Chapter

NA\'IGATING WITH INTEGRATED BRIDGE AND

ELECTRONIC CHART SYSTEMS
by Captain T.J. Bailey FNI
Introduction
\\iith lhe contjnuing developmeni and t-he inclcasing acccptalce ofintegrated bridge s) slelns iIBSI
and/'ol electronic chart systems iLCS) and ihis tcrn includes Eleclronic Chair DispLa\' and
Tnfomralion Systems IECDIS) ii is essenti.{ io be a\\,ar.c that. on dle ships that ha|e ihis equjpmerl
in place, lherc is a conlinunrg need Ibr fic bridge teans, including pilots. to be ilained in thcir Lrse.
The purpose ol ihis sectior), lherelorc, is to consider the potenlial impact on'traditional
navigation methods' of thc use of such sl stcns. ln doing so. consicleratioD is given to dillcrcnces
betreen dillcrcrt clcctronic charts s)stems, including the advantages ard disadvantages of these
slstens as rvel1 as iheir bcnciiis and thcir thitatiorls. Some pracdcal ildvicc on the use of these
slstems is also ircludcd.

T1.. .-, riol. .o,

F L^ruluNirjr.t i,.:

'
.
.

Tiajiilg lequirenenis

'

Eiectlonic charts.

'

Practical navigation

and recommeidadoDs.

Cariiagerequileneils.
Tr,pical IBS configuradons.

uith IBS and ECS.

It

devcloping clcctronic navig.rtional sl sterns for use on board sh\r, nram acturN aim k)
pro\idc thc ra\ igator \\ ith nnprovcd vessel safery b1'uiilising ihe benelits oI contimraly nnproving
conlplrtcr processirg cap.rbilities wifi rnodern electronic aids !o navigaiion. fhe ravisator is presented
$'ith a contiruous real time displa,v ofhis ship's position io a greaier accurac\ thaD $.as previously
prrssible and can be assured thai fiis displayed position is derived fionl a s)stcm thar continuorlsh
checks the integritl of all svsiem inputs. These inputs will providc a dc8ree of redundancv in the
event of failure ofone s)'stem. Ior;xample, iiwl be ljtelv that ihc svstcn \\ ill have at lerst r\\ o
GPS receiver's and other navigation sensols. \{heD Lrsing 'irtclligcrt' data the svstems can provide
the navigator rtilh alarms and indicators io \\'ilrn ol approachins dangers and hazards.

Additionally, most svstems !!ill allor\. the navigator $ealer llexibilitl. ill plauurg. sar rng
and cxecuting routes and passages, as $e11 as saving ijme aDd eDsurirg great accurac! rrith chart
colrections. Although not all ships are currentlv l'itted wiLhIBS I ECS / ECDIS and it is unlikel)
that all slips lrill be fitr-.d $.ith sucb s) stenrs - lbere is an increasirg tendenc! to see such s\ !rcms
fitted on ner. buildings as a matter of cou6c. Somc slips rvill have svstents r.erro-fiitcd at som
stage in their life.
Howevr, this section does nor pr o!ide dclinitivc $idance on the oper ation olall Lhc systcms
available. Orvners and nanagers are advised thal ihcir clcctronic navigational s)stems are likclv lL)
contain exceedioglv lalge and coorplex dalabases \{ilh the aim of inrproving nal,igaiion salet). To
displa), fie ghi inlo ralior qLickll aDd atthe righttime recluiles ne\r skills,lor which approlJliatc
tlairring is Icquircd.

Training requirements and recommendations

Al tlre iine of nrilirg, thele is no ibrnal rcquircment in STC\.v-'95 or elsewhere for'delined'
tnining to be given. Ihe INIO have dcvclopcd ard published a Nlodel Course io the Lse ol
Llectronic Charl S)stcms ald, in ihe inirodtcrron lo the Nloclel Course. it sta!es:
BzuDGE TEA\,'I ]\{ANAGT]]\{

T"\'I

57

{n the STCIV'95 Convention, no particular forrnal enphasis is placcd on TCDIS s),stems.

Instead the) ar.e considered to be jncludcd rnder the rerm ,,cha1ts,' {Tabte A II/1). !-olloring
fie fnnctional approach, the officer.in charge of a navigational \a,atch must have a ,.thorougi
knowledge ol aud abilitv to use navigational charts and publications, ..." Criteria for cvahati;g
compercnc) are stated as "The charts selected are the lar8est scalc stitable for the area of
navigalion and charts alrd publicatiors are corrected in accordancc rvith the latesl inlbrnation
available". In Section ts lI/1 (Assessment ol abilities and skills in navigation watchkceping), a
candidate for ce ilicatior must pro\ide evideDce of skilts and ability to prepare for and condrct
a passage "inclLrdiDg irtrpretation and appl) irg iDformauon ftom charrs"'
T i. Irufpn.F ot,h- Il\lO l\l"d^ (
"u .e

"... to e r;nce safetv of navigation bv providing the knorvleclge and skills necessar to fully,
utilize the fcatures of ECDIS..-"j

In the
r?inir,1:

absence of forrnal requirements, ihc Nlodel Cour.se contains a recomnendation on

"Everv master) chiel nate and officer in charge o1 a navigational $,atch on a ship fitted .!\,ith
ECDIS should have completed a course in the usc ofECDIS."I

The ISM Code and training requirements

Under the ISNI Coder, a shippnrg company has a responsibilitv to:

"esiablish procedrres to ensure lhat ner\, persomret and per.solne1 tr ansferred to ncw assigrments
relaied to safetv and proteclion of Ge marin environmert are given proper. lan liarisation
rvith thcir duties- Instruciions rvhich arc essential to be pr.ovicled prior to sailing should be
identified, documented and given";.

Additionally, the company has tor

"ersure drat ali personnel involvcd in the Compan))s Safet) Nlanagerncnt Svstem (SMS) have
dlr adequate undersianding ofrelevant iules, r.egulations, codes and glidellnes,,,it
"establish procedures lor identilying anv training which may be r.equired in suppor.t of the
SN{S"II

Undel the Section dealing \\'ith [mergenc] Preparedness,

"the Salcty N{anagement Svstem must provicle for measures to ensure that the conpany,s
or.gdrisation can respond at an) timc lo hazards, accidenis a]ld emergencv situalions (ECDIS
lailure?r) nrvolvnrg its ships."'!

58 THE

NAUTIC,A.L INSTITUTE

It r,r'ould appear, therfore, fiat even in the absence of specific legislatlon for ECDIS ior
IBS] training, there is a clear obligation on shipo\rners to ensure lhat marlners sailing\{jth LCDIS
(or IBS) are ploperlv trained to safell nse such equipmenl.
The need for t)?e specific rraining
In the introduction to thc IN{O N{odcl Coulse. it refcrs to }otcrtial Problcms' ;nd

srates

ihat:

"Due to a lack of standardized ECDIS user intelfaces. there is considerable product

dilfelentialion."'!
Officers on boar d ships ar the tine ofinstdllation of an ECS / ECDIS / lBS gencrally bcnetit
ftom close liaison $,ith the nanufacturers'representatives but, in many cases, officersjoining latel
will irave to Iely on'cascade training'. j.e. passii]g on knowledge lrom one olficcr- who has becn
trained io his leliel rho has nol. This lr'aining method is liaught with the potential for serious
e ors to creep r'rto ihe use oian)' systems and, in the case ofECS / ECDIS, ma) lead to signilicant
enor.s ofnavjgation.

Cornmon sense and naritinc cxpcrdse combined with the tenets of the ISl,{ Code clearll
indicate ihal familiarisation trainingor such vital ravigaiioral eqLripmentis anecessiti, notingthat
ircompeleni opelation lof ECS ,r ECDIS I IBS] could inpact adversel) oD the saletl ol lile and
prcrieclion of the nrarine environnent.

