Using iPhone and Android smartphone technology this tracking and alert system is easily accessible and ideal for those who don't usually register sail plans or carry navigational aids and distress alerting equipment on board (for use in UK territorial waters).
Directly from your smartphone you can enter your journey details and set off knowing that should you not return by the time given, a nominated emergency contact will be alerted and advised to initiate appropriate action.
When an emergency contact calls HM Coastguard about an overdue trip, they will have access to your location and SafeTrx Trip data through a secure SafeTrx server. Since the RYA SafeTrx App periodically sends your location data back to our servers, the Coastguard's response team can get help directly to you, and quickly.
RYA SafeTrx is an accessible tool that leisure craft users can use when going to sea. It does not replace GMDSS, EPIRB, PLB or AIS. It is especially useful for those who use smaller boats such as RIBs, open powerboats and dinghies or who do not use tracking and alerting devices on their boats.
Where do I download the app from?
You can download the RYA SafeTrx app from the UK
iOS 7.0 and above (filter by "iPhone Only" in the App Store)
OS 4.0 and above
How much does the RYA SafeTrx system cost?
The RYA SafeTrx app is free to download from Apple's App store and the Google Play store. Once downloaded, boaters can run unlimited free trips using the RYA SafeTrx app.
How do I get started?
- Download the app from UK
- Register on the RYA website if you have not done so previously, using your membership details if you are a member
- Login to the app with your website username and password
- Register your boat and emergency contact details
- Enter your trip details and ETA. Tap 'Set Sail'
- Arrive at destination, tap 'End Trip'
I am having a problem with my username and password.
Please contact web.support@rya.org.uk who will be able to assist you.
We have had some issues with RYA logins created before 2009. If you are able to sign in to the RYA website but your login details are not recognised on the SafeTrx App: Resave your password on the RYA website (can use the same password) and this should activate the account in the SafeTrx App (This may take a few minutes to update).
I am having a problem downloading or using the app.
Is the RYA SafeTrx app available for Windows smartphones?
There are currently no plans to make the SafeTrx app available on the Microsoft Windows platform. It currently only holds 10% of the mobile market share in the UK. SafeTrx has therefore focused the app to serve the more dominant mobile platforms, Android and iPhone. SafeTrx continually monitor the mobile market share and if the Microsoft Windows platform gains a significant share, SafeTrx will consider adding this platform.
Why can’t I use the RYA SafeTrx app on an Android tablet?
The RYA SafeTrx Android application is not available on extra-large screens such as tablets devices. The app is primarily a smartphone application and is therefore designed to fit such screen sizes and take advantage of the native features on the phone. Unlike the iPad, specific tablet layouts are required on Android and as such do not scale the application to provide a sufficient user experience.
If you have an Android smartphone with an operating system of 4.0 and above, you will be able to install the RYA SafeTrx app from the Google Play store. Alternatively, if you have an iPhone with iOS 7.0 and above, please download the app from the App Store.
What are the key components to the RYA SafeTrx system?
Who has access to my Trip Plan details?
Trip information is stored on a secure server hosted by the RYA. Only the boater and RYA have access to routine trip data, HM Coastguard can view trips that are overdue. Please note the RYA SafeTrx privacy statement is available to review.
How do I manage my account?
You can view and edit your RYA SafeTrx account details at https://safetrx.rya.org.uk/
Within the RYA Safetrax Website you can:
- Change your personal contact information
- View your vessel details
- Personalise vessel
Winter Storage and Season Start checklists
- Set up and edit your emergency contacts
- View and delete your journey history
- View and share trip statistics on Facebook
- View Terms and Conditions, Privacy and Disclaimer policies
Within the RYA SafeTrx mobile app, you can:
- change your personal contact Information
- Manage your vessel
details
- Set up personalised
vessel Sail Plan checklists
- Set up and edit your
emergency contacts
- View and delete your
journey history
- View Terms and
Conditions, Privacy and Disclaimer policies
Can I view my completed trips?
You can access your trip history on the RYA SafeTrx Boater Website at https://safetrx.rya.org.uk/
Trips are listed by
vessel name and the trip start time for each trip. Track Only mode trips are
highlighted with an icon listed after the individual trip start time.
The Trip History
section under ‘My Profile’ section on the RYA SafeTrx app allows you to view
completed trips. SafeTrx stores up to 20 trips on the mobile app and allows the
boater to playback these saved trips using the video playback feature. The
SafeTrx mobile app allows the boater to delete individual trips on the
app.
What happens if I fail to close my Trip Plan within the logged ETA?
If the trip plan is not closed then an automatic escalation process is triggered starting with a reminder and ending with an SMS message sent to the nominated emergency contacts. The full escalation process is as follows:
Escalation level 1
15 minutes before the ETA is due to expire, you will receive a notification advising you to extend or end your trip plan.
