SeaTrackWeb User Guide

Last updated on 12th of September 2023

Introduction

Background

System Requirements

SeaTrackWeb recognizes several internet browsers used by its users. While the aim is to give every user the best possible experience, we recognize that it is difficult to develop SeaTrackWeb to work identically, efficiently and effectively with all browsers and versions.

SeaTrackWeb supports the following Web Browsers:

Web browsers:

Minimum Recommended
Google Chrome (current version¹) Google Chrome (current version¹)
Mozilla Firefox (current version¹) Mozilla Firefox (current version¹)
Internet Explorer version 10 Internet Explorer version 11
Microsoft Edge Microsoft Edge (current version¹)
¹Chrome, Firefox and Edge are on aggressive release schedules and therefore the most current version is not explicitly listed

General Interface

Front page

Simulation Tools

Oil simulation

    Oil Observation

    The Oil Observation tool is used to simulate the movement of observed oil in the water.
    For this tool it is possible choose how to specify the oil location, either by using existing oil detection (for example from satellite), enter coordinates or to hand draw on the map.

    It is possible to run the simulation both forwards and backwards in time.

    Continuous Oil Spill

    The Continuous oil spill tool is used to simulate the movement of oil from, for example an oil-leaking vessel, i.e. more and more oil is leaking into the water. In this case the outlet depth and location should be specified.

Objects simulation

    Floating Object

    The floating object tool is used to track lost buoys and other kinds of objects, initial location and wind factor of the lost object is needed. The simulation can be run both forwards and backwards in time.

Documentations

There are a few different documents linked to SeaTrackWeb. For your reference they are listed below. All documentation can be found on SeaTrackWeb's front page.

Basic UI Structure

Top menu bar

Back Arrow

The back arrow, at the far left of the top menu bar will allow you to return to the front page at any time.

Search Icon

Allows you to search places and islands.

Latitude Longitude

Allows you to switch to see the coordinates on the map, as decimal degrees or as degrees decimal minutes.

Help Menu

The help menu contains a handful of interactive guides, printable guides and a link to this document.

Current User (Username)

The user which you are currently logged in as.

Logout

This action will logout form SeaTrackWeb.

Map Controls and Tools

Zoom Control

Use this tool to change the zoom level of the map you are viewing.

Distance Measurement

Clicking and draggin with this tool will show a circle and a distance measurement. Distance can be measured in several steps by clicking on the map. To disable the function, just click on the measurement button again.

Simulations

If you have made several different simulations you can use the filter to select the simulations you want.

To the right there are again three dots. With the three dots you will be able to load older simulations or select multiple simulations.

STORAGE

Here you can load older simulations.

SELECTION

Here you can switch to visualize multiple simulations.

Forecasts

Under Forecast you will be able to visualize Currents, Winds, SST (Sea Surface Temperature) and Ice.

Currents / Winds / SST / Ice

With Opacity you can adjust the opacity for each field on the map.

Current arrows with speed plots the surface current, and every hour is plotted. The surface current can be animated when you animate any simulation.

Wind flags with speed plots the 10 meter wind together with a field that shows the wind speed, and every hour is plotted. Wind flags with speed can be animated when you animate any simulation.

Wind flags plots the 10 meter wind, and every hour is plotted. Wind flags can be animated when you animate any simulation.

SST and ice plots the Sea Surface Temperature and Ice concentration. SST and ice can be animated when you animate any simulation.

Oil Simulation

Oil Observation

The Oil Observation tool is used to simulate the movement of observed oil in the water.
For this tool it is possible choose how to specify the oil location, either by using existing oil detection (for example from satellite), enter coordinates or to hand draw on the map.

It is possible to run the simulation both forwards and backwards in time.

Specify time and location

Observation time

Enter the time and day that the oil was observed.

Outlet type

You can add a single observation, a line observation or an area observation.

Position

When specifying the geographical location of the oil observation, it is possible to use any of two methods:

  1. Enter manually - by entering positions in various latitude and longitude formats
  2. Free hand draw - by drawing an outlet shape directly on the map
When you choose Enter manually, a box pops up where you can add the coordinates.

When you choose Free hand draw, the cursor is activated so you can use it on the map.

The result is shown below.

If you are happy with the time and location, you click the green button Next

Simulation Period

Selected period

The white line shows how much of the available time you have selected.

Start date (UTC)

Duration

Here you specify how long the simulation time should be. It is allowed too "free type" the hours, not only using the default 12, 24, 36, 48 etc.

Forward/Backward

And, finally, here you specify if you want a forward or backward simulation.

If you are happy with the Simulation Period, you click the green button Next

Type of oil

Select oil by class or a specific type of oil.

