Tab 3 - Niche Area Set Up

To Begin, navigate to the Niche Area Setup tab.

Click the dropdown menu to select the vessel layout that best corresponds to your vessel. Important: Once you’ve selected the vessel layout, this cannot be changed, so please choose carefully.

Note: The following standard vessel niches have already been accounted for and will not need to be identified: Ballast Plugs, Bow Discharge Outlets, Docking Block Marks, Draft Markers, Flat Bottom Hull Markings, Skeg Transom, Vertical Sides, Waterline/Boot Top.

Once you’ve selected your layout, click the “Start Niche Setup” button to begin adding the niches that are unique to your vessel.

Start by identifying if you have any bilge keels onboard. If you do, the system will prompt you to enter how many are on board. Then indicate if your vessel has an Impressed Current Corrosion Protection (ICCP) System or Sacrificial Anodes on the Hull.

Once complete, click Next to proceed.

Now, your vessel layout will appear with a dropdown menu showing all possible niche categories.

Review the categories and select the relevant icons for your vessel. Hover over each icon to identify its name.

Then you will be able to drag-and-drop the niches onto your vessel outline using your General Arrangement (GA) as a guide.

Once an element is placed it will be saved automatically. If you need to remove a niche from the outline, right click the icon and press the trash can.

If you need to adjust the placement of an icon, you can click and hold while dragging the icon to the correct place or more aligned position. And then select yes, when prompted with "are you sure"? Sometimes it might take a couple tries to line up.

Please note, that you can pause niche setup at anytime during the process as it autosaves, and resume or edit the niches at a later time if needed.

For acoustic items like sound logs, drag the icon to the corresponding area of your vessel.

A pop-up will appear allowing you to define the niche location (e.g., Port Forward or Bow). After defining the location, click OK.

Repeat this for all acoustic items, then click Next.

Now, identify the cooling systems on your vessel. Drag and drop icons for High Sea Chests, Low Sea Chests, Firefighting Sea Chests, or Box Coolers onto the vessel diagram.

Tip (optional): For a High Sea Chest, place it along the side of the vessel, even overlapping the vessel outline to show it’s on the side of the ship.

For a Low Sea Chest, place it as you would in bottom view.

After placing each item, define its location (e.g., Forward Starboard, Aft Port) and click OK.

Continue adding all cooling items, then click Next.

Next, the system will display options for propulsion systems, including thrusters and propellers.

For example, if your vessel has a Fixed Propeller, drag the icon to the appropriate location on your vessel outline.

The system may prompt you to specify whether it’s an A-Frame or V-Frame, and if it has a Kort Nozzle. After selecting the appropriate details, click OK.

Repeat the process for other propulsion components.

Click Next to proceed

Repeat the process of dragging and defining the location for any rudders.

Now, we will add special items like Moon Pools, Stabilizers, and Stern Rollers.

Drag each applicable item onto your vessel outline, define its location, and press OK.

Once you’ve placed all the niches, cooling systems, propulsion components, and special items, review the entire setup. Double-check the locations of all items. When you’re satisfied with the setup, click finish

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The best part is the Automatic Sub-Component Detection feature. The system will automatically detect and identify the sub-components of each niche. For example, if you add a sea chest, the system will recognize related parts like grates and walls. This ensures that your setup is compliant with IMO guidelines without you needing to identify every sub-component manually.