Garmin's surround view camera system assists the captain in his harbour manoeuvres, winning the award at the Mets Trade 2021 in Amsterdam. It can also be combined with Volvo Penta's assisted docking System, another winner of the innovation competition. Precision about this system that brings us closer to the automobile.

For the Garmin surround view, six cameras are integrated into the ship's plating, just below deck level. There is one aft camera (on the aft panel) and one at the bow (looking forward) and then four other cameras (two on each side) spread along the boat. By combining the view of these 6 cameras, Garmin displays a view from above the boat with a 360 °vision, a sort of panoramic view. Without leaving the helm, just by looking at its Garmin screen, one gets a peripheral view of what is happening around it.

This 360 °view is particularly interesting when approaching a port square. With an augmented reality system, by drawing "ladders" that indicate distances (either astern or lateral), the skipper always knows how far from the dock his boat is. A "visual bumper" system (with a frame displayed all around the boat) also helps to better understand distances. If the aerial panoramic view is very good, it can easily be combined on the screen with views directly from one or the other of the cameras, often offering a more readable (less distorted) image and thus easily usable.

The cameras land outside the hulls and are not too prominent not to risk clinging at the time of docking. This system is reminiscent of the one we already know with the rearward cameras present on cars, Garmin's desire being always to simplify navigation.

For the moment, even if the system was presented in partnership with Volvo and its assisted docking, no connection is yet presented between the engine manufacturer and the electronics manufacturer. But from there to imagine an automatic docking, there is only one step …