Here you can choose an oil by general properties (Light, Medium, Heavy) or if you have identified the oil and wish to select a specific oil.

Select oil class

In Oil classes there are 3 different viscosity intervals, Light, Medium and Heavy oils. A choice here is recommended if one does not have information about the oil type. Choosing one of those gives the default values among the oils below

  • Light: Light Diesel Fuel
  • Medium: Intermediate Oil
  • Heavy: Bunker C.

Select specific oil

Below Oil, specific there are first 11 specified oils to be chosen. Most of those are oil ranges (many different oil types), but it is more specific then Oil classes. This is a possibility, when one has more information about the oil.

The densities are fixed to Gasoline 700 kg/m³, Jet fuel and Kerosene 802 kg/m³, Light Diesel Fuel 852.5 kg/m³, Fuel Oil no2 852.5 kg/m³, Light-medium Crude 864 kg/m³, Lubricating Oil 872 kg/m³ Intermediate Oil 904 kg/m³ Bunker B 914 kg/m³ Heavy crude 990 kg/m³ Bunker C 982.6 kg/m³, Asphalt 1000 kg/m³. When Rebco oil is wanted choose Light-Medium Crude.

Three oils emulsify: Light-medium crude, Heavy crude and Bunker C. 2 new heavy oils are introduced in a test phase, Orimulsion (test) and High Viscosity Fuel Oil (test). The knowledge about these oils is limited, and weathering processes are not activated. The densities are fixed to 1020 kg/m³ (Orimulsion) and 1015 kg/m³ (High Viscosity Fuel Oil). Below those oils there are 25 oils from Sintef’s Oil Weathering Model.

All emulsify except Sleipner (IKU) and Marine Diesel (IKU). Balder (medium), Ekofisk Blend (medium), Grane (medium), Gullfaks (light), Kristin (light), Norne (medium), Oseberg A (light), Sleipner (light), Statfjord A (light), Ula (light), Valhall (light), Aasgard (light), DUC (light), Siri (light), South Arne (medium), Fuel oil no 6 LS (heavy), IF-180 (heavy), IF-380 (heavy), IF-30 Bunker (medium), Marine diesel (light), IFO 380 Fu Shan Hai (heavy).

State of oil

You have to select state, if it is new oil choose Fresh oil, but if the oil has been in the water for some time, choose Weathered oil. Evaporation and emulsification has reached its maximum value for Weathered oil.

If you are happy with the Type of oil, you click the green button Next

Amount

Amount

Fill in the amount as m³ or tonnes. Decimals can be used.

If you are happy with the Amount, you click the green button Next

Calculation mode

Calculation mode

Choose level of detail for the simulation Calculation mode gives the possibility to choose Brief: 200 particles, Normal: 500 particles or Detailed: 2000 particles. Sometimes one needs a fast answer and then Brief is recommended. Increased number of particles will give a better description oil physics. This choice takes a longer time to calculate. Normal is the default value.

Uncertainty

To account for the uncertainty in the weather forecast the user can select Add uncertainty which depends on uncertainty in the weather forecasts. When this option is selected the area over which the oil (or substance) is spread during the calculation will increase to reflect the possible spreading of the spill when the uncertainty of the weather forecast is included. Hence, the increased spreading should not be interpreted as a physical process, but as a consequence of the inherent uncertainty in the weather forecast.

If you are happy with the Calculation mode and Uncertainty, you click the green button Start model

Calculation

This is a counter for how far the model has come in its calculation.

When the calculation is finished, and you want to visualize the simulation, click on the box. Down in the left corner below, the player is now activated. The simulation speed can be adjusted when clicking the "speedometer" to the right of the time box.

Results

Here you have several options in order to visualize the simulation. From left to right; View particles, View trajectory, View trace and View depth colors.

Visualize

Under Summary the settings for the simulation are shown.

At the bottom there are a + sign and three dots.

If you choose the + sign you add another simulation using the same input. It is very useful if you just want to change one of the settings, e.g. Start date.

When you choose the three dots, you will be asked what you want do with the simulation.

SIMULATION

Here you can choose Save, Rename, Share, Export, Discard or Delete. If you want to share your simulations with others, it is important that you save it first, and then share it. Otherwise the link will expire within 24 hours.

Oil Simulation

Continuous Oil Spill

The Continuous Oil Spill tool is used to simulate the movement of oil from, for example an oil-leaking vessel, i.e. more and more oil is leaking into the water. In this case the outlet depth and location should be specified.

Specify time and location

Observation time

Enter the time and day that the spill was observed.

Outlet depth

Outlet depth is the initial depth of the spill. The depth is given in meters, decimals are possible.

