About Us | Deckhand Logbook

Our Story

Over a Decade of Solving Problems for Fishers

The original Deckhand Logbook was created by fishermen who grew tired of recording catch data by hand, with pen and paper. Over the course of 15 years, Real Time Data has built upon this idea by considering one simple fact: industries that operate in harsh environments need an easy-to-use data collection tool that suits their complex workplace needs.

To address this, RTD developed a data collection system flexible enough to handle a broad set of collection needs across many industries. The cornerstone of our platform is CatchFlow™ — a system designed for anyone, in any industry, to build specific and highly customisable workflows that operate on the Deckhand platform.

Since 2013, Deckhand has been at the forefront of solving fishers' problems as they transition away from paper-based logbooks to modern digital systems.

The Team

A Team That Knows (and Lives) Seafood Industry Tech

Lange Solberg

President, North America

Maritime sales and seafood industry non-profit sector leader with 25 years of commercial fishing experience. M. Marine Affairs, University of Washington.

Wade Perry

CTO

Experienced technologist with background in full-stack development, iOS, AWS, and mobile engineering.

Simon Dick

Co-Founder / Board

Co-founder with background in advertising, branding, and fisheries technology.

Craig Farrow

Executive Chair

Experienced CEO and Chair across private, not-for-profit, and ASX-listed companies. Chartered Accountant.

Rohit Selvaratnam

Fractional CFO

Brings a proven record of building and scaling technology businesses into global operators. Played a key role at Seequent (NZ) and other technology businesses across Australia and New Zealand.

What Our Customers Say

Hear From Our Customers

Fishermen, fleet managers, and industry organisations from Alaska to South Australia rely on Deckhand every day.

At some point in the near future, we will be required to do all submissions electronically and it is amazing the Deckhand is helping get ahead of the game and give people opportunity to lead in that change and create solutions that fit the fleet rather than be forced into unexpected regulation or role change.

Lauren Howard Alaska Longline Fishermen's Association

Deckhand saves me hours every trip. It works the way I work — whether I've got a signal or not — and it's a lot easier to carry than those big federal logbooks. What I really appreciate is that the Deckhand team actually listens; every update makes the app better because they take user feedback seriously. It's made keeping records simple instead of a chore.

Michael Offerman F/V Pacific Sojurn

Deckhand has been a game changer for our fleet. SEPFA is the principal association for the 160 vessels in the South Eastern Rock Lobster fleet in South Australia, and we've been using the Deckhand Electronic Logbook for nearly a decade. Before, our fishermen used to spend hours filling out paper logbooks — not only time-consuming, but prone to errors. With Deckhand, everything is much more efficient and accurate.

Nathan Kimber Executive Officer, SEPFA

The Deckhand Logbook has been a game-changer for me. I used to spend hours every trip manually recording data. Now, with this streamlined tool, I save 20–30 minutes a day. Deckhand's clear layout makes it easy to record sets and catch data, reducing the chance of errors and ensuring compliance. The ability to work offline is a lifesaver when I'm in remote areas.

Garrett Elwood F/V Western Freedom

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Deckhand Logbook Software? +

Deckhand is an at-sea data collection platform. Deckhand empowers fishermen, seafood processors, and other fishing industry stakeholders to easily record and report trip data — digitally, accurately, and compliantly.

Who can use Deckhand? +

Deckhand is a global product and anyone can use it for both regulatory and business purposes. Currently, Deckhand is an approved electronic logbook for regulators across the United States, Australia, and New Zealand.

How do I get Deckhand? +

Please call your local representative:

United States: 1 (360) 220-8674 / 1 (360) 594-1995
Australia: +61 8 7100 1397
New Zealand: +64 (0)4 385 9285

Or book a free demo from this website and one of our specialists will walk you through the platform.

Why use Deckhand? +

As a company founded by fishermen, we believe your fishing data is your biggest asset. Deckhand ensures your logbook data is collected as you work, the way you work — and provides the pathways to get the right data into the right hands at the right time.

Can I go back and look at my past fishing activity? +

Yes. All data recorded in the Deckhand app is archived and viewable in summaries and reports showing an array of catch and business metrics relevant to your operation.

I'm usually out of cellular range. How do I submit reports? +

Deckhand is designed to work in offline environments. All data is stored locally on your device. An internet connection is only needed to send reports — you never lose a record, even in the most remote fishing grounds.

Can fishing associations use Deckhand? +

Absolutely. If you are a vessel cooperative, trade association, or other type of fishermen's organisation, Deckhand is a powerful tool for your membership. Use our CatchFlow™ workflow customisation engine to tailor Deckhand to your organisation's specific needs.

Built by Fishermen, for the Fishing Industry