Major Upgrade to ISF Watchkeeper

The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) and IT Energy have launched the latest release of the ISF Watchkeeper software – ISF Watchkeeper 3.5 – developed for maintaining records of individual seafarers’ work hour records, as required by IMO and ILO regulations, and to help prevent crew fatigue and to avoid issues with Port State Control.

This major upgrade, which is available free of charge to existing ISF Watchkeeper users on more than 8,000 ships worldwide, has been designed to reflect the evolving needs of those at sea and managers ashore.

ISF Watchkeeper 3.5 offers a new working schedule planning tool; a unique means of taking account of international dateline crossings; non-conformance activity capture; multi-language key reports and STCW 2010 ‘Manila Exceptions’ calculation improvements.

“ISF Watchkeeper was originally developed almost 20 years ago using the special knowledge ICS gained from representing the industry during the development by IMO and ILO of what are very complex seafarers’ work hour regulations. In collaboration with the expertise of IT Energy, ICS is committed to the continuous improvement of a product that remains the original and the best,” said Simon Bennett, Director, Policy and External Relations, at ICS.

”ISF Watchkeeper 3.5 has been designed to create an enhanced user experience“, said Michael Papageorge, Managing Director, at IT Energy. “It is now more effective than ever at taking care of the full range of on board requirements for demonstrating compliance with crew work and rest hour regulations.”

As part of the update, improvements have also been made to Watchkeeper Online, the sister product designed to support shore based personnel. Reports now run many times faster, analysis capabilities are continually being added and the new working schedule report from ISF Watchkeeper 3.5 can be rapidly uploaded to Watchkeeper Online. API data integration has been improved and overtime timesheet record reports can now be created.