Position

When specifying the geographical location of the oil spill, it is possible to use any of two methods:

  1. Enter manually - by entering positions in various latitude and longitude formats
  2. Free hand draw - by drawing an outlet shape directly on the map
When you choose Enter manually, a box pops up where you can add the coordinates.

When you choose Free hand draw, the cursor is activated so you can use it on the map.

The result is shown below.

If you are happy with the time and location, you click the green button Next

Simulation Period

Selected period

The white line shows how much of the available time you have selected.

Start date (UTC)

Duration

Here you specify how long the simulation time should be. It is allowed too "free type" the hours, not only using the default 12, 24, 36, 48 etc.

If you are happy with the Simulation Period, you click the green button Next

Type of oil

Select oil by class or a specific type of oil.

Here you can choose an oil by general properties (Light, Medium, Heavy) or if you have identified the oil and wish to select a specific oil.

Select oil class

In Oil classes there are 3 different viscosity intervals, Light, Medium and Heavy oils. A choice here is recommended if one does not have information about the oil type. Choosing one of those gives the default values among the oils below

  • Light: Light Diesel Fuel
  • Medium: Intermediate Oil
  • Heavy: Bunker C.

Select specific oil

Below Oil, specific there are first 11 specified oils to be chosen. Most of those are oil ranges (many different oil types), but it is more specific then Oil classes. This is a possibility, when one has more information about the oil.

The densities are fixed to Gasoline 700 kg/m³, Jet fuel and Kerosene 802 kg/m³, Light Diesel Fuel 852.5 kg/m³, Fuel Oil no2 852.5 kg/m³, Light-medium Crude 864 kg/m³, Lubricating Oil 872 kg/m³ Intermediate Oil 904 kg/m³ Bunker B 914 kg/m³ Heavy crude 990 kg/m³ Bunker C 982.6 kg/m³, Asphalt 1000 kg/m³. When Rebco oil is wanted choose Light-Medium Crude.

Three oils emulsify: Light-medium crude, Heavy crude and Bunker C. 2 new heavy oils are introduced in a test phase, Orimulsion (test) and High Viscosity Fuel Oil (test). The knowledge about these oils is limited, and weathering processes are not activated. The densities are fixed to 1020 kg/m³ (Orimulsion) and 1015 kg/m³ (High Viscosity Fuel Oil). Below those oils there are 25 oils from Sintef’s Oil Weathering Model.

All emulsify except Sleipner (IKU) and Marine Diesel (IKU). Balder (medium), Ekofisk Blend (medium), Grane (medium), Gullfaks (light), Kristin (light), Norne (medium), Oseberg A (light), Sleipner (light), Statfjord A (light), Ula (light), Valhall (light), Aasgard (light), DUC (light), Siri (light), South Arne (medium), Fuel oil no 6 LS (heavy), IF-180 (heavy), IF-380 (heavy), IF-30 Bunker (medium), Marine diesel (light), IFO 380 Fu Shan Hai (heavy).

If you are happy with the Type of oil, you click the green button Next

Amount

Total amount/rate

Total amount/rate. Amount as m³ or tonnes, and rate as e.g. m³/hour or tonnes/day. Decimals can be used.

Duration

Duration of the spill is given in days or hours. Typically used for simulation of a leaking wreckage or submerged pipe.

If you are happy with the Amount and Duration, you click the green button Next

Calculation mode

Calculation mode

Choose level of detail for the simulation Calculation mode gives the possibility to choose Brief: 200 particles, Normal: 500 particles or Detailed: 2000 particles. Sometimes one needs a fast answer and then Brief is recommended. Increased number of particles will give a better description oil physics. This choice takes a longer time to calculate. Normal is the default value.

Uncertainty

To account for the uncertainty in the weather forecast the user can select Add uncertainty which depends on uncertainty in the weather forecasts. When this option is selected the area over which the oil (or substance) is spread during the calculation will increase to reflect the possible spreading of the spill when the uncertainty of the weather forecast is included. Hence, the increased spreading should not be interpreted as a physical process, but as a consequence of the inherent uncertainty in the weather forecast.

If you are happy with the Calculation mode and Uncertainty, you click the green button Start model

Calculation

This is a counter for how far the model has come in its calculation.

When the calculation is finished, and you want to visualize the simulation, click on the box. Down in the left corner below, the player is now activated. The simulation speed can be adjusted when clicking the "speedometer" to the right of the time box.

Results

Here you have several options in order to visualize the simulation. From left to right; View particles, View trajectory, View trace and View depth colors.

Visualize

Under Summary the settings for the simulation are shown.

