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Electronic Chart Display and Information

System (E.C.D.I.S)
Overview

An Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS) which can meet the IMO/ SOLAS chart carriage requirements.

REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT:
Definition of Nautical Chart: SOLAS V Regulation 2.2
o [] is issued officially by or on the authority of a Government, authorized Hydrographic Office or other
relevant government institution and is designed to meet the requirements of marine navigation
All ships must carry nautical charts and publications: SOLAS V Regulation 19
o Only a Type-Approved ECDIS may be used to replace paper chart navigation (IMO/SOLAS, Flag State
Approval)
o If using an ECDIS, there must also be a back-up arrangement
o A second ECDIS system OR up to date paper charts
All charts & publications must be kept up to date: SOLAS V Regulation 27
o Can be fulfilled by carriage of type-approved ECDIS supplemented by an appropriate back-up
arrangement, and up to date Electronic Navigational Charts (ENC).
o Electronic Chart Systems (ECS) are unofficial and do NOT satisfy ECDIS carrying requirements of IMO/
SOLAS
Publications may be carried in the form of electronic media, in lieu of hard copies: IMO MSC-MEPC.2/Circ.2
o Nautical Charts & Publications may also be kept in specially compiled databases
Performance Standards for ECDIS: IMO Resolution MSC.232 (82)
o Type Approval testing for ECDIS is performed by Flag State
o To meet SOLAS requirements, ECDIS must be certified to show it meets IMO Performance Standards
FLAG AND PORT STATE ACCEPTANCE:
Record of Equipment attached to the ships Safety Equipment Certificate should be appropriately endorsed
o Showing that digital publications are being used and that there is appropriate back-up
o Endorsement provided by Flag State Administrations (FSA) Recognized Organizations
Port State Controls will normally check for compliance with FSA by inspection of certificates
S YS T EM P R O C ED U R E S :
System Requirements computer should meet stated hardware and software requirements of the product
o Hardware must not interfere with operation of other bridge systems

SOLAS V Regulation 17- Electromagnetic Compatibility

o A check should be done to ensure software compatibility with other authorized software
System Location Digital systems must be located in the Bridge, close to planning or voyage monitoring stations,
and easily accessible by ships officers at all times
o Should align with SOLAS V Regulation 15: Bridge Design
Primary System must have emergency source of power
o Uninterruptable power supply can be useful, but cannot be considered the emergency source of power
Display
o IHO standard S-52 style of presentation is mandatory
o Size minimum of 350 mm diagonal is recommended
o Brightness should be able to be varied in brightness and contrast
Backup is required
o Can be up to date paper charts, printed parts of relevant publication (in color)
o Can be a second ECDIS system

S.M.A.R.T. TRAINING CAMPAIGN

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OPERATING PROCEDURES :
Voyage Planning;
o At the beginning of voyage, and any change of watch, officers should review the voyage plan and agree
on the selected pre-setting to be used on the ECDIS
o Backup facility should be checked both before leaving port and routinely during the voyage
Updating ECDIS
o IMO/ SOLAS requires up to date charts
o Updates to ENCs may be delivered on media like a CD, as an email attachment via SATCOM, or as a
broadcast message via SATCOM with additional hardware
o Records of when updates are received and applied should be kept
o If hardware configuration or software is changed, a check should be completed to make sure operating
will continue satisfactorily
o Check often for computer viruses
System Malfunction should be repaired at next port of call, and if that is not do-able, actions should be taken to
ensure that navigation is possible for the next leg of the voyage
o Printing out charts, etc.
Updating Publications as per: SOLAS V Regulation 27
o Digital publications should be update information at least at the same frequency as paper equivalent
o Database should update user if update fails or is corrupted
o If a database does not have the most recent update, then a new update cannot occur
o Records of when updates are received and applied should be kept
o Updates available while the ship is in port should be applied prior to planning/ commencement of the
voyage
Ensure that licensing and permits for use/ updates are valid well in excess of the duration of the voyage to the
next port

Training Requirements

According to IMO STCW and ISM codes, it is a ship owners responsibility to ensure that mariners on their vessels
are competent and able to carry out duties
Ship owners and operators should ensure that their ships crew are provided with a comprehensive
familiarization program and type-specific training
Training Objectives
o Safe Operation of EDCIS equipment
o Proper use of ECDIS-related information
o Awareness of ECDIS-related limitations
o Knowledge of legal aspects and responsibilities related to electronic charts
IMO Model Training Course on the Operational Use of ECDIS
o Regarded as the minimum requirements a candidate should have gone through to receive and ECDIS
certificate
Certification of ECDIS Education should document:
o Candidate completed a course based upon IMO Model Course 1.27
o Course fulfills requirements of IMO STCW-95

S.M.A.R.T. TRAINING CAMPAIGN

Several Minutes Available for Real Training

SMT/10 Rev.00-2015

SMT/10 - Rev.00-2015

S.M.A.R.T. TRAINING CAMPAIGN

Several Minutes Available for Real Training

Flag State Administration - Bahamas Maritime Authority (BMA)