"Pasl experience and problcms n'iih ihe valiation in types of radar, ARPA and DGPS/GPS
conilols and displavs suggests that fic lack ol conmonalil)' inECDIS user interlaces to ECDIS
soltwale bet\a,een the manufacturels rvill lead to nlajor saicq incidelb. The operator' must be
traincd io use his palticular ECDIS or, as past expedence suggcsls, nlajor accidenls will occur.
It is ficrefoIe a reasonable suggeslion that sonlc lbnn of ECDIS "ttpc trai rg" \loLrld be a
sensiblc salety requilenrent.""

It is perhaps interesting to rotc ihat the Australian \{aritime Safe+ Authorltv (AN{SA) has
adopled lolmal usel training requiremcnis r-hich sLate as lollors:
User Training Requirements
The Intelnational Convention on Standards of Tiaining, Certificatior aDd W.rtchkeeping ior'
Seafarers 199ri (STCW'g51 and ihe Intemational Nlanagement Code for the Safe Opelation of
Ships and for Pollutior PreYention IISN4 Code)pulthe onus firmlyon the shipo{.neror operator
to ensue L\at inariners or their ships are competent to callv out the duties they are expected
to perform.

If a slip

is eqrippcd uith ECDIS, the shiporvner or opemlor bas a dul,v to ensure that users of
such a sysiem are propcr'l}hained in its opelation, the use ofelectronic charts, and are fan liar
with the shipboard eqripneni belore using ECDIS operationa]l,v at sea.

By the STC\V'95 implemcntation date of 1 lebruaq-2002 all holders of Australian STC\{'95

endorsed Certificaies of Compelenc)- in the deck departm ent rvill have been reqtired lo conplete
basic ECDIS training.

Before a rvatchkeeping ofllcer or aster intends to use a compliant ECDIS as the pdma.D
means of navigation they should complete a generic ECDIS Opelators Couse conplying
RRTDG}-,'f}"riN,I N4ANAGIN'JENT r;9

\,"ith IN4O N{odel Course 1.27 The Operational Usc oi Elccrronic Chart Displav and
Information Svsterrs iECDISI.

ECDIS tlpe training is to bc prolided bv the sh4rowner or operator undcr dre terms of rhe
I S N{ Code. Un der th e Code, th e shlppin g compan} has a rcsponsibili l) to 'establish proc edur es
to ensure that new pelsonnel and personnel transferred to nclv assi3rments relate.l to safet)
and protection of the afine enlironment are given plopcr' la]niliarisation with their duties.
lnstluclions r.hich arc csscrdal lo be pro\idcd prior io sailrng should be identified, docrnnenled
and givcn' (Scctnrn 6.3 of the ISM Code). L!
Addilionall), l,vpe specific training satisfies lhe requiremenr for effective Iislt assessment and
conliDgercy plaDning in dre u s e of rhese svsrern s. B) th eir ve rature,IBS,/ ECDIS / ECS dcnand
rcr lcvcls o[ greater user a{rareness. Tn parricu]ar, all personnel involr cd \{'i{h thcil use must be
lamiliar $.ith the tullo$.ing aspects of their opcralion:

.
.

Practical opcralion of rhe svsterns.

Horv !o re\ e to nrarrual/autornaiic firnciions: for exa rple. ho$ lo charge lion autopilot
corrrcrl lrrr rrloi4 to nranual 5reerin8 a.d back again in fie evenl oI Lhe nced to altcr coursc
ibr oihcl shipptug lrallic.

.
.
.
.

Handling and nonitodng alarms.

N{onitolnrg and vedlicaiion of the accurac! of the s},stem.

Kloriledge of the benefits an.l linitaiions ofthe svstem.

Nlalntanring- safe

naviga

rn

ill the event of failure

of the svstem.

It is recomrnended drat s) stem checks are carried ort at the beginning of ach $ alch and at
regular irrlelrals dLrring the watch to ensure fiat fie OO\\i is satisfied that the s) stem in use is
lunctioning corlectll arrd ihat all connected sensors are providlng valid data. The OO\\i should
alrc'crrxs check' fic displa)ed positioD b\''traditional' nrethods.

Requirements of electronic chart display and information systems

Chart carrtage r e quir ements

t,nder Regllation 19 2.1.1 ol Chaprer \r of Safetr ol Life at Sea iSOLASI, all ships are
re.luired to carrv adequate and up to datc marire chalts iand ofier raulical pLrblicadonsl. The
chnrts al.c used lbl. planning and displa-vhg fic rouic ior lhc inlcnded r oy;rgc ancl lronitoling ttre
slip s posiiirrn ihroughout the vo\age.
'the INIO Performance Standards pcrrnit National N4ariiime Salel) Adminis{rillions io
as ihe legal equi\'rlent to the charts rcquired
SOLAS Convcrtion.

considcr ECDIS

bl rcgulation

V,'11) 2.1.1 of thc 1971

Pcrlormarcc Standards for ECDIS were formallr' adopted bv INllO on 23 November l9!15
INiO l{csoludoi A.817 i191.

and issued as

Rcgulatron 19.2, \\,hich lavs doll the can iage requiremenls for shipborne navigational svstems
and equipmenq rcquircs i.rl sub para$aphs 2.l.1and r.1.5l fiat:

"2.1

.\ll

ships irrcspccdre of size shall have: ...

.I --.Jautical charts andnaLrlical publications to plan alld displa,"- ihe ship's roule lor. lhe intended
vol age and to plot ard monitor positions ihroughoti thc voyagc; ar eleclro c chart displa)
and informatior svsicm iECDISI mav be acceptecl as meeting ihc ch;ut carliage requir ements
ol Lhis subparagraph;
{]O THE NAUTICAL INSTITI]TE

.5 lJack up arlargemeDls io meet the lunciional requilemcnls ofparagraph .1, ifthis function is
partJy or luliy lullilled by eiectronic means."rr

li musi
onl) valid in

also be remembered that, even \rith a fully type approved ECDIS. the approval is
ihe sea areas for which the official S57 chart data (ENC) has been installed in thc

sysien and correctcd to include the latest updates- In all other situations, updared papel chalis
must be carried on board to comply wiG SOLAS Regulaiion V/1!) 2.1..1.
(At thc tnnc ol rvriting, S 57 charts are becoming increasingly available but they do not cover
large arnounts of fic scas in which we trade.l

In Dccember 1998 the IN{O adopted amendmenis lo the Performance Standards for ECDIS
to includc the use oIRasrcr Chart Display SFtems (RCDS).

2.
.1
.2

'Ihese amendnents permit ECDIS equipment to operate in two modes:

The ECDIS mode when ENC data is usedl arld
The RCDS rnode r,'hen ENC dala is nol available.

Hor.ever, Lhe RCDS modc does not have the full funciionalitl ofECDIS and can onll be used
togelher with an appropriatc po lolio ofup-to date papel charts.r+

IMO docs roi provide any guidance on what ma1'constitute an "appropriate folio"; this is
leftto the natioral adminislration. As an example, A\'{SA has defined the tem "appropiate folio"
.'. lollos.:
This folio should coniain up !o date char-ts to cover those seclions of the intended vovage
rvhere ECDIS rvi1l bc opemted in the RCDS mode. These charts are to be of a scale that will
show sufficient detail ot topography, depths, navigational hazards, navaids, charted routes, and
traffic schemes to provide ihe madner with ample knowledge of inrpendlng navigalional
complexities and an overall pictule ol lhe ship's genenl operating environmeni.
As abroad guideline thc scale ofthe chalts in thjs folio should suit the navigatlonal complexit\,
... [of the nrtended vovage]

!'lag Slaie Administrations rnay alftxf a rclrxatior ofthe rcqrdremerts to cdrry paper charts
a blanket acceptaDce of electronic svstems and a complete
absercc ol papcr chalts.';

bui this does not necessaril) become

Ior nTany navigators on ships fitied rvith electronic navigation and c.hart svstems, they are
operaiing wilh an Electlo|ic Chart S)stem (ECS) and not an Dlectronic Chalt Display and
I olnlarion Svsbm (ECDISI.
h is esseniial that

ofthe legal status of the equipmert at his disposal. The

of the government authorised hldrographic office that issued

dre user is al! are

paper chart has thc legal authodt_vthe chart, provided that it has been conected up to date.

