I-VMS INfo

Frequently Asked Questions

Terms and Conditions

Frequently Asked Questions

Preferably the I-VMS is mounted within the wheelhouse or a locker where it is easily accessible to check the status lights.

No. It can go in the wheelhouse, battery locker or out of the way. Unlike previous I-VMS that used satellite communications to send data to the shore, this uses mobile phone technology to send data, and this does not require clear line of sight to the sky. 

The White LED illuminates when data has been received by the UK VMS Hub.

It will go off if the UK VMS Hub has not received valid data, indicating there may be an issue.

If this occurs check the power to your I-VMS, including any fuse.

Contact us to check that status of your tracker if the white LED does not come on.

This depends upon your fishing location.

Contact your local fisheries officer to confirm their legislation.

We believe the following to be correct.

England in general

The MMO will provide a grace period to have the I-VMS fixed if you contact them to inform of a malfunction.

Devon & Severn IFCA

You must stop fishing and leave the fishing zones if there is a malfunction, and fix the device before fishing can continue.

The installation engineer will test the mounting location to ensure that adequate GPS and mobile signal is available. In our experience it will be fine as long as it is near a window. It can  also go on the roof or an alternative location.

We have an agent who can submit the grant application on your behalf, and you will be paid directly by the MMO. 

Unfortunately the MMO cannot pay us directly.

Please complete a separate subscription for each boat.

Some plans have a minimum period. After this has expired or if there is no fixed term, you may cancel your contract at any time.

The I-VMS is supplied fitted with a sim card and data subscription to work anywhere in Europe, uploading GPS position at the 3 min update frequency required by the MMO. No extra costs or action is required by the customer.

Terms and Conditions

The following terms supersede Maritime Systems standard terms and conditions.

The upfront cost you pay for the device implies that you agree to the subscription plan at the cost shown. Subject to terms.

Subscriptions paid in advance of the subscription period.

Monthly charges commence after installation.

Transferring the I-VMS device to another vessel may incur additional costs.

Agreement to the monthly plan implies that you agree for Maritime Systems to share your details with the required companies and authorities to setup and provide the service to fulfil the requirements of the I-VMS.

ENGLAND ONLY

The upfront cost includes the initial installation of the I-VMS device on a fishing vessel and registration of the I-VMS with the relevant authorities VMS hub. You will not be charged by the installer for labour or travel costs, subject to terms.

Installation of the I-VMS device must be conducted by agents authorised by Maritime Systems. (This is mandated by the I-VMS legislation.) You must provide assistance to the installer and be available at reasonable times to allow them access to the vessel.

We reserve the right to charge additional costs if you are not available at a pre-arranged time for the installation and an alternative date must be arranged.

If at registration for an I-VMS device to be fitted it was agreed that payment will be taken at installation, we reserve the right to take request payment when within the tranche timeframe for your vessel. 

The I-VMS (Inshore Vessel Monitoring System) is a service that uses a GPS tracking device to provide location data from a vessel to the server systems, which then transmit the vessels position to a national authority at a regular time interval.

An active subscription to the I-VMS Service is required for the collection and transmission of data.

Devices supplied for use in England transmit the position to the UK VMS Hub every 3 minutes or less.

Devices supplied for use in Wales transmit the position to the UK VMS Hub every 10 minutes or less.

The contract for the I-VMS is between Maritime Systems and the purchaser.

The UK VMS HUB, Maritime Management Organisation, Welsh Government or any other authority does not have a contract with Maritime Systems.

The fishermen is responsible for ensuring that the device they use is suitable for their relevant authority.

If you are on a subscription plan with a pause option, you may pause your subscription for a period of up to 4 months in each calendar year by contacting Maritime Systems to notify us of your request.

The pause period will begin at the next monthly billing date, and monthly charges will recommence at the end of the pause period.

Pause period are defined as whole months.

A pause period may not begin until 4 months after the commencement of subscription payments.

You may recommence the I-VMS service before the end of the agreed period, by contacting Maritime Systems to notify us of your request. If the new date is within a monthly billing period, you will be charged for the complete month.

