Usage management system for ship propulsion apparatus, ship propulsion apparatus, user terminal device, and usage rights management server

A usage management system for a vessel propulsion apparatus including a thrust generator, a prime mover and a controller, the usage management system comprising:

• a use rights management server to manage use rights information of a vessel propulsion apparatus that provides a thrust to a vessel;
• and
• a user terminal to exchange data communication with the vessel propulsion apparatus and with the use rights management server;
• wherein
• the controller is configured or programmed to communicate with the user terminal, to operate the prime mover in a permission mode to permit an output exceeding a predetermined limit output if use permission is provided from the user terminal, and to operate the prime mover in a non-permission mode to prohibit the output exceeding the predetermined limit output if use permission is not provided from the user terminal;
• the user terminal is operable to transmit a use-permission request with identifications of the vessel propulsion apparatus and a user to the use rights management server, to enter an active state to allow issuance of use permission to the controller if a use-permission notification is received from the use rights management server, and to enter a non-active state to prohibit issuance of use permission to the controller if a use-permission notification is not received from the use rights management server;
• and
• the use rights management server is operable to refer to use rights information concerning the vessel propulsion apparatus when a use-permission request with identifications of the vessel propulsion apparatus and the user is received from the user terminal, and to transmit a use-permission notification or a use-non-permission notification to the user terminal in accordance with the use rights information.