The revised SOLAS Chapter V Regulation 2.2 also refines the definition of a "nautlcal
chart" to more clearly relleci the electronic chalting aspects and lhe "official" responsibility for
their production, qrotei

BRIDGE TEAA,{ MANAGEMENT 61

"2 N-arlical chart ol naulical publication is aspecial pupose orap orbook, or a speciallv conpiled
database fron rihich sLrch a nap or book is dcrived. rhat is issLrcd officialll br or on the

autho.itv of a Go\'cmnlent authorized Hvdrographic Llffice or other relevant govcmnent

institudoi ard is designed ro meet ihe rcquirements of madnc navigation.",'
The clccllonic chart, on the othel hand. docs rotnecessaril) have such status it$ill depend
on I'hcre the dara sed to consintci rhe rharl came liorn. Cun.enilv, electronic charrs are ar ailablc
florl a nurnber of soru ces, i.cluding go\ errncnt aufiorised hldros.aphic ollices and cornrner cial
supplicrs. and rhev are available irr !\!o lormais raster and vector.

Voyage

retording

a nini \ ove .lata recoider..Il mr$tbe able to record and rccr:rnstmct

narigation historv. along !\ ith verifvlng dre oltcial darrbase used, Ior a lrinimum of 12
hours. In all probabili(),, this pcliod 1.i11 be considerabh longer and there rvill bc a'plalback'
function to allo$ revicir ofdre rcssel s rack.I. so res),sicns!radaroverlalrravbcrecordedand
thj s feature pro\ idcs additronal .lata for revi ei! in the unlikclv even t of a collisioD or other acci d e i.
Recorded irt rrnc-nirule lnten als, the infor n rJ iiun Drust \h, ,\, ou n shrfi'\ pa\i 1r J cL nclu.ling tnne,
posilior, hcading. ancl speed. as lell as a reco oi ollicial ENC used ircluding source. editlon,
daLc, cell and rpdate history. It ust not bc possible to a.ipulale or.change the recor.ded

In its ort,n $ a1. L,CDIS is

d1e vessel's

Slstem backup
Adequate bachup arlangemenis musl be provided to ensulc salc navigation in case ofECDIS
failure. Backup arrangcncnts IbI ECDIS l.ere adopted b" IMO irr November 1996 and bccane
Appendix 6 lo Ge Pcrlolmancc Standards. The prirrcipal rcquirements are ro:

'
'

Enable a iimcl), transfir ro rhc bnck p s) srem during critical ravigation siiualions.

Allorv the vessel lo be na|igaled salil) rndl the (.rminadon

o1

ihc intended vo) age.

The Appendix lists the firnctio.al re.luircmcnts of the backup !) steln but llot the specific
arrangemenls rhat mav meet these requilcnerts, dre on s being on lalional authorities to produce
appropriate grrldance. Thele ar.e a nunbcr of possible options tha! could ncct these requirenrerris
and rhe! include;

.
.
.

A second. fu1ly

depende l, L)pe approvcd ECDIS.

An ECDIS operatnrg

rhe RCDS mode.

A full lolio ol papcr charts correcled ro the lalest Notice to llariners covering and shorving
the tukndcd vovage plan.

Precautions for IBS operators

Ar

IBS, with a ploperl) llailred operator, can greatlv increase both ihe safetv and elliciency of
ihc l\,isc and cxp erienced m ar i n eI loorvs rhat it is poten ii alh dangerous
to place absoluic rcliancc or an) one navlgadonal tool. Rcmcnbcr fiat the accurac\, of an IBS
s)-sle is dcpcndentupon th qurlin ofsensor data comirgir andthe qrrality ofrhe electrorlir
charl on which that sensor data is displared. That is rvhl it is essential that ihe llridgc Tcan
becomc vcrr familiar rrilh dle i}?e and characteristics of all sensors and electr.onic charls
*hich are available on dre ship through the IBS.
a ship at sea. Horvev er.

62 THE NAUTICAL INSTITUTE

Tlpical IBS configuration with ECDIS

irterconne'red ILi ai1' '
rr
ccntralis;d a;cess to senior irfonnation or command/conirol lron Norkstaiions
conning cfficieDc\ and 1o
The objcctjve o[ an IBS is to improve safe[. L'nhance navigahonal ard
'
nrovide for mole effecijve managenent of a ship's blidge operatious

AD IBS llnregrated Brjdge Sr sreml ls n combiration ol svstems $hich

L{l\

al e

iLD:a ,\Ea rtet^,,rrlj

Porl

'I

t,,

ffiffi

'
'.

El

)"i

sa,l

t,o lr,rrrE

1......

\l\rt--1

--,,):-

11 | lrfitul rtelltLtl htitltt ttlltn

(auttt, t)fNaltliap Glunanr :i!' a lh1,t.)
Figut

Th? basic

netuotk

The LAN (l,ocal Area Netnork] is an "intranet" thjch

share
connccts the shiP ; IBS conputer'! togclher and allows thcm !o

ail data instanianeousl]"

titi&l

Nle of
nalligational sensots in the
IBS
The

Sjmply put' the IBS js onh as good as ihe sensors I hich fced
It naviaati:rnaiinfo natiol. It is exremelr' important, therclol e, that
the bcit availablc senso$ ale alivavs chosen to Provjde daral The
shio's officers musi knorv that sensors ale availablc' and ihe
aJ. rr.r' , r.ddi ,r1lar rr.' i-"'l' ll ' 'bre'r I':' r"
''

'

"''p'',it'..ul

.e,o ?rdrh"d.':t ci \ 5"\ nr'\r'lF

These sensolg are Llen glouPed togciher so ihal each 81ouP

co|rairs onc ol each mail sensc,r Each groLrp of sensor.s arc ther

lr- lB: 'r't.r''r "h"r 'l"r'

rrJ'ir,3 '"lr Du\'l
LA\. lh'. p-n''r";

r'rLrrx,Lu2.-n

l''
o '''
rrplB\\
'r'

5'r

sensor rcdundanct.

RRIDGE TI,\N'I \,'IANAGEN'IENT 63

GI'S

Laliludc./lorgitude. speed over thc grourd, course

ovel thc ground, GNIT tjme and datc

OX{EGA

Lalitude/longitr.le, speed over the ground. cour-se

orer ihe ground. (IXIT time and date

]1.R () C()

t\'T

Pt

True heading

SS

SINGLE ,\XIS SPEED LOG

Speed thlorrgh

lht

DI]AT, AXTS SPF,F,D T,O(}

Speed over the

grould, sDecd ihlough the l.arer

ARPA RADAR

Acquired target informalion, navlines, r'adar ovella),

ECHO SOUNDER

Drp h b.nrrth the keel

ANIN4O\lETER

Relative rrind speed and dnecdon

AUTOPILOT

Oldered headirs and rate ofturn

nlufu

12

Ntrilrtninalyato6 in

riatrL'

a IJ,\

The IBS svstern cao accepl iDlbmalion from both serial and
analog devlces. Serial daia is anv navigaiional sensor rvhich transfers
informatlon in the standard N-\l.EA lonnat iGl'S), r.hileanalog data
i omralion likc rudder angle and engine RPN{.

plolides
Serial ilata sensor inPut

Nlost Davigation sensors output data ln the lundard N N,IEA

lbrnat tlich plovides a serial inessalie in the RS-2i12 ol llS.122
electric.rl protocol. One or more con)puten in rhc IBS mal have a
16 lhe sedal data interface nr odule l'Roctet ?ori' lbr short) comected
to iL This intelface nlodde can acccpi up to 1{j sensor inputs \{hich
are ihen fed into an IBS compuicr'.