Escalation level 2
Failure to close the trip when the trip ETA expires sends another reminder alert that the trip is now overdue and it must be either closed or extended.
Escalation level 3
15 minutes after the ETA has expired you will receive a warning notification that a SMS will be sent to your emergency contact in 15 minutes should the trip remain overdue.
Escalation level 4
30 minutes after the ETA has expired and if the trip has not been ended or extended, a SMS is sent to your emergency contact. If your emergency contact is unable to contact you, they are then advised to contact HM Coastguard.
What happens if I need to amend my ETA en route?
If you do not think that you will reach your destination within the ETA that you have set then you can change the ETA en route using the ‘Edit’ button on the trip progress screen.
Can I create my own checklist items?
Yes, you can create custom items per category
and add them to your personalised checklists in two ways
On the RYA SafeTrx mobile app, you can create
Sail Plan checklists. Go to the “My Profile” tab in the RYA SafeTrx mobile app.
Choose ‘Vessels’ and once you choose the vessel, scroll down to “Manage
Checklist’. Choose the checklist items that you wish to add. Click on the “Add”
button, and click “Save” after having created one or more new items. Sail
Plan checklists are added to your Sail Plan set up.
On the RYA SafeTrx Website, you can create Sail
Plan, Winter Storage and Season Start checklists. Go to the “Vessels
& Checklists” tab in the RYA SafeTrx boater website. Once you choose the
vessel, check list type and boat type, scroll down to the end of the page to
the heading “Add New Item”. Choose the category from the drop down list where
the new item belongs to and then enter the item you wish to add. Click on the
“Add” button, and click “Save” after having created one or more new
items. Sail Plan checklists are sent to the app and added to your Sail
Plan on departure.
How much data will the RYA SafeTrx app consume?
Data usage will vary
according to the distance travelled and a number of factors such as the
coverage, operating system, device type, mobile network used, Journey Logging
etc. It also varies between Sail Plan mode and Track Only mode, and
whether or not you’re moving or stationary. The following are approximations:
Sail Plan Mode: Basing
calculations on a 60 Km trip in Sail Plan Mode where the app is pinging every
kilometre, the RYA SafeTrx app would use approximately 250KB of data (send
& receive combined), including setting sail and ending the trip.
Where the app is stationary for a period, for example, if they sat idle for 3
hours, the app sends a location update every 5 minutes. The RYA SafeTrx app
would use approximately 750KB of data.
Track Only Mode: Basing
calculations on a 5 Km trip in Track Only Mode where the app is recording a
position every 10 metres and sending it to the server every 500 metres, the RYA
SafeTrx app would use approximately 2MB of data. Based on a 6 hour trip,
where the app is recording a position every 10 minutes, the RYA SafeTrx app
would use approximately 167KB of data. Recording every 30 minutes would use
approximately 55KB of data for a 6 hour trip.
The app data is not
even a fifth of this overall figure but due to the nature of the underlying
protocols and various methods used by the carriers, it all adds to the raw data
transmission.
How does the app handle loss of cell coverage?
Where the RYA SafeTrx app experiences loss of cell coverage, it stores the trip location points on the Smartphone. Once a signal becomes available again, it sends the backlog of stored trip information to the server and resumes posting trip information in real time.
When does RYA SafeTrx send my position information to the server?
Sail Plan Mode: RYA SafeTrx sends location information to the
RYA SafeTrx server at regular intervals. When your Smartphone battery power is
>30% then the application will send a location report every 1 kilometre or
every 5 minutes if you are stationary. When the battery level reaches 30% RYA
SafeTrx changes the location reporting frequency from 1 kilometre to 2
kilometres to save power. When the battery level reaches 10% RYA SafeTrx will
display a notification and will stop transmitting location updates. Location
reporting will recommence when the Smartphone starts charging and the battery
level exceeds 10%. When the battery level increases to between 11% and 30%,
location reporting is resumed at the 2 kilometre interval. When the battery
level increases to over 30%, RYA SafeTrx increases the location reporting to
every 1 kilometre.
Track Only Mode: The boater can choose between 3 position
recording intervals in Track Only mode.
1. Continuous recording
2. 10 minute recording
3. 30 minute recording
The recording interval can be adjusted while a
track is in progress. The following describes the recording
intervals when moving and stationary and how often it transmits a location to
the server under certain battery conditions.
| If battery is between 10% and 100% |
If battery is less
than 10% |
Recording
Interval
Options |
Records
Position -
When
Moving |
Records
Position -
When
Stationary |
How often
does it
transmit to
Safe Trx
Server? |
Low Battery
(10%) |
| Continuous |
Continuous
position
recording |
Has to move at
least 10 metres
before it
records a
position |
Every 500
metres |
At 10%, it stops recording and displays a notification on the boaters phone. an SMS is sent to emergency contacts
|
| 10 minutes |
Every 10 minutes |
Every 10 minutes |
Every 10 minutes |
At 10%, it stops recording and displays a notification on the boaters phone. an SMS is sent to emergency contacts |
| 30 minutes |
Every 30 minutes |
Every 30 minutes |
Every 30 minutes |
At 10%, it stops recording and displays a notification on the boaters phone. An SMS is sent to emergency contacts. |
How accurate are the location points transmitted from the phone?
