Features

The MAPS Maritime Suite is a highly configurable and modular software platform. It consists of three core applications; Crew Optimizer, Crew Manager and Administrator, along with a series of additional applications. Please refer to the diagram and description below for more details.

Crew Optimizer
Designed to allow users to manage the organization structure down to individual departments and positions, Optimizer is a key component within the MAPS Maritime suite. Within the Optimizer component, there are a number of tools and wizards included. These have been specifically developed by Allocate Software to meet the requirements of users involved in maritime crew planning. The Optimizer tools and wizards include:

• Head Hunter - provides workforce planners with rules-based searches to identify the most appropriate individuals to meet a particular post. Users can determine the specific criteria and weighting so that Head Hunter will find and rank suitable candidates held within MAPS.
  
  
• Job Hunter - enables planners to run rules-based searches to identify posts with specific requirements, in order to plan individuals’ careers more effectively. Users can determine the specific criteria and weighting so that Job Hunter will find and rank suitable posts for people held within MAPS.
  
  
• Trouble Shooter - this wizard allows MAPS users to quickly find and fix any scheduling issues. Typical problems are safe manning compliance, itinerary issues and scheduling clashes, incomplete qualifications and expiring certificates. The wizard works out which units have issues and allows the user to jump straight to the problem areas. Context sensitive options allow problems to be fixed directly within Trouble Shooter.
  
  
• Data Analyst - enables users to run ad-hoc queries and reports against the MAPS database, providing targeted information across the entire organization. With a graphical interface that drills down into increasing levels of detail, Business Analyst is a powerful module for answering specific questions and highlighting trends.

Crew Manager
The Crew Manager application provides a single interface with which to manage all MAPS data items relating to human resources, personnel records, maritime crew scheduling, itinerary management and training administration. Modules available:

• People on Board – records the movement of personnel from location to location (e.g. shore to ship, shore to platform). Entry and exit is tracked via swipe cards, and is able to differentiate between crew, visitors and staff.
  
  
• Timesheet Management – generates weekly timesheets for crew in work and rest periods. It allows MAPS users to view, edit and print the timesheet reports for individual crew members. This is in accordance with the ‘Maritime Working Time Directive’ of ILO180 compliance.
  
  
• Crew Rosters – creates duty rosters for units, projects and teams. Rosters can be manually or automatically generated based on pre-defined business rules. Recording ad-hoc and overtime duties, and integrating with crew scheduling and timesheet management, automatic warnings are produced when a crew member approaches their working restriction.
  
  
• Mustering – allows MAPS users to create muster lists, assign crew to muster stations and support various muster emergencies. The user can view gaps in the muster list and the relevant crew with the required skills to fill the position.
  
  
• Berthing – minimizes the potential loss of passenger cabin revenues by making the most efficient use of the cabins available for crew. This module is suitable for vessels with a large number of crew to assign. Berthing allows MAPS users to search for vacant cabins and berths, view the cabin details, and match crew to a suitable cabin based upon a set of criteria.
  
  
• Communications Center – automates the production of all types of communication to crew, engineers, agents, in fact anyone on the MAPS database. Any type of letter or email can be immediately generated from templates and the variable content automatically inserted to personalize the communication. Typical applications include reminder letters for expiring passports, visas, certificates; assignment letters with travel details, letters to port agents with joining/leaving crew details.
  
  
• Recruitment Center - oversees the planning of recruitment campaigns. The workflow allows each application to be processed and records its status. Using the module, vacancies can be managed and costed.
  
  
• Training Manager - manages courses, training providers, locations and attendance. The module recommends training to resolve skills gaps, handles course attendees, shortlists and invitations. Upon satisfactory completion of the training, MAPS can automatically assign the acquired skill to the participants’ records. For planning of training events for the year, a diary view is available.
  
  
• Travel Administration - provides automatic generation of travel requests based upon the crew/vessel schedules. It generates optimal recommendations for joining/leaving vessels based on your business rules and the best travel economy. The module is designed to integrate with leading travel booking systems, and can even display fulfillment information to the MAPS user.
  
  
• Payroll Administration - allows scheduling, personnel and contract information to be extracted from MAPS into a payroll system. The module can produce a number of payroll journals based on the frequency that staff is paid, when they worked, and how much they are due.
  
  
• Reporting Engine – produces industry standard reports based around Crystal Reports. These include crew lists, crew relief plans, personnel reports and US Immigration reports (e.g. I418, I95).

MAPS Administrator
The Administrator component provides console-based tools for system administrators to configure the MAPS suite. The Administrator tools include:

• Security & Authority – managing the individual access rights of user groups and individuals. This ensures administrators can oversee the functions that other MAPS users are able to perform.
  
  
• Replication – sharing data across distributed MAPS databases, when a requirement arises to replicate information to another part of an organization.

Crew Online
The Crew Online application provides crew with secure access to their personal detail from any computer with internet access. It supports current and future schedules, training events and contact details.


OnBoard
A simplified version of the shore-side MAPS system designed specifically to be very easy to use and managed by the master. It is suitable for vessels with fifty or less crew and where full MAPS functionality and Replication is unnecessary. The basic functionality includes ship details, crew details, sign-on/sign-off of crew, crew lists, crew appraisals, timesheets and ship and crew accounts. OnBoard communicates with MAPS shore-side to gather key data and transmit essential information back to the MAPS Database.