Analog data inPut

Equipmcni llrich outputs non NN{E{ information, such as

svrchro or stcp data. is interfaced to the IBS b) using special analog
to digital boards.

S)stem

Given that the operaiion ol lhe svslen relics on data input

fronr a nurnber of independent sensors. il is esscnti;rl thar thcsc
sensors are checked or aregulal basis io ensurc thatthc data r-enlains
valid. In general ierms, an ECDIS rvill mrtornatically nonitor all
dala iipui seDsols and ivill make a comparison between the'live'

intugrttt

e\pecte.l data. In oiher words, the s\ slcm

l'il1 carr; out an automatic calculation of DR,/ EP and, ricrc therc
is a significant discrepano, ii lvill reverl lo DR nodc, r'ith ar
appropriate alann or \tarning.
daLa and thc calculated or

Electronic charts
Whetler the ship

has an Electronic Chart Slstern ([,CSi or an Electronic Chart

Displa) and
you will need Electronic Chalis i[Cs]. ft is crucial thal lhe opelaior
cap.rbililies and limilations of $e elecllonic char! iD use.

lnlornalior Syslfnl iECDlSi,

is Iul11 a$.arc of

fic

Ag we hale alreadv seen, there are two formats laster and vector. Electronic charts are
available fIom a nLrnber ofsuppliel s bui il musl be lemembered lhat some charis are plodLrced b!

{]1

THF, NAI iTT(] qT T\STITIITI,

commercial organisations other than a govemment aulhorised hydrographic office. In the case of
ihese charts, the user must maintain an appropriale backup portfolio ofpaper charts.

A rasler chart is a facsimile image ol an cxisting paper chaxt.

Raster charts

All the rformation and svmbology on the paper chart is reproduced

identically on the electronic chart. However, since this type ofcha
has no 'laye ng' of information, the user has no control over the
look and contents ofthe displayed chart irnage, other than to change
ftonl daylight to ni8htpalettes. lvpically, rastr charts maybe in the
following formats:

BA ARCS produced using data from the U.K. Hydrograplic

Office.

NOAA

producedforUS waters by NOAAin fie BSB chari

fornat.

NDI

produced for Canadian watels by CHS in the BSB

fonnat.

s!i-

1!!

!4r

.4!!! l i4rLl

F,i

t?

'"\
".,

vo

l4r

I vE

(rcpratlucen

aith th.

13

tuttu.! tatu BA2a15 in RCDS f)nnat

lenai$ion af Nhthro! Ctunann Sfatry Moine and the HJr]rasaph
Figuft

oJ

the Na:,\)

BRIDGE TEAM MANAGEMENT 65

Characteristics af M.stet tharts:

Exact duplicate ofcolrespording paper chart. The display is,

thelefor-e, familiar to the navigator

Guaranteed to the sarne legal stand:Lrd as a paper chart

(dependingon the supplier and frequency olupdates applied).

I
I

Allows for automatic updating ofchart content.

Does noi suppot feaiures (layering), query or safety checking.

Raster charts are not ECDIS compliant.

Vector

chatb
Avector chaltis a lalge database ofgeographical information.
ECDIS accesses this dalabase to create a custom electronic chart
based on opemtor selecled parameters. As r.ith nster cha s, vcctor
charts may be ploduced in a nurnber of folrnats, including:

ENC

This is :Ln IMO apprcved vector chart, produced in

format. thai is approved for use with ECDIS (ree
{lefnitian at the end of this chaqtei.

the

Figun
1elradudd

6TJ

bith u pet

S 57

'

DNC These charts are ploduced b)' the US govemmeni, in

VPF format, for official U.S. miliiary and govemment use only.

'

C Map (and others) These are conrmercially produced vector

charls $'ith all the standald capabilities associated with a vector
product.

DC

14

These charts are digiiised on board the vessel by the

crerv using the VMS. They are the simplest forrn of vector
chart with no underlling database and therefore do not suppofl
sta-ndard vecior chart capabilities.

.rtra.t

fan

57cta

(Vdtor famat) af tlk:]ane ava

irnan af NtthtolJ Ctuxttuun :;lory t4atine a"d th. H\dragrdlh* af the Na\")

THE NAI]TTCAT, TNSTTTI ]TF,

a:ltattLt,

ti\h,\ tl ,..tt,t .h,t,tt

srLpp ort a 'lalering' of i nfor rrr ati on x hich allor.s
ihe user io displa\ orll thc chart inforrnation lhat is dcsilcd
firr the curerl opcntirs environment. Displa\ leatLrrcs that
are rIOl dcsircd lna\ bc turned off.

\'e crcr char ls

Vector challs will

ECDIS to safen check the shio's rourc

certain hazarcls that exisr along
ihc shp's coursc and plarned track.

1lr

a11orv

\ am the opcrator about

Nhen the ressel's salel) cc,nliSuaiior is corrcctly sct in dre

s\srenr.'safe laler'' iiill bc clcar'lv inclicatcd. as depths
shal|rrer rhan rhe strlcri. depfi r.ill be indicated in a
corirasting co|rur'. iln the figxre abo\.e. the blue shading
represcnis fic arcas lvhcre Nater depths are shallo\r'er than
tlc saletr. depth.l If the vessel is approaching rhis drallos willcr'.
an appropriate alarm \d11 be given.

l hc Lrscr mar 'qucry ' anv fealur e orl the char t a d the systen
displavs lhc charactcrisdcs and navigational aid inlorrnat{rn
assr).irl..l \iih th,t l.arrrre

\eciol chans may bc displal cd rvidr 'sinplified' or iradirional'

slrlbrrlog1. Ai lirsL crpcrn'nce, the displa).rrill be unf,amiliar
to thc ravigator and he will need iime land tralnindi to beconre

laniliar ivith this dillerenr displa).

1, ?l'on!tuLt li(lu-)
(lttftulwd t ith ttu !.'iriirn t |tt)nhnl Grnnlnr
Ltlur

.Slitti ttttin.)

BRID';I] TIAN'I N'IANAGF]N'II,]N'I

{J7

Planning sheet
A planning shcct is a X,{ercator $id over a black backgromd.
The planning shcct is fic default displav nhen no chafl is loaded of
avajlable lbr. ihc arca of operadons/interest.
Plandng sheets can be used to zoom in to agr eater. resolution
than the charl allo\! s. fhis is usetul for anchoring, iuning fie autopilor
or al other xmes fiat an extremel) larg-e chart scale is desirablc.

ECDIS Accuracy
This seciion focmes on thc salc and pmdcnL usc of ECDIS. The most common ca ses of
degraded svstem accuracv are desclibed ard erplahcd in some dclail. \\ten svstem degradation
occurs, the user must turn io additioDal sources ofDavigatiN infomation. hdependeni ofECDIS
$hen pr.aclical. and be prepared to use whalever bachtp rystem is nvailable on the vessel.
Risk of oxer rcliance on

ECDIS

ECDIS systerrs offel rTun-relous benefits comparcd lo

conyertional Davigalional lrcthods and are considered to be a
signilicanl slep iowalds sallr na\'i8ation. Thc goal is eventually to
replace paper chalts lviti LCDIS on nanl ships. Ho!\ ever', drere is
apoierlial daDgcr thai corrcs .rlong n ir\ using computerised svs@ms
lhat can rcccive highl) accurate sensor data and present thar real
tine Davigatior picture on a chdrl.

