MPS Overview
MPS is a PC software system used to manage Sea personnel. MPS can be operated either in a stand-alone or networked environment. It is comprehensive, easy to use, and can administrate the management of crews performed by Ship owners, Ship managers, Crew managers or Manning offices. The application can produce a large number of reports containing crew information presented in many different formats. All reports can be outputted as word processing documents.
Navigating within the MPS program is easy as all key windows (like certificates, training, etc) have a facility that allows the user to move from one to another key window (like sea service) with just a click on a button. The second window will show data about the same seaman who appeared in the previous window. Several windows can be kept open at the same time.
The online help file can be opened from every part of the MPS program and will present help information about the window currently displayed.
MPS can be set up with a multi-company, multi Manning agency and multi-principal (=client) configuration.
The automatic data exchange system is used to synchronize MPS databases residing at different locations. It permits entering of crew data at each MPS site and exchange of data between the sites is seamless using the Internet as transfer media.
MPS is equipped with a user defined security system that allows the administrator to set user permission like "enter", "view only" or "not allowed to view " for all windows and reports within the system. The security can be set for individual users or a group of users and allows the administrator a great deal of flexibility when creating the security system.
MPS can be delivered with either an MS Access Database or with an MySQL database. The MS Access database is recommend for small to medium scale operations and the MySQL version for heavy duty large operations.
Each MPS license is covered by a service agreement that guarantees the Client a prompt and long-term service, free training of users and free upgrades whenever released. The dedicated service provided by our technical staff makes Spectral to a reliable long time partner.
MPS is supplied as individual modules that all are sharing the same data base. The Buyer can therefore select only the modules that would be suitable for his operation. The Crew Management module is however the base module which always is require to operate any other MPS module. Following are the modules available:
- Crew Management
- Long-Term Planning
- Pay
- Crew Budget
- Document Viewer
- MPS-i Internet Interface
- Data Exchange
- SMS (short messaging service)
- Archive Database
- Integration with Videotel
Crew Management
The Crew Management Module is used to operate the basic crew planning programs and can produce a large variety of crew lists, crew on vacation, crew on sick leave and similar lists both in view and print mode. A series of statistical reports are also available.
It also accommodates all data required for entering, viewing and printing of the seafarers' certificates, education, training, medical, previous sea-services, and dependents.
Sign On and Off operations of crew is effected within this module. It includes a search function for seafarers with a specific competence required to join a certain vessel type.
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Long-Term Planning
- Uses a Graphical “drag and drop” Interface to effect and view long term planning
- Planning can be effected per rank or per vessel.
- The User will operate the crew rotation program by dragging and dropping boxes with the names of the seamen at the appropriate places of the surface.
- The start and end of service periods are seen as horizontally stretched rows, which can be easily read. Contracts can be extended or shortened by just dragging the end of a row.
- Includes a facility to search for personnel with the required competence to join a specific vessel.
- Can output the planning to MS Excel.
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Pay
The MPS pay module is a multi payroll system with a high degree of user-generated flexibility. Unlimited number of wage scales, user defined earnings and deductions can be created, which means that any type of deduction for social costs, taxes, etc. can be set up.
All output reports like wage slips, payroll summaries and bank reports are designed to the specific layout required by the Client and can also be designed for output as a file on a diskette in accordance with standards required by the Client's bank.
The MPS payroll can read and print payroll data imported electronically from the Spectral Ship Administrative program (SAS) which is used onboard ships. MPS can thereby produce Wage Account reports for onboard payrolls that were created in SAS.
The Philippine version of the Pay Module (Allotment Payroll) also generates large number of reports which are required for submission to various Government offices.
The MPS Pay System can also be used to monitor earnings and consumption of leave days for seafarers on permanent pay.
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Crew Budget
An unlimited number of Crew Cost and other vessel related costs. Increases can easily be run by setting a percentage or a new amount and run a Budget update command.
The Budget Module produces two types of reports--a detailed report per vessel and a summary reports for selected groups of vessels.
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Document Viewer
The Document Viewer is used to assign scanned files to the records of the seafarers.
The files can be easily viewed, or printed both individually or in groups. Scanned documents can be sorted in groups (like certificates or courses). Document groups can be defined and generated by the users of the program. Scanned images can be included in the MPS data exchange system.
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Internet Interface
The MPS-i Interface will present crew lists and key information like seafarer’s certificate, courses and sea service on a website. The data is automatically updated by the MPS data exchange module and users can access both current and historic data. The website is protected by passwords, so only authorized personnel can access the information.
The MPS-i module is very useful for traveling superintendents who need to check crew data onboard ships or for clients to Crew Management companies that would like to access the crew data of the seafarers they hire through their Crew Management contractor.
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Data Exchange Module
The MPS data exchange system makes it possible for two or several MPS programs to synchronize their data automatically.
The synchronization is done via the Internet. Several MPS sites can thereby communicate with each other by regularly exchanging small but comprehensive export/import files. Seafarers’ details can be generated at one MPS site, updated and modified at any other MPS site, and finally exported back to the original site. Each seaman's record will contain information as to when it was last updated, by which user, and from which site.
The MPS data exchange also export records for a group of seamen onboard a particular ship to the Spectral SAS program that is used onboard ships. All crew details, payroll details and administrative data are included in this export file. SAS can likewise export data back to MPS.
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SMS Module
We have the latest technology to offer, a wireless solution using the Short Message Service (SMS) service available to users of Mobile Phones. Spectral SMS v1.0 is a software that allows access to the phone book to send text messages to a single/group of mobile numbers or to receive messages using a PC.
Spectral SMS v1.0 comes bundled with a GSM modem. Cost on telecommunication charges are minimal depending on your provider. Users can access the system on a network environment. Security can be applied to allow users to send and receive specific information only. It can connect to any type of ODBC databases, whether MS Access or an SQL server. Keywords can be set as a template for retrieving information.
Spectral SMS v1.0 can be integrated with our Maritime Personnel System (MPS) program. MPS stores crew Biodata, certificates, planning and onboard details as well as the beneficiary and allottee details. Inquiries on the data available in MPS can be accessed using the cell phone.
Some of the information that can be accessed through SMS includes:
- Document and certificates expirations
- Crew planning details
- Advice crew when to report to office
- Monthly Allotment details
Archive Database
Records of seamen who left the company can be transferred to a special version of MPS called Archive Database.
Transferred records are still available for viewing, editing or printing and the archive database includes many of the MPS standard reports. If a seaman who left the company rejoins, his records can easily be transferred back into the main system.
Intergration with Videotel
The MPS Program can exchange data with training recording packages provided by Videotel. With this system, certification and course records from MPS can be imported in the Fleet Training Administrator (FTA) provided by Videotel.
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Long-Term Service
For Ship owner or Crew Management Company, a crew management application like MPS is an important tool. Each MPS license is therefore covered by a service agreement that guarantees the Client a prompt and long-term service, free training of users and free upgrades whenever released. The dedicated service provided by our technical staff makes Spectral to a reliable long-time partner.
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System Requirements
MPS requires the following:
Minimum PC type Pentium III with 256 MB of RAM.
MS Windows 98, ME, 2000, NT4 or MS Windows XP.
Screen resolution at least 1024 x 768 pixels.
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