At the bottom there are a + sign and three dots.

If you choose the + sign you add another simulation using the same input. It is very useful if you just want to change one of the settings, e.g. Start date.

When you choose the three dots, you will be asked what you want do with the simulation.

SIMULATION

Here you can choose Save, Rename, Share, Export, Discard or Delete. If you want to share your simulations with others, it is important that you save it first, and then share it. Otherwise the link will expire within 24 hours.

Objects Simulation

Floating Object

The Floating Object tool can be chosen when the object is partly above the water surface. It is then possible to add an extra wind drag for the part that is above the water surface.

Specify Location

Object type

You can add a single object, multiple objects, objects on a line or search for objects inside an area.

Position

When specifying the geographical location of the floating object(s), it is possible to use any of two methods:

  1. Enter manually - by entering positions in various latitude and longitude formats
  2. Free hand draw - by drawing an outlet shape directly on the map
When you choose Enter manually, a box pops up where you can add the coordinates.

When you choose Free hand draw, the cursor is activated so you can use it on the map.

The result is shown below.

If you are happy with the coordinates, you click the green button Next

Simulation Period

Selected period

The white line shows how much of the available time you have selected.

Start date (UTC)

Duration

Here you specify how long the simulation time should be. It is allowed too "free type" the hours, not only using the default 12, 24, 36, 48 etc.

Forward/Backward

And, finally, here you specify if you want a forward or backward simulation.

If you are happy with the Simulation Period, you click the green button Next

Wind factor

Wind factor

Select a proper wind factor value for the object you want to run a simulation for. A higher value means that the object will be more affected by the wind compared to a simulation with a lower value. If you don't know the wind factor that the object is affected by, keep the zero value.

Thereafter you click the green button Next, and then Start model

Calculation

This is a counter for how far the model has come in its calculation.

When the calculation is finished, and you want to visualize the simulation, click on the box. Down in the left corner below, the player is now activated. The simulation speed can be adjusted when clicking the "speedometer" to the right of the time box.

Results

Here you have several options in order to visualize the simulation. From left to right; View particles, View trajectory, View trace and View depth colors.

Visualize

Under Summary the settings for the simulation are shown.

At the bottom there are a + sign and three dots.

If you choose the + sign you add another simulation using the same input. It is very useful if you just want to change one of the settings, e.g. Start date.

When you choose the three dots, you will be asked what you want do with the simulation.

SIMULATION

Here you can choose Save, Rename, Share, Export, Discard or Delete. If you want to share your simulations with others, it is important that you save it first, and then share it. Otherwise the link will expire within 24 hours.

AIS

AIS Search

The AIS search can be used with a simulation or as a manual search. For the simulation search Seatrack will create a fixed area around the center point of the simulation for every 15 minutes. You can only make one search at a time and the AIS search cannot be saved.

If the search returns more then 200 ships you are prompted to make a smaller search. If this happens you can change to do a manual search and search for a smaller area or a shorter time period.

When using Simulation search, just choose a simulation in the drop down menu and then click on Next and then Load AIS.


In manual search you can decide on the AIS search area yourself. The search area is limited and you will get a notice if the area is to big.

Specify location

When specifying the geographical search area, it is possible to use any of two methods:

1. Enter manually - by entering positions in various latitude and longitude formats
2. Free hand draw - by drawing a search area directly on the map

When you are happy with your coordinates just click on the green button Next

Time period

The grey line shows how long simulation period that is available. The white line shows how much of the available time you have selected. You can only make an AIS search for the same period as the simulation period in Seatrack Web.

Start date (UTC)

Here you specify from when you want to start your AIS search.

Hours back in time

Here you specify how many hours back in time from the start date you wish to make your AIS search for.

If you are happy with the time period just click on the green button. Next

After this click on Load AIS. If the search gives more then 200 ships you will have to change your search, either by doing a search for a smaller area or search for a shorter time period.

AIS Results

As default all ships in the search will be shown on the map. By clicking on a ship in the map or in the table the AIS track will be shown for the ship. You can also use the buttons to show all or some of the tracks.

For simulation search, ship tracks that cross the search area at a given time is marked red in the table. The track will also be marked red on the map. If you click on Hide from map the ship and its track will be hidden in the map and the MMSI will be marked grey in the table.

  1. Select inverted – Will mark all the ships that is not marked
  2. Select all – Marks all ships
  3. Unselect all – Unmarks all the ships
  4. Show in map – Will show the marked ship on the map if it has been hidden
  5. Hide from map – Hides the marked ship on the map
  6. Ship info – Extended information about the marked ship

To make a new AIS search click on Clear Search.

Contact and Support