The danger'lics in the fact that the slsle s real dme sensor'
data. iigh rcsolution chart gnphics, drawtl to scale ship outline.
motirn vectors, etc. nake it very lemptirg to lel) almost exclusivel)
on the s,vstem. r'itho l understanding the lirnitations and porential
-.rrors- It is extremel,v irnportant, therefore, that the user under-stands
and acknowledges the potential for slstem errors and malfunctions,
including elrors in displaved data, en ors ofinterpletalion, inconect
user set'up) or imploper conliguration oI calibration of slslcm

The rnarjrer nrust realise that the acculac\' of any ICDIS

slsiem will vary wilh sensol accuracv! chart accunc!. user setlings
alrd ofter sysle vadables. 'l'he accuacv of an ECtllS is likel), lo
var) 1ion vesscl io vessel evcn if the marulaciurel ard model are
the same. Thc pludcni ma ner ti1llrcqueDtll usc other arailable
rnedrods, nrdependent ofECDIS, to dclclmhe dre vesscl's positior,
course and speed isrr /re Mrlier se.tions ofthis baoi]. In doug so thc
accuracv ofECDIS is rnonitored norc closcly ard the uscr ilill be
more prepared in case of an ECDIS failure. N{arinels must also
detemine nfiat isthe backup svstem on board their p articul ar vessel,
be prepared to use that backup svste in case of LCDTS fallu|e,
and undersland that ihele might be diffeleii levcls of backup
dcpcnding on systen co igualion and scr crit]' olthe lailure.
Enors in dkplaJed data

Degraded s)slenr accLrracv is nrost olte| associated

or nore of the follorving:

Charr

Shitting olbuoys.

Inaccurale h) drographic data.

Sensor linlitalions.

6I] 'I'HIi

daiu

NAIITTCAI- INSTITUTE

User sel-up er-rors.

Incorreci
S) stem

Enors of interpr etation

stem configuration or calibration.

or sensor nalfunciions.

Errors of

,r,,r-r,,..

s)

bur

in

telprclation

ar.e

not the same as dcgaded svsten

,rn l-rr, r ,lr 1,, uno".,rdblc ir.tp.,,o,,..h

ravigation. The ECDIS oper ator n;rkes an error ol interpretation

any time drat he misinlcrprets a v inlbrmation on the ECDIS displaY
Onc erample is il the oPcrator thoughi rhat radar targets displayed
on the ECDIS had relatile vectors instead of true vector.s. These
q pes oferrors c.m bc clturinatedbv plo\idnrgthe ECDIS operato$
with qualilv training.
ECDIS backup
arrangements

Each particuJar ship 1.i11 have its orvn ECDIS backup

atralgelrrents. These backup swstems could mnge iiom a compleiel)
indepeidcnl ECDIS svstem to good old fashioned paper charts- The
mariner rill necd to discover exaclh what ar-^ rhe ba.krD
arrangernenis ol tt1e particula| ship in wh'ich thev are sailing.
Note:

Pr actical nabigation @ith

It nLlsl be

cmphasised that evely manudcturer has

electronia chart and

determined theil olvn \{ay ofinterpreting ihe perlbrlrance standards

integrated systems

for all IN'lO approved na\-igation equipment. including ECDIS. It

rnust be realiscd lhat almosr every dillercnt svstern will have a
differenl lunctionalitv to achieve the sam objective. Thts will rot
onl) be the casc r-ifi the 'kn obologl ' r'equircd but also the forna!
and layoul olthc displa). In pilotage naters, in particular, lhe use of
ECS / ECDIS / IBS takes on an additional significance. Pilots cannot
bc expectedtobe fu111 familiar and proficientiD the use ol dll svstems
culrendy available.

All ofthese slstems arc necessarilv complex and conplicated.

Some rlrill do nrore than oGcrs and the notes belorv can only give a

general i sight ;nio solre of the electronic tools available to

the navigator and the blidge tearn- The comrneris ihat lollow refer
to the genelal lunclionalily of an) systenr btt *re pictures are
reproduced, \{ith pennissioD, from the Nrorthrop Grun]a]ln Sperry.
I'Iarine Voyage,\{anagement Svsten ('NGSI,1 \rNIS' or'VN{S').

verl

It must also be enphasised $at the provision ofsoplisticated

electronic navigation svstems remains ar aid lo navigation perhaps
the Perforrnance SlaDdalds should contain a clause that states

"Nothing in the plo\ision of this equipmcnt exonerates the

Officer of the llhtch horn the need to nairtain an effective all
round lookoul at all iimes by :111 available ncans LOOK OUT
OI THE WINDOW II]'
Passage planning
On a vessel thar does nol have sophisticatcd electlonic navigatior svstems, the navigator
r'r'ill relv on basic prlnciples and paper charls lo plan. verifi,.and monitor lis r.oute for the lntended
vovage. So it will be on the vessel thal docs have sophisticated electr.onic navigation svstenrs. The
BRIDGE TLAN{ N4ANAGEN{ENT

IJg

rcG

!! \s/l

o0o.0nNq!I!q.o! or!{

qi]rJ Zl

ffi,;*i,ll:
1.",ft'",,',':'i.,''
'1,i.,.,,./--- /;,(
',,,;'-1y'

1:,/,--.

t1 " ,':;'''
;-\rriliA,l';
-iL
\.,.
o
"
.
)

,..1.,',!:.,_

..^iif,

''-

',..1,.';),::i;.'

" . -' ,,.;

lin

d n)age llan
Elttutt ftun BA2o15 in UCDS Jannat - thabiag an !'ract
(ftptodtdrl ditn
isian oJ Nothto| Gflnann Sf ry Matin and th, HJbosafud aI the Nat,

l"igure 16

tu

methods used to achieve the task may be different but similar and the end result should be the
Dependingupon the level of sophistication provided, the navigator ma,v be able to allorvthe
electronii system to tell lim i!'here there is safe l{'ater on his intended passage and to warn him if
that is not thc case. Some systems i{'i11not aliot' an 'unsafe' passage plan to be saved the navigator
must corrct this first.
Similarly, provided that the manoeulTing or handling parameters of fte vessel are corlectly
entered, the systim will dlaw the voyage plan throrgh the lvaypoints but r'r'ill irark on the chart the
u,heel over positions and will show ihe expected radius of turn (see figure lti).
In this instance, a raster charthas been used. The dashed red line shous the intended voyage
for
a passenger vessel approaching Dover from the soutr east, with the l\'a]'points indicated
pl:rn
ty a red circlc, thi wheel over points by a line across the route and the radius of tum as a curved
line inside the intelsection o[the two legs al the rvaypoint. In this case, if fie chart system is linled
to the autopilotto mainlain track keePing, the navigator must remember that the vessel l\ ill follow
the radius of turn and rvill not necessarily go thlough the geographical wayPoint.
was decided to cross the south $'esi bound hafiic lare at an apPropriate Point but the
navigaior had to delennine Lhat point and he had to ensure ihat his intnded course rms in line
r.ith-the requirements of the collision regulations- This would have been the case whether a vector
or a raster chart had been used - automation will only go so far!

