Yacht Management Software: How Much Does it Cost?

You’ve decided that this is the year you will organize the business of managing your yacht. You’ll find a yacht management software program, set up planned maintenance schedules, and upload all your documents.

Soon, with a few clicks, you’ll be able to view your engine room work list, access the vessel’s drawings, check the spares inventory, generate a Crew Hours of Work and Rest report, and more!


You're ready to do the legwork necessary to organize life on your vessel (importing data and training the crew), but a major question remains before you can make a commitment to purchase a program: what does yacht management software cost?

Well, the short answer is “It depends.” That’s because there are so many options that can be included in your price. And the structures of yacht management programs can be fundamentally different. But I’ll try to shed some light on the different options and what to look for in a yacht management program.

What can a yacht management program do for you?

First, let’s be clear that we are talking about a comprehensive computer-based management program specifically designed for vessels. Here are some functions that any comprehensive program should perform:

• Maintain vessel equipment list, including scheduled maintenance tasks and maintenance reminders.

• Keep track of vessel inventory, including engineering spares, stores & provisions, uniforms, medical supplies, charts, and media.

• Manage your documents, particularly those required for MLC (Maritime Labour Certificate) inspections.

• Track information about guests and crew, including crew hours of work and rest (required for MLC 2006 and other regulatory organizations).

Depending on your needs, you may choose additional add-on features. For instance, Triton Administrator by Great Circle Systems offers optional modules such as multi-currency accounting, Safety Management System, a Running Log, pre-configured data lists, and a bar code package.
 
You can read more about what each module can do for you in our May 15, 2014 post:
Why We Love Yacht Management Software (And You Should, Too!)

 
How are vessels charged for yacht management programs?

Software providers have different structures, usually depending upon whether their program is computer-based or cloud-based. Computer-based software such as Triton Administrator charges a one-time fee. When you buy the program, you own the program, along with the data you’ve entered into the program. You also have immediate access to all your data, regardless of your vessel’s Internet connection, because the data lives on your on board computer.

Cloud-based programs such as Manage My Vessel and Techman Hub charge a monthly fee per vessel foot for their programs. In the case of Manage My Vessel, the price depends upon the chosen service level. There is also an offline access fee and an installation fee. So if you plan to use a cloud-based program for years to come, the cost is cumulative.

With cloud-based yacht management programs, you may not have access to all your vessel’s data if your Internet connection is down. It’s also not entirely clear who owns the data. So make sure that if you choose to contract with a company offering cloud-based yacht management, if the contract ends, you have access to all of your vessel’s historic data.

What is the price for management software?

You’ll need to do some research to find out what’s out there, but I can give you Triton Administrator's price list as of this blog’s publishing date. Remember, Triton is a computer-based program that charges a one-time fee and allows you to pick and choose modules, depending upon your needs. You have access to all your data all the time.

Download your own Triton Administrator price list below.

For the original of this article and many others, visit Great Circle System's  Yacht Technology Blog.

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Great Circle Systems was founded by Scott Strand and Andy Levy in 1999. Scott and Andy are uniquely qualified to serve the luxury yacht industry, combining extensive software development and network system integration experience with many years of hands-on yachting experience. Over the years, Scott and Andy have assembled a team of experienced and skilled yacht engineers and network specialists. Together, the company has built an impressive array of products and services to assist in the construction and operation of vessels 30 meters and larger. These products include Triton Administrator yacht management software and the NAS3000 Internet management appliance. GCS has provided IT solutions for many of the most beautiful yachts in the world, including M/Y Cakewalk V, M/Y Lady Sheridan, M/Y Jemasa, M/Y "A" and M/Y Katara.