.

Perenco – CAmeroon

After several near-misses, Guardian was implemented to mark anchorages and dangerous areas.

NAPIER – NZ

10 virtual AIS marks supplement physical bouys on a dangerous reef near the port. The marks can be adjusted to account for weather conditions.

HOW GUARDIAN:MARK WORKS

Without Guardian:mark there is no Aid to Navigation

Create Virtual AtoN's in Guardian Cloud that vessels can see on their navigation equipment.

Get the ultimate protection with Guardian:protect

LEARN ABOUT GUARDIAN:PROTECT