It

70 THE NAUTICAL INSTITUTE

Pilotage @aters

Chafts anil thaft selection

Cir en rh.rr e'erLroni. r!.tem\ pr o\ rdc thF bridge roa u

n rrh
r"he .hip.. posirion on a ,han'rlr.pla1. i r.
ad\ani?geou\ ro uLilrse rhe j)\rFm tu,ne|o pro,ia",
ai,p,r1 oi
ihe inrendpd roure. Th;. r.ilJ be rhp , a\F nor onl)
ror.
oarul
a.rd
o, pan pa.sagA bLr a,r.o.,o. p.lorage uarer..
tscrrh ro bp-dr pdr.ag
plans ar e rp.om.nF'tdpd bur ir na1 b, dpp-opriate
lo mdkc I numbcr
ol sFparJie oldnc tor Lhe pilolagp Ftem.nr.. raling inro rc,or n,
,,lin-ndd\c ruure\,h,orrgh r pilo ag, di.rri, r. f"r erainple.
dr.cu..ron. dur,ng rhe ma.r"r pilor e..rhange uhcn
h.
,Tn
oo.r.d\..t .nr\ be po.srble ro d,.pray LJre pilnr \in,"nd;d fo,rlF
and
locrloh all mp,nb.\ ot rhFb,iddere,m"lts,1;,"r, rorr,,niror
rhn
shrp5.rJe n.\.igrrion tll'ou8h t1.,. pha.e oJ fie iuyage. \l;,n
|,o
indic.ldui ol rhc inrprded rourp. ,r r."al rj,re dr.play of rhe
rhiu r
posirion has lrnirFd bFncfir ro rnyone oJher d.u n',ni pito
.
ror"d above. p tors wilJ n,,\ F cxpF,r,.,.c ut d \\ dp \d,ic
_A.
)
oJ",L( 5 bu, ma) nor bc tamiliar $ iLh hpir op, radun.
Lnod riaj,un
between the pilot and the rest of the bridge tiam becomes
esseniial
to ensure thai the ECS is used to best adi,antage.

,,..or, rirn. di.pt,r ol

A. rhe
ut onbourd .ompurer\ {eddrr} in pro\c.. jn
,oorner
u
rh
rp.p^c|'u
herd disk ,.pabiti,re., pler rronic , har,.
Pdurrldr
n.rr uell nowbe oaded"n rorh"hardar"k.a.oppo,.d roan.nr"a

CD-ROf\4 . d, sa. rlp r"<e rn irh rhe e:rrlr ver..orr. or rl_e

Adm jrarry
Rasrer ('han Sr.rem /ARC\. dnd s,milJ; s).remr.
In
rerm\.
ho$AFi ir L prud"nr ro cn:ure rhar d.r rppropriare\Fncrcl
po,rfolio
ol
plF' rroni, . rrJr6 ic \p c.ted
and rhar rhar podt;lio,.ds.o,idrFd\^ith
a voyagc plan.

79

Fisuft t7

4i-

i;

w,

ib:- -,

-'.*-.J*-'-- ';
8A777 in RCDS

Jian
fonndr
(teptudred dith kc pemi$ian ofNoxhtot Gtunann
Sl.n] Marin and ttu H4n{ralt@ olth. Nary)
E,ttact

BRIDGE TEAM MANAGEMENT 71

Tl aditiolalh.. rhe navigator has selected arpassagc pol.lfblio'

of paper- charls b) stu.hing lhe ch.ut catalogxe. In n]ost clcctr.onic
svstenrs he can do th same, using cither his kno\lledgc lionl the
paper systent or bv using an elecfonic cata]ogle embedclcd in the
svsrenr. Clcallllsi a portfolio of clcctronic charts is aD important

function 1oI two nain reasons.

The s;sicm nay requlre lhe selecd.rr ofan appropriate char.L
portlblio to aummatically displa,"- thc best chart forthe selecicd
ricli alca, nnd ro auton)aiicall) scroll chafis as o\rnship sails
lioln onc area to the next.
The svstcn nar onlr use c.harts in rhe selcctcd lactir.e) pordolio
Ior s;LIciy checking.

\\ie nol a.ll usc Gl'S to a gleatei or icsscr crtent and ther e is
an increasi g likclihoo.l ihat several vcsscls $'ill se the saDre
$a)poillt. This .i1l bc particularl) so in r.rallic separation schemcs
anclareas olhigh dcnsit) ba ic. The prudcnt naliner r.ill be arvare
o{ this arcl rvill nccd to maintain special vigilance ln these ar.eas.

WalPoints

Tiadilionall), $.a\poinis have bee| eltablishcd in the viciniry

of navjgildoDal aids or proininent landmarks and fie'\ravpoirt's
pr ecisc localion has been deter.riled b) a range and bearing hotr
the navaid or landmark. ECS allorv thc uscl to utilise a nnrber ol
'lradilional'tools in establishiug a $a)?oint. inclucling the use ol
[lJL i EltBL and / or \rRN4. as shol.n in figlre 17 In this casc
\\iaypoint 2 is in a posiiion 1il0'x 5.5 nautical rniles fr.om Lizard
Poinr lighthouse.

{il

j!.rae

:t

ir!

t\

-rrF r!!!

rtj

r.r.r,.
F1t

r1A

II

NAUTICAL INSTITLTTE

r,,rr

,r. ;--

r5A

,tr" J'

E h1).tlrn \ tT.hatt (rdat lntnn!) \tttitL! u (:t iur Atu'|at fot(.abk\ IdkLtl rL tut
(t4)todu,l uit th. ln1ntrliDt afNt1n!tu|ftunon \loi\ Matitu and t ]ttdt|tupfut 0fth. NLt,.))

7'

T]

Rhumh line
or great circle?

No problcnl The iradlrional method of deterlnining

g eat cir cle iGCl at $lich io aller
ECS ,/ ECDIS ilill calcLrlate the
is
no\l
not
ncccssary.
N{ost
coulse
CC route and r.i11 provide accurate coLrrse b slccr info nation
rhroughout rhe rtyagc. Thc Bavigator will onll havc io adjusl tbe
app, opriate \ravpoints :rlong the

belo\t, it is connected
case lt $ill maintain ihe CiC
throughoui. Similarly, compourd routes with limilirg laiilLrdes can
be plaurcd and erecuted.
aulopiloi from tirne to tirnc uricss,

as r\'e see

to ihr: llCS ,' ECDIS. in $'hich

Safety chcking

One oi thc benefits ofECS is ihai the system

check

1,-i11

auLonratjcallv

for dangcrs along a ship's currerll coltrse or vovage Plan.

provided thal lhe appropriare paranclcrs hate been sel in the lirst
place.'lhese incluclc safe depth and salc hcight. \\llere a dangcl is
c, . , d. rl" .y.e'n t ill h.rlrligl-r tlc d"rr' r r., in 'n rF \'d'
Ibr erample, the shallo\! waler nral be shadcd b) cross harching ol
a dislinctive colour and lhe navigator t'ill bc givert an audible
$arning.

It must be remcmbered, of course, thai this will only occul il

fic slslen is working with vecior charts - chaits tith so callcd
'intulligent spadal dala' whereb,v the charl is. in eflect, a glatabasc of
spatiall,''' related ob.jects that can be interrogated bv the sofi\,vare

A danger alarm is also lriggered lbr avariery ofsPecific objcci

typcs listed h the irtclllalional standard fol. ECDTS, regardless oi
fic safer)- depth and saier-v height; for eranqrle, Nliljtarv Praclicc
Aleas, Anchorage P|ohibitcd Areas. and Specially Protected Areas.
These typcs o[ objects alta]s t gger a dangel alarm rvhen a safetl
zone violadon is deiected.

will provide thc oPtion for the Davigatol to check

hisintended roLrre during the plaining stage. As alrcadv noted above,
some svstems \!jll not ailot'an'unsafe' passage pl lo be saved
the navigator. nust correct this IiIs|. This validation process of thc
NIost ECS

intended rourc relies on the salctv configuration for lhe \'essel

Fi:tt ru
t4futtut.il

voJa,(

llar

\tt, ?nt

lth !h, fenn5siar

0fNoihrl)

Gt nun Slu\.)1dtin4

BRII)Gtr TE,\NT N'IANAGtrN'IENT

73

l-l

enersurcunang ounslrp=

1 2

Berm

t,q

F.olh

h:se.l.. ..1.h."-d

f:

I me d.d pres.t speed

t-ilut

l.ptadutul

Chart additions
('Mainet Ouects')

2t)

/itn \tJNr.ou
Dith ttu lehttliat afNothn Gtunann Srtt\,t|ot|)
l'aJas

Aroiher 'tr-aditional iool'fiat has bccn used b))ihe prudent

navigarol is ainotation of the charls to indicatc, lor. exanple.

nrrpolarl

or llelirrinarl Notices, rnessagcs (r1. advice when to call

the pilol or the nralter, r.hen lo change chdrt ard so or. lor. the
latter. fiis \\'ill nor be oecessaly as lhe s)'stem will arltomatically
scroll frolr one chart io the ne:it, provided t]rat the net chart has
been incl[ded wittrin the selected portfolio.

