OpenCPN

OpenCPN is free software distributed under the GPLv2 license. The program has been created for maritime navigation on vessels of various types and sizes. It was started in 2009 by David S. Register and is developed by a group of sailors who test it in real conditions, improving it and eliminating the shortcomings found. In addition to navigation, it is possible to pre-plan routes.

The program makes it possible to track the current position of the vessel, its speed and direction of movement, taking into account the data of navigation charts and forecasts of tides and currents. An interesting feature is AIS decoding: the program receives the positions and courses of other vessels over VHF radio and warns about possible collisions. A GPS receiver connected via NMEA 0183 is used for the navigation itself, and in its absence the program works as a planning tool. Many free official charts, such as NOAA charts, can be downloaded with the built-in chart downloader, and commercial charts are available through o-charts.

While the vessel is in motion, you can select a new chart and display it with the required scale and detail. To use an external autopilot, you enter the route and waypoints, and OpenCPN sends the navigation data to it. The documentation included in the program contains a lot of useful information, and more than 45 plug-ins, for example for GRIB weather files, extend its functions.

OpenCPN offers real-time tracking of a vessel's position, speed, and direction, enhancing maritime navigation and route planning abilities.