Information Bulletin No. 51: Chart Carriage and Update Requirements / E.C.D.I.S

Registered ships are required to carry nautical charts and publications (See SOLAS V)
Up to date nautical charts and publications may be in paper form or electronic format
BMA considers the carriage of SOLAS required documentation in electronic format as being equivalent to paper
documentation as follows:
o Issued officially, or authorized and approved, by a SOLAS contracting government
o Meet requirements of marine navigation
o Kept up to date, with adequate back-up
o Local electronic versions issued by a third party pertaining to geographical areas of a country may be
accepted if that party receives official data and updates to its charts from a SOLAS Contracting country
o Assessment of acceptability of the above should be carried out by the Company
BMA recognizes that ECDIS satisfies the chart carriage requirements of SOLAS V/ 19
Acceptable backup arrangements:
nd
o ECDIS operating with ENC either a 2 independent ECDIS (which separate power supply and data
input, in ENC mode) OR Paper charts for intended voyage
Electronic versions of Nautical Publications, List of Lights, tide Tables and other Nautical Publications
o Digital publications shall be available to the Officer of the Watch, without limitations, on the bridge
o For backup, the digital publications shall also be installed on another computer on board

S.M.A.R.T. TRAINING CAMPAIGN

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Flag State Administration - Marshall Islands (MI)

E.C.D.I.S & Marine Notice No. 7-041-6 Rev. 11/12

Vessels shall carry the nautical charts and publications necessary to plan and display the vessels route for the
intended voyage, and to plot and monitor the vessels position throughout the voyage (See SOLAS V/19 and V/27)
Use of ECDIS to either partially or fully fulfill chart carriage requirement is acceptable, but since worldwide ENC
coverage is no yet achieved, the following conditions must be met:
o Backup arrangements may be paper charts, OR a second ECDIS
o It should be possible to operate ECDIS and all equipment for normal functioning when supplied by an
emergency source of power
o Changing from one power source to another, or any interruption of the supply, for a period of up to 45
seconds, should not require the equipment to be manually re-initialized
o ECDIS must be type approved by another State that is a Party of the applicable convention or RMI
Recognized Organization (RO)
ECDIS that is type approved by EU Marine Equipment Directive is acceptable
o Emergency portfolio of paper charts is onboard and ready for use; there is no minimum or maximum
requirement of charts designated by RMI
Every deck officer standing a navigation watch on an ECDIS equipped vessel must be certified as competent in the
use of ECDIS
Every Master and First Officer standing a navigation watch on an ECDIS equipped vessel must be certified as
competent to maintain the safety of navigation through the use of ECDIS and associated navigation systems to
assist command decision making
To operate Type Approved ECDIS, navigation officers are required to complete two (2) levels of training:
o Generic simulator training, to include: knowledge of the capability and limitations of ECDIS operations
and proficiency in operation, interpretation and analysis of information obtained from ECDIS
o Type Specific Training: to be completed prior to an officer assuming navigational watch and is intended
to familiarize the watch officer with the basic operation of the ECDIS equipment aboard the vessel
Authorization is given to carry an additional ECDIS on board as a training aid, appropriately marked as For
Training Purposes Only and not listed on ships Record of Equipment
Nautical Publications
o At minimum: sailing directions, lists of lights, notices to mariners, tide tables, and current table for the
vessels planned voyage
o Either a paper or electronic backup must be carried
o When an electronic backup is carried, portions of the publication needed for the planned voyage should
be printed and included with the voyage plan

S.M.A.R.T. TRAINING CAMPAIGN

SMT/10 Rev.00-2015

Several Minutes Available for Real Training

SMT/10 - Rev.00-2015

S.M.A.R.T. TRAINING CAMPAIGN

Several Minutes Available for Real Training

INTERNATIONAL MARITIME ORGANIZATION (IMO):

www.imo.org
IMO SN/CIRC.207/ Rev.1

Difference between RCDS and ECDIS

IMO SN/CIRC.225

Additional guidance on chart datum and accuracy or position on charts

IMO SN/CIRC.276

Transitioning from paper chart to ECDIS navigation

IMO Resolution.232 (82)

IMO ECDIS Performance Standards

IMO Model Course 1.27

The Operational Use of ECDIS

IMO STCW-95

Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers

IMO MSC-MEPC.2/Circ.2

Requirements on Carriage of Publications on Board Ships

SAFETY OF LIFE AT SEA (SOLAS):

SOLAS Chapter V/2

Definition of a Nautical Chart or Nautical Publication

SOLAS Chapter V/17

Electromagnetic Compatibility

SOLAS Chapter V/19

Carriage of charts: paper or electronic

SOLAS Chapter V/27

Charts are up to date

INTERNATIONAL HYDROGRAPHIC ORGANIZATION (IHO):

www.iho.int
IHO Standard S-52

Specification for Chart Content and Display Aspects of ECDIS

IHO Standard S-57

Transfer Standard for Digital Hydrographic Data

IHO Standard S-63

The IHO Data Protection Scheme

INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION (IEC):

www.iec.ch
IEC 61174

Operational and performance requirements, methods of testing,

and required test results

IEC 62288

Maritime navigation and radio communication equipment and systemsGeneral requirements, methods of testing, and required test results

FLAG STATE AUTHORITY: BAHAMAS

www.bahamasmaritime.com
BMA Information Bulletin No. 51

ECDIS, Nautical Charts and Publications: Carriage and Updating

Requirements

FLAG STATE AUTHORITY: MARSHALL ISLANDS

www.register-iri.com
Marine Notice No. 7-041-6

Nautical Chart and Publication Carriage and ECDIS Requirements

Convenience Should NEVER take preference over safety!!!

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