Ior fic other lenalks, nrost s,vstems nill allow the user to add
his o!!n inlbrmaiion to a chart, in both rastel and vector firmrals.
The nurnbeI of opiions a!ailable is vast and this is not an appropria{e
paper in $.hich i.r rry- io lisr thern all. However, rvhen Dangcl Alcas
and sone other lcalules are added to arastel c.ha.t bvthe navigator,
the s)siern will providc a Danger \\taming.
Routc monitoring

fic na\igalor is satisfied rvith his planning process. lhe

ECS ,'ECDIS will allo$ him to monitor his progrcss aloDg his
Oncc

lntended routc \a,ith glealer accurac! than rvlthout srch a systcm.

The continuous inpul of GPS posiijon, for example, till plovide a
continuous real time display- ()1 his ship's position on the most
appropdale chart.

He l'ill have thc opporturilv to 'look ahead' bl scrolling

through fie charts lo acquaint hturscll nith polential danger areas.
alterations of coursc, crossing ilalTic and so on. Although he na1
choose to do this, a singlc clicL ol ihe mouse or roller ball r'il1 brnrg
him bach lo his orrn ship's position.

rrill be linkcd to the autopilot such that ihe

mainiain its track \vithin paramcler.s set by the navigaior.
He nal choose, for example, lhat in coaslal r'aier's, he will nish to
restrict lis cross irack erroL (XTE) to 185 nctrcs ll cable,/0 1 nanrical
milcl bur, in open $aters, a one milc XTE will be acceptable. This
\!i1l bc done at the plannlng st.rge and r\c auropiloi ifill obligel
Some systems

vessel

74

THF, NAI;I'ICAI, INSTITLTE

rill

In the l{GSNI VMS slstem.lbr erarnple' safetl checkingis

aclicvecl in o.e of t$'o $'ays When the voyase Plan is conbollilg
the alrtoPiiot - somcdmes reltn ed to as tracli'keePing' mode - lhe
s,vstem $il] look at the jniendcd l outc and sedlch for dangers ;rlong
tie thole ofthe Ioutc' based on the XIII set in ihe voyage plan In
ihis case, the $'idfi of lhe 'salcly zonc' is tt'icc ihe XTI plus otln
ship's beam II a clanger is detccred alorg thc loure' a ivarning t'ill
be given.

On thc other hand. \\'here the voyagc plan is not ir control'

the
{-he salety chccking is based upon the salety conliguratiorr of
vessel and on ihe actual speed of advance
The Pludent ]u\ rtatoL \i ill nut ell soltly o l1 the F'CS I ECDIS
/ IBS 1or a; iDdi' drron olhrs pu$iinn rnd plogr es\ Jlong his intendcd
Ioute The rraditional tools ol his tlade are availablc to hiln and he
nr.rst make use of them at all times As alread) suggcsted' many of
these tools are available to him i]) an clectronic lorm ard he can usc
them on screen to chcck tbe accuracy ofthe infomation Prcsented
to hnn
He mav also sce radar overlay, ARPA and AIS inlbrmation
on the same icreen'lnforrnalion ovcrload' is of siglrific+nl conccm
to users and I er.'ulatoLs brrt, $ lth +propnate ' nd eltcctive lraining'
klowtedge anJ Lrnder"trn ding ' I thc bcnefirs an d limitatiois of fie
equiPmcnt at his disposal, iCS f ICOIS / IBS can and rvill
contdbule to continuing safe navigation
L

Conclusion
thc
ifr" ia"igrtio"..l technologl available orl ioda,v s vesscls is rapidl) increasing \\'iih
instantly
\
is
*ia"rp.".j"t"-.iCfs for both su?cy and 'hipb'i'r d u'e, '' ' e'r-cc' urote shrP Posrtion
influence
ihai
rvallairle. Hot'evcr. the lrodem mariler mrut nll rl s be lr ar e ol ihe man) taLturs
'an

positions Chart ddlunl, sur\e\s dnd LLrmPildtion can ' ll have an ellect on
and electlorlic char*
lvjth fie
Similath. it cannot be enphasiseci tuo tnuth ihat gUoel tr;rrrn3 'rnd frflrharisation
r\'d
r
hercnb
D'
rdins
11 'lirpi'"""' a rrlreorrog'r'arr'rr"
..
"r'
fron
one
and
etficientl'v
insur e rhat the vcssel is ravjgaled saftly
',;";',;,".;'r;;"
,,." ii
u.,-f".'lr .,f.. "' "h and to
lhe
rlser
docs
then- If
Dort to fie next. hiectl omc s-\'slems ar.e onl) as good as the people who Lrse
INl:
o'
rP'|
'u' "
l, r' .' i ina,'h' nJ \inFi'or '
:;

,h"

"ipf"i "a
".."t"q'
posiUons rn'hen usjng both paper
plotred

-;",' ',".,.

"

BNDGE TEAN'I NIANAGEMENT

75

ECDIS references and publications

IHO publbation S 57
thafi data transfer and
updating

IHO

I H O sp ecial pub lication

Specilicadons lor chart contcnt along $'ith displav aspecrs of

s52

tCDIS.

S rl7 pr o\'ides

fic

tl.a]lslcl. stanclar d fot hr droglaPhic data

to be used with LCDIS.

It desc

bes the data siruciurc and format ro be used lor the

exchange of F,NC lElcciloric lla\.igational Charil daLa
betrt.een hvdrographic rrl1iccs. ECDIS manufactulers.
marinels irnd olhel user-s.

sperilications urd guidance regarding tbe issuing.

Lrpdadng ard displal of ENC $.hen used with ICDlS.
I1 p1o!,ides

r.l

r.lh r,ir rF r, \r'-: r o r ..rL

cquipmenr s)sterns.

tr.l

International

L,u\.

Electrotechnical
Commksian (IEC)

Describcs thc Electronic Chart Displar and lniormation

stardald 61171

\\., n lt Dl5.opF.r.n.l:.11., rurn.r,,,.qrir,.r.r

and providcs methods for the required resL

IMO Resolutlon A.817(19)

(s.

..

IN{O Perfonnance Stardards lbl ECDIS.

Describes the mirimum pedolmancc slanda].ds for ECDIS
svsiems, references lo bolh h;rrdNale ancl softr\.are, ENC
upclates. userinterlacc

ard thc intcsration ofexternal devices.

IHO ancl rhe IEC based the developncnt ol their publications

{IHO S r;7, 5, and IEC i;1171) on IN{O resolution .\.817(l !)).

