Exploring some of the world's most remote areas by superyacht is an exhilarating adventure, offering the thrill of discovering untouched locations while enjoying the luxuries of a sophisticated vessel. However, navigating these uncharted territories presents unique challenges. Anri van Schoor, the second officer of 86-metre sailing yacht Aquijo, is well-acquainted with this reality, expertly managing navigation on the yacht’s paperless bridge through some of the world’s most challenging waters.
According to van Schoor, the lack of accurate charts in a cruising area can present significant obstacles. “The Northwest Passage was certainly challenging, but Mexico was also surprisingly difficult,” van Schoor reflects. “Despite the number of yachts cruising in Mexico, the availability of charts and resources is quite limited. When planning a passage, a thorough risk assessment is essential. But without reliable charts or knowledge of the depths, you have to think outside the box. There were occasions when we were unsure, so we had to send in tenders to check the depth before entering those waters.”
A lifesaving tool in these challenging environments was dsnm’s Compass software, an all-in-one superyacht navigation system offering access to global chart coverage, including official ENC Online charts by Navtor and non-official electronic data from i4 Insight. The programme is packed with features and add-ons designed to support the crew on the bridge, such as weather overlays, digital publication and location-specific data through the Explore with Imray feature.
Van Schoor speaks particularly highly of the passage planning tool, which she says provided invaluable peace of mind before cruising through unfamiliar areas, significantly reducing the risk of human error. “Prior to embarking on a passage, you can input your expected route, and it displays all the available charts in the area - not just from the UK Hydrographic Office, but also Canadian and Spanish, for example, and other sources worldwide,” she explains.
With the passage planning tool, users can plot a route on the map layer, adding waypoints where required. Once the departure time and route planning defaults are set, the tool provides detailed route information, including the total distance and estimated arrival time. By applying the weather overlay to a planned route, users can quickly access a weather forecast tailored to their departure time. Additionally, there’s an option to activate route warnings, which will alert you if the weather conditions along the route exceed the vessel’s preferred parameters. “I find the passage planning tool the most useful because it simplifies the process,” van Schoor adds. “It clearly outlines what needs attention and which publications to consult. The weather feature is also incredibly helpful. It makes communicating risks with management much easier and ensures I don't overlook anything.”
What truly sets dsnm apart, according to van Schoor, is the exceptional support the crew receives while using the platform. “Whenever we found ourselves without the necessary resources, we could always rely on our dedicated yacht manager, Oli,” she emphasises. “The dsnm team is fantastic - they deliver the charts we need with remarkable speed. We once faced technical issues with one of the Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS) units just two days before leaving port and regulations required us to have a backup. We reached out for help, and Oli sent us the necessary paper charts exactly when we needed them.”
The dsnm team is equipped to assist with a wide range of issues, ranging from ECDIS queries, licensing concerns, ADMIRALTY Digital Publications (ADP), e-NPs, Compass-related questions, and more. The team of yacht managers are committed to staying up-to-date on the latest industry products and developments, ensuring it can deliver top-tier support at all times.
To find out more about how to get dsnm set up on your superyacht, contact the team at dsnm today for a demo.
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