It is your responsibility to ensure that you are compliant with the relevant legislation whilst the subscription to the I-VMS service is paused.

Maritime Systems reserves the right to inform any relevant authority that you have paused your subscription to a monthly plan.

The monthly plan can be cancelled at anytime after your plans minimum term by contacting Maritime Systems to notify us of your request. Cancellation will take place at the next monthly billing date.

A subscription will be cancelled automatically if payments for the service are not received.

After cancellation of your subscription, the online connections to your equipment may be suspended and it will cease to provide location reporting functions.

It is your responsibility to inform the relevant authorities that you no longer have an operational I-VMS device.

Maritime Systems reserves the right to inform any relevant authority that you are no longer subscribed to a monthly plan.

After a subscription is cancelled, a fee may apply for the reconnection of an I-VMS device to the server systems.

We reserve the right to increase prices each year. We adjust the prices of our products and services in-line with the Retail Price Index (RPI) rate of inflation and factors affecting the cost of providing the I-VMS service.

When we work out our prices, we use the December RPI rate published in January. For December 2022, the RPI rate was 13.4%.

These price changes take effect on or after the following March.

The Retail Price Index (RPI) is a measure of the rate of inflation – this is the change in prices for goods and services over time. It considers the cost of living like council tax and mortgage interest payments. RPI weightings are based on Food Survey and Office of National Statistics expenditure.

All devices are supplied with a warranty period defined by the terms of the chosen subscription plan.

  • Premium plan: 5 years, extended with continuous cover whilst you maintain your subscription.
  • Standard plan: 5 years
  • Essential plan: 2 years

The warranty provides free repairs for the defined period.

The warranty does not cover damage or wear and tear.

This Warranty does not replace or affect your statutory rights in any way

This Warranty provides warranty cover for the defined period for the repair of the I-VMS if it suffers from electrical or mechanical breakdown.

What is covered?

If your I-VMS suffers from electrical or mechanical breakdown through normal use during the Warranty Period we will repair it for free, including all parts and labour. Electrical or mechanical breakdown means the phone developing a fault through normal use.

In the event that we (in our reasonable opinion) deem that the I-VMS is beyond repair, or if for any reason we can’t repair it, we will instead offer you a replacement I-VMS from refurbished stock, a new device of the same specification or a new device of equal or better specification. 

What is not covered?

The warranty does not cover any device or accessory other than the I-VMS you have received from Maritime Systems. It does not cover any repairs if your I-VMS is damaged as well as faulty.

It does not cover:

  • Wear and tear (for example the battery not charging correctly after some time), rusting or other deterioration due to normal use or exposure, or where you have failed to follow the instructions for the I-VMS device.
  • Any damage, whether to hardware or software and whether accidental or deliberate, for example if your I-VMS device has been dropped. You may find that this type of damage is covered by your vessel or other insurance policy
  • Any fault caused by unauthorised modifications or alterations to the functionality of the I-VMS or the installation, including electrical wiring and power connections.
  • If you have lost your I-VMS device or had it stolen
  • Cosmetic damage such as scratches, dents, corrosion or other cosmetic damage whether external or internal, where the function of the product is unaffected
  • Servicing, inspecting or cleaning of the product
  • Malfunction caused by routine servicing, inspection, maintenance, repairs. dismantling or cleaning the I-VMS if carried out by persons not authorised by Maritime Systems.

If we repair or replace your I-VMS device under this warranty, we warrant that repair for the defect concerned, or the replacement I-VMS device for the remaining time of the warranty or for 30 days from the date of the repair or replacement, whichever is longer.

How to arrange a repair under the Warranty

Contact Maritime Systems or your local authorised agent.

Repairs and replacement outside of warranty cover.

Maritime Systems reserves the right to offer repairs and replacement at no cost or reduced cost for fault or damage that is not covered by the warranty.

Proud to Support the Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society

A donation to this important charity will be made for every I-VMS installation .