Welcome to the AMVER/SEAS 2000. For proper operation of AMVER/SEAS, the computer time and time zone must be set correctly. For proper display of information dialogs and picture the display properties must be set orrectly. Once the computer is set up correctly then AMVER/SEAS is ready to be installed. The computer and AMVER/SEAS set up methods are described below.

Computer Hardware Requirements:

Operating System - Windows 2000, Windows NT, Windows 98, Windows 95.
Works best with 200 MHz Pentium or better
Video card that supports 800 x 600 pixels with 65K colors or better.
10 MB of free hard disk space
3.5 inch floppy drive

Equipment Requirements:

INMARSAT Standard C Transceiver with floppy drive and capability to transmit a binary file.

Computer Setup:

Time Setup:

For proper operation of AMVER/SEAS, the computer time and time zone must be set correctly. Once the computer time is set correctly, it should not be changed. If the time zone changes then correct the computer's time zone only, do not adjust the computer time. The procedure for setting the time and time zone is to select the 'Start' button on the lower left corner of your computer screen. From there select 'Settings' and then 'Control Panel'. When the Control Panel window opens up double click on the 'Date/Time' icon. From there select 'Time Zone'. Select the correct time zone. Once the time zone has been selected, click the 'Apply' button. The date and time shown, should be correct for the given time zone. If not, correct the date and time. click 'OK'.

Display Properties:

AMVER/SEAS 2000 has certain restrictions on the screen display properties. If the properties are not set correctly then AMVER/SEAS dialog screens may not fit within the computer display. Display settings must be set with a Desktop Area of at least 600 x 800 and the font size must be set to small (at that desktop Area setting). The procedure for setting the display properties is to select the 'Start' button on the lower left corner of your computer screen. From there select 'Settings' and then 'Control Panel'. When the Control Panel window opens up double click on the 'Display' icon. From there select Setting. Select a Desktop Area of 600 x 800 or greater. Note, it is always important to test the settings before applying them, because the computer display may fail at the highest selectable Desktop Area. Once the Desktop Area has been selected, select the font size to be small. However, if the Desktop Area is 1024 x 768 or greater either large fonts or small fonts are acceptable. In addition for the SEAS cloud bitmaps to have proper resolution the color palette should be set for 65536 (16 bit) colors or True Color. Then click 'OK'.

AMVER/SEAS Setup:

Installation:

AMVER/SEAS can now be set up on the computer. In order to set up AMVER/SEAS on the computer double click on SetUp.exe on the AMVER/SEAS installation floppy disk (or CD) in the drive. Please follow installation directions. This will create an AMVERSEAS directory at the user specified location and install AMVERSEAS on the Start Menu. Begin the AMVER/SEAS program by selecting the AMVERSEAS icon in the Start menu. select the Start button on the lower left corner of your computer screen. From there select Programs, then AMVERSEAS and then the AMVERSEAS icon. The AMVER/SEAS Program must be able to read the Administration File (Admin.txt) file in the Administration directory in order to allow entry of AMVER and SEAS reports. If the Admin.txt file is not present then AMVER/SEAS will ask you to create and transmit the Administration File.

Adminstration File:

After completing the Administration file (see Administration File ), it should then be saved on a floppy. This is done by selecting Transmit and then Save Binary. This file is then ready for transmission. In order to transmit the file, remove the diskette that it was saved on, carry it to the Standard C transceiver and insert it. Follow the setup instructions applicable to your brand of Standard C transceiver and then transmit the file (See Transmission Instructions). AMVER/SEAS is now ready for operation.

 

HOW TO PARTICIPATE in AMVER SEAS

After completing the software intallation follow the prompts and creating a transmit file for the Administration Report. AMVER, SEAS, and Other Reports can now be created and save.

Ships may participate in either the AMVER or SEAS program, but there are benefits to participating in both. A ship can reduce reporting requirements, since AMVER position reports are created from every weather message and are automatically forwarded to the U.S. Coast Guard.

A typical voyage would require the submission of an AMVER Sail Plan before departure, submissions of weather reports four times per day and the submission of an Arrival Report upon arrival. A Deviation Report is only submitted if the ship deviates from its original plan. Ships that follow the same routes repeatedly get an additional benefit since Sail Plans can be stored in the system and recalled and modified rather than creating new ones.

 

 

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