Definitions
Integated bidge Slst?m

(rBs)

Ele ttr onic Char t Dkplaj

ans Information Slstem

(ECDIS)

ECDIS certificd qstens

An Integated I3ridge Slstcm (ltsSiis acombinadon ofslstems,

whic}r ale i.ierlaced io a]lo{' ccntldliscd acccss to sensor inform ation
or connand/ L:oDlrol hon nrdividual rvorkstarions.

Anavigation infomration svsrem l\,hich! with adcquatc backup

compllirg !!iih the up to cl:te
charr. rec|rired b) reguladoi \','19 2.1..1 of the 1971 SOI.AS
Conventlon, bv displa\'ing sclccicd inlbrmation from a S\stcn]
Electronic Navigatioral Chart iSENCI rvlth posiiional iDlormation
(reler e ced io WCS 8{iliom navigation sensors to assisl thc nariner
in louie planning and routc ftxlitorhg. and bl display additional
naviBalior rclalcd i or.nlation.
arrangements! can be accepred ils

To qualify as ao LCDIS s)\rcm ihc hardl.are and softl.are

sirn laneoush lesrcd by an authorised Classification Sociery
jr accordance $ilh lhc IL,C (i 1 17-1 requirernents, and be granted an
appro\ al cerlilicaie
musr be

7ri

tHI,t NAIITTCAL INSI fI U tu

The approval is o v valld ir drc sca areas lor rhich rhe

ollicial S57 chart data il;NC) has beet nstalled in rhe s\.sicm. and
conccld to include lhc latesr updares. Ill:r11other situatioDs. updaied
pilpcr charts mus! be carried on boar.d rt) complr, tith SOL{S
Reguladon
E le c trcnic

Chart
chalt

Natigational

(ENC)

S-57 aectot

V/l9

2.1.-1.

The databasc. standardised

as to conrcnt. stmctLrrL' itlld format.

rvithECDIS on lhe aLrfiorit) of B-o\errrrrrcnr aufioise.I
hydr ographic officcs. The INC conrarns a]] the char I inlor.nation
necessar\'1br saie navigaiion and ma,v contain supplcmcntarv
inlornaLion h addition to lhat coniirined in ihe papc.r chart ie.g.
saiiing dircciionsi rvhich mav be considcred recessar! 1or salc

issued for use

r.,ri-, ur, H'dr,?dlt,' rr.,...n li e,rh1,.n,,. rhi.orrrur

lnal commission pri\aic conpanjes io produce fic data and

ihe),

ihen

Slstum Elecbonit

Narigational Chafi
(SENC)

Standard

dtpla!

vclifi

and cerrifv the lcsulfs.

A dalabasc rcsulting lro.r ihe rransformati.rn ol the l-NC bv

lCDl\ .u. "t . uD iJrF .r+. rt Jr,.. r- I \a b. I ,,p i .
neaosi and othcr data added by the mariner. It is ihis databasc thar
is acruall" acccsscd bv ECDIS lor thc displav generariol and othcr
na\'igaiioral funcrions. and is lhc c.luivaleni of an Lrp to datc paper
chart. Thc SENC mav also contair inlbrmaiion from other sorrrcrs
The ler el ol SENC hformado,r lhat shtil be shol'n rhen a
lilsi displq cd on ECDIS.

chart is

Base

The lelel ol SLi\C informadon thich calnot be removed

from the LCDIS displa), consisring of inlbrnati(n that is recluired
at all dnle! in i l gcographjc areas ar)d all circumstances. h islrot
rnlended lo bc sullicicrt for safe navigalion.

dkpltq

Ekdronic Chart
(ECS)

ot

Slste7/"s

ECDIS

Uectar rype charts

A.rElectronic Chart Svs{em (tCSl can be consideled aD\ othcr

rvpc of clcctronic charts rhar docs not compJy wilh rhe l^,{C)
Pcrlolmnnce Standard fot llCDlS. L,lcclronic Chartillg S) sterns do
rol nccessaril,v comply wifi fic up to dale chart recluir enrert 01V./
l9 2.1..1 of SOI,IS 1971. As such. an ECS is an aid lo na\iga{ior
lhai should nhr.al s be used rvilh ar up to dae paper chart [.om a
E \' nn6,: L.r "J rr.lr d I , .t '.F

ln a |ccror basecl svstl,nl. clcctronic chari data is corlprised

ol a scrics oflines lvectc,rsl ir Nhich differenl la\crs ofinformation
nay bc srored or cllspliry cd.

'llis

lorm of so called iltelligrnt spatial data is obtaiDcd bv

digiiising information from existirg Paper chalts or bl stor.ing a list
of insiructions that defi|e valious position referenred liaiurcs or
objecls le.g. floating buoy

\\'ith

s).

a vector ECS.

lhc uscr has considerable ileribilirr and

, . r ri ,,e-?drr'.:5".'r"'

,\.,r i..,.t..,o

thc task at hand.

tsIUDGE TEIN'I N{ANACEN{L.\T 77

A mster chart is a scanned inage ofa paper chart. Ir rastcr

based systcms, the data is stored as pictule elements (pixelsi. Each
pixel is a conponent of rhe chart lllage rvilh a defined colour ard
brightness lc\el. Raster scanned imagcs are deived by video or
digital scanning tecbniques, r'hlch result in a computer photograph

Raster tlpe charts

crf

paper charts.

Further reading

'lhe intention oi &is chapter

inio lhe rlse of conplex electronic

navigaiion systems on board ship. li is tecessarilv bliel and only touchcs l}re surface of nanv
cornplcx;ssues. For rhose readels Nith a deslre for Srcaier kno\{ledge, more information can be
found on lheintemet fron a varietr ofsources: all s)rstem manulaclurers and golcmnent authorised
h).lrographic offices havc their own web siles \t'irh vaq'ing amounts of teclDical inlornation.
Oiher inlbmalion can be fourd using appropriate search engines.
!\'as io Provide an insighi

information on fie electroDic charq its construction and potential, the lollot'ing
publicaiion is hlgbh' reconmended:
For. l1]ore

Hecht/Berking/Biitgenbach/Jollas,/Alexander," The Electronic Chart - functiotlt, f.)otential and

limiLa[ian:oJ a neu) maline nal)isation slslrr4" publlshed by GITC bv, Lemmer, The Nether]ands,
TSBN:

l)(lll062(li I

3.

Notes
I Il,lO Nfodet Coursc 1.27, 'The Opcrational Use oI Elechonic Chdr Dnpla)' and hformalion
ilCDISl . I rroduction, p.l: INIO Rcquiremerts, S(B) Compctcnce Requiements

S) stems

IllO

il

ibid., p.6

'The Intc.natxDaL Code lor the Safe OPeration .rf Ships ard tor l'ollurrn Prevendon'. nol' Ch TX of

Nfodel Course 1.27, p.2.

SOLIS

2001,

ISNI Code,5rl.3.

ibid,

ibid., s6.5.

ll

Oirn luggestioD.

ISM Codc.

s{1.,1.

58.:1.

r0 lx,{O \'Iodel Cloxrsc,

pl.

11

r\usrralian xlaritiDe Safelv Agencr DCDIS I'olicy (Conn il, Nov.201)1

T2

AI!1SA Ilarine Norice 1.1/2002.

13

1l)71

11

IN{O Circular SN/Clrc.217

l:

UK \{CA

1{l

l97l SOLAS Conventron,

SOL

S Convcntion, as amendcd,

ChapterV, Reg l9.2. ibold texr inse ed

1br

cmPhsisi

me&odolog} to delemrine ilre lev-"] ol

N{GN
l9liNI) This cube dorvnloadcd
p.rper charts to be caFied m conjuncLion t'jth ECS/ECDIS
it
is
ll2
trom ihejr $'cbsite: w$,$'. cga.gov.ut Noie rbat
Pages
has published BLridclhes on the u!

I7 lDefinition:

IEC

as

ofrisk

assessmeDl

