Pilot Plug

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About this app

Pilot Plug is a professional maritime navigation data viewer for pilots, captains, ship officers, and marine technicians.

It connects to a vessel’s pilot plug, AIS source, NMEA TCP stream, or compatible GPS/NMEA receiver over Wi-Fi and presents live movement information clearly on a mobile device - on the bridge, bridge wing, or anywhere local navigation data is needed.

Why Pilot Plug

Key features

* Live position, COG, SOG, heading, and rate of turn
* Pilot plug, AIS, NMEA TCP, and Wi-Fi GPS/NMEA receiver support
* AIS Map Mode with live external AIS targets
* Vessel outlines, labels, 6-minute vectors and vessel-type colours
* AIS vessel dimensions and antenna-position markers
* AIS target trails for easier movement tracking
* Recenter to quickly return to your vessel position
* Measure + TTG for distance, bearing, and estimated time-to-go
* Native CPA/TCPA monitoring for AIS targets
* Docking Mode directly on the map
* Live surge, sway, bow sway, and aft sway
* TOOLS menu for quick access to map functions
* Offline World Maritime Overview
* Downloadable regional map support
* Custom Pilot Plug User Maps
* Special NMEA Mode for clean GPS/NMEA monitoring
* FREEZE function for stable position and time snapshots
* Source tagging for AIS, NMEA, and calculated values
* Freshness indicators for live, delayed, or stale data
* Docking Prediction Mode with motion-based vessel projection
* Automatic AIS own-ship detection when available
* Manual ship dimensions and GPS antenna setup
* Connection presets plus manual IP and port entry
* Built-in user manual

AIS Map Mode

AIS Map Mode displays external AIS targets on an offline map. Depending on received data, targets can show vessel outlines, names, movement vectors, vessel-type colours, dimensions, antenna positions, and recent movement trails.

Measure + TTG provides distance, bearing, and estimated time-to-go to a selected map point.

CPA/TCPA provides closest-point-of-approach and time-to-CPA monitoring when sufficient own-ship and target data is available.

Docking information can be displayed directly over the map, allowing AIS traffic and close-quarters vessel movement to be monitored together. The map Docking Mode integration has been tested onboard during real pilotage and docking operations.

Offline and User Maps

Pilot Plug includes the World Maritime Overview for basic offline coverage. Compatible regional map packs can be downloaded when available.

Advanced users can create their own offline maps on a PC using the Pilot Plug User Map Authoring Kit. Custom maps can include supported maritime marks, buoys, depths, waypoints, labels, lines, berths, anchorages, tracks, caution areas, and other operational objects. Imported User Maps work offline.

Wi-Fi GPS and NMEA Mode

Pilot Plug can also connect to compatible GPS receivers and marine devices that output standard NMEA data over Wi-Fi/TCP.

The dedicated NMEA Mode provides a clean display of position, COG, SOG, and time. FREEZE holds a stable snapshot for logbook entries or bridge reference.

Privacy

Pilot Plug processes navigation data locally. It does not require an account, advertising services, or third-party cloud services.

One-time purchase. No ads. No subscriptions.

Professional use notice

Pilot Plug is an assistive monitoring tool for situational awareness, testing, training, and reference only. It is not approved as a primary navigation system.

Do not use Pilot Plug as the sole source for navigation, collision avoidance, docking, pilotage, or any safety-critical decision. Always rely on official ship instruments, approved navigational equipment, radar/ARPA, ECDIS, visual lookout, bridge team procedures, and professional judgement. Cross-check critical information against certified bridge equipment.

What’s new

Performance and app-size optimization for the release build. Improved code and resource optimization while preserving existing Pilot Plug navigation, AIS, map, CPA/TCPA, docking and prediction functionality.