Products

SeaStar Products & Services

Oceanographic Maps for Commercial Fishing

We know commercial fishermen want to get to the catch as quickly and cost-effectively as possible. That's where our SeaStarSM Commercial Fishing Service comes in. Plankton concentration data is collected, combined with oceanographic and meteorological information, and processed daily. From there, it's sent directly to the fishing vessel, where the captain can use it to promptly navigate to the closest and potentially most plentiful fishing areas.

OrbMap - Data Visualization and Analysis Software

Create vivid and precise images showing where fish are likely to gather by using GeoEye's OrbMap™ software. This data visualization and analysis program is easy to use and allows customization based on a client's personal knowledge. OrbMap also seamlessly interfaces with onboard Global Positioning System (GPS) units and supports multiple languages.

The SeaStar Advantage

GeoEye creates SeaStar oceanographic maps by integrating the following real-time information collected from satellites and other sources:

Ocean plankton concentrations (ocean color)
Sea surface temperatures
Sea surface height anomalies (altimetry)
Sub-surface temperatures
Sea surface currents
Thermocline depth estimates
Salinity Data estimates
Comprehensive marine weather and forecasts
Fishing recommendations
MasterCast™ fishing data analysis tool
3D Oceanographic maps
C-MAP navigational charts

(Click link to download a brochure) SeaStar Fisheries Information Service

OrbBuoy - Designed for Tuna Purse Seine Operations

Know where your buoy is at any time—anywhere in the world! GeoEye's OrbBuoy™ is easy for an owner to retrieve, yet it's designed to avoid detection and theft. The OrbBuoy is retrieved using high-accuracy GPS, a high-intensity nighttime recovery beacon, and two-way communication via the IsatM2M satellite network. Each buoy's location information and control capabilities are integrated into OrbMap software.

OrbBuoy Features

Highly accurate GPS
IsatM2M satellite network
Sea surface temperature sensor
Two-way communications
Long-life rechargeable battery
High-intensity recovery beacon
Battery-saving, search, and recovery modes
Solar-cell recharging option

GeoEye currently offers two types of satellite GPS OrbBuoys for the Tuna purse seiner---the MDS and the MDP OrbBuoy.

MDS-OrbBuoy Features

Fully compatible with OrbMap
Highly accurate GPS
Inmarsat IsatM2M satellite network link
Two-way communications
Sea surface temperature sensor
Solar panel–charged redundant Gel Lead Acid batteries
High-intensity beacon for nighttime recovery
Battery-saving, active, and recovery modes; polling
Hourly listening windows for mode changes

(Click link to download a brochure) SeaStar MDS OrbBuoy™

MDP-OrbBuoy Features:

Fully compatible with OrbMap
Highly accurate GPS
Inmarsat IsatM2M satellite network link
Two-way communications
Sea surface temperature sensor
High-intensity beacon for nighttime recovery
Battery-saving, active, and recovery modes; polling
Eight listening windows per day for mode changes

(Click link to download a brochure) SeaStar MDP OrbBuoy™

MIP HF Radio Buoy – Designed for Deep Sea Pelagic Longliners

The Marine Instruments’ MIP Radio Buoy allows fishing captains to monitor their fishing lines up to 50 miles away. The MIP Radio Buoy also allows captains to monitor line drift and identify line breaks. The MIP Radio Buoy transmits buoy position and battery voltage level in encrypted radio messages to help avoid detection and theft. The buoy has an internal GPS receiver, rechargeable batteries, durable stainless steel construction, magnetic (On/Off) switch, high intensity recovery light, and a small whip antenna.

Each MIP Radio Buoy transmits encrypted message bursts every 15 minutes containing the buoy’s GPS position and battery voltage. These secure transmissions are received using the ship’s SSB radio and the Marine Instruments’ MIR-2200 Reception System. Buoy position tracks are displayed on C-MAP digital nautical charts with MSB-Longline software. The MIP buoy positions can also be displayed in OrbMap software.

(Click to download a brochure) SeaStar MIP Flier

MIP-Buoy Features:

Heavy duty construction for use on commercial longliners
50-mile buoy transmission range
NO airtime communication cost (radio broadcasts)
Buoy position reports are encrypted for location security
Rechargeable batteries
Batteries are charged via buoy antenna (charger sold separately)
Buoy can be dismantled

M3I Sonar Buoy - Track your Fishing Assets and their Productivity…

With the Marine Instruments’ M3I Sonar Buoy, one knows the location of your fishing gear at all times but also what is happening beneath it. These buoys are equipped with a 50 KHz/500W echo-sounder, GPS, sea temp sensor and satellite transceiver. They report sonar readings (or pings) as well as position, SST and battery voltage back to the vessel at adjustable frequencies. All information is displayed in the buoy MSB control software. Position, SST and voltage can also be viewed in OrbMap on top of Fish Finding Maps.

The MSB software allows users to remotely adjust the gain on the echo-sounder to produce the best possible readings. These features, along with the remotely-activated, high-intensity beacon for nighttime recovery are achieved using two-way communication via the Iridium satellite network. M3I buoys are designed with a double solar panel system as well as an alkaline battery pack, providing unlimited autonomy. In addition to gaining valuable sounding data, captains can use the position reports to interpret real-time ocean currents.

M3I Sonar Buoy Functionality:

Battery Saving Mode – Buoy reports twice a day. Soundings are taken every two hours and sent with position report. Six sonar soundings per report
Approach Mode – Buoy reports every three hours during 12 hours. Soundings are taken every. Three sonar soundings with each report
Recovery Mode – Buoy reports once immediately upon command, then reports every 15 minutes for two hours. 1 sonar sounding per report
Poll Mode – Buoy reports all data on demand
Flash Mode – Activates the high-intensity beacon and causes the buoy to report every 15 minutes for an hour with one ping per report

Vessel Tracking

The SAT-202 satellite terminal is an affordable, compact, and reliable tracking solution offered by GeoEye. It's a stand-alone, two-way communication unit that can be attached directly to a vessel's power supply; it automatically sends reports on the vehicle's position via the Inmarsat IsatM2M satellite communication service.

(Click link to download a brochure) SeaStar Vessel Tracking SAT-202

Courtesy of Dr. J. Acostamadiedo

Sport Fishing

GeoEye offers two ways that will take you to the front—Sport Fishing Pro Service and Raymarine.

Sport Fishing Pro Service

Now you can receive oceanographic information previously available only to commercial fishermen. For a subscription rate of $499 per month, all you need is a computer and an e-mail address to receive:

Daily

Ocean plankton concentration data map
Sea Surface Temperature (SST) cloud-free composites
SST cloud-mask information
Single-pass SST high-resolution image—day*
Single-pass SST high-resolution image—night*
Sea surface current information
Weather information with up to 10-day forecasts

Once per week (Sunday)

Sea surface height anomaly

Three days per week (Sunday, Wednesday, and Friday)

Thermocline depth data
30-meter sub-surface temperature (Sunday, Wednesday, and Friday)

*Availability restricted to the continental U.S. coast.

Raymarine

GeoEye provides SST and plankton (ocean color) data through a partnership with Raymarine. Data is processed so it overlays onto Raytech Navigational Software.