As the accuracy of latitude/longitude
triangulations can vary, a margin for error will always exist. The monitoring
website uses Horizontal Accuracy and other measurements to allow the operators
to determine the best set of data to review. The Smartphone application may
provide you with information and assistance relevant to your current locations,
as determined by the mobile device that you are using. However, the devices and
the telecommunications systems that support them are inherently unreliable and there
is a risk that there will be no connectivity between your mobile device and
global positioning systems. We cannot guarantee uninterrupted connectivity
between your mobile device and global positioning systems.
What happens if the smartphone battery runs low?
Sail Plan Mode: The
RYA SafeTrx app uses a number of methods to determine position and these do
consume battery power. However, the app monitors your phones battery in real
time and adapts to declining battery levels. If the battery level falls below
30%, the location transmission interval is adjusted from 1km to 2km. to save
battery power. There is also a failsafe to ensure that if the battery falls to
10%, RYA SafeTrx suspends in order to preserve battery power for emergency
calls. When your Smartphone is plugged in to recharge, trip monitoring and
sending location information is resumed by opening the app again.
Track Only Mode: In
Track Only Mode, if the battery falls to 10% while running a trip, RYA SafeTrx
suspends recording in order to preserve battery power for emergency calls. When
your Smartphone is plugged in to recharge, trip monitoring is resumed by
opening the app again.
In both Sail Plan and
Track Only modes, RYA SafeTrx wends the following SMS to advise your emergency
contacts that the battery power has fallen below 10%:
"This is a
notification to inform you that (boater's name)'s phone battery is running low
and RYA SafeTrx has suspended location reporting. Please make contact with
(boater's name) to verify their trip status. SafeTrx will resume location
reporting once the battery level goes above 10%".
Please note that the battery levels reported on some Smartphones are rounded down to the nearest 5%, therefore trip recording may be suspended when the battery level is between 10%-15%.
How does the Coastguard access the RYA SafeTrx system?
HM Coastguard will be
able to monitor trip plans which have been notified to them by the emergency
contact on the RYA SafeTrx Monitoring Console.
Can I add more than one boat and emergency contact?
Yes you have the option to add more than one boat and emergency contact. You can select which ones to use at the start of each trip.
What do the performance analytics provide?
RYA members and
registered users who download the app will benefit from a feature unique to the
RYA SafeTrx app; performance analytics. Track Only mode will enable you to
analyse your speed and performance on the water whether you are racing or fine
tuning whilst cruising. Please note, analytics will be provided on
“Continuous Mode” only in Track Only mode.
Who can I contact if I am having problems?
How do I make an emergency call from the app?
An emergency call to 999 can be made from any screen in the RYA SafeTrx app. To initiate the call, you can either press the call icons on the home screen, menu or trip progress screen or hold your finger down anywhere on the screen for 3 seconds. This will present the Emergency Call screen. You will then need to press the red button labelled “Emergency” to initiate a call to 999. This will automatically dial 999.
What happens when an Emergency or Assistance call is initiated?
Once an emergency call is initiated and the user has an internet data connection, the app will send a location update to the RYA SafeTrx Monitoring Console.
Who does an emergency call dial when initiated?
When the Emergency call
options are pressed on the SafeTrx mobile app, the app will determine the
boater’s current location using location services on the device and will call a
pre-defined number accordingly.
If the boater’s
location is in the UK, the Emergency Call dials the emergency services number,
999.
If the boater’s
location is in Ireland, the Emergency Call dials the emergency services number,
112.
If, for whatever
reason, the location cannot be determined or the boater is outside of the UK and
Ireland, it defaults to the UK emergency services number, 999.
Can you change your Sail Plan trip while running a trip?
When a trip is in progress, boaters can amend the following using the ‘Edit’ button on the Trip Progress screen:
- Estimated time of
arrival at your end destination (ETA)
- People on Board
- Emergency Contacts
- End Point
- Waypoint
Can you change your Sail Plan trip while running a trip?
When a trip is in progress, the tracking interval can be adjusted (continuous recording, 10-minute recording or 30-minute recording).
How does the SafeTrx app determine what nearby information to display?
The SafeTrx app displays location-based information in the following way:
- VHF Channels – displays VHF channel information within a 10 NM radius of your location or the nearest two VHF channels.
- Lifeboat Stations – displays lifeboat information within a 25 NM radius of your location or the nearest two lifeboat stations.
- Port Information – displays port information within a 10 NM radius of your location or the nearest two ports.