Use this to "virtually board" an AIS target. This will treat that AIS target as though it is Own-Ship. While virtually boarded, you can enable many of the features that are available only for Own-Ship, such as docking modes.
Common uses for virtually boarding include:
Warning: Because of how AIS works, information about AIS targets is not updated as frequently as for Own-Ship when connected to a pilot plug directly. Virtual Boarding is not considered suitable for navigation or piloting where predictable and reliable position updates are required. You should connect directly to PPU or AIS Pilot Plug. A warning is displayed on startup reminding this.
An alternative method to Virtual Board an AIS target is to select the target and view its "Full Details". You will see an option to Virtual Board the vessel.
You can disable virtual boarding by pressing the X in the Virtual Boarding status bar panel.
When virtual boarding is enabled, it takes precedence over all other features except the vessel simulator.
Virtual Board (Only SEAiq Pilot) : Presents list of current AIS targets. Select one you want to virtually board. If virtual boarding is active, the first option listed is to disable virtual boarding.
You can also virtually board another vessel by selecting it on the Navigate tab, bringing up its full details and selecting Virtually Board This Vessel.
Automatic Board (Only SEAiq Pilot) : When enabled, the user is prompted to board a vessel when nearby. The user is prompted when the following conditions are met: no Own-Ship is available, your device is at most 0.25NM from a vessel, your device's course is within 2kn of vessel's course (measured by comparing course vectors), and the vessel is not a pilot boat, port tender, tug boat, or recreational vessel. You can be asked to board at most once every 5 minutes.
This feature requires an internal GPS in your device. Enabling this causes the internal GPS to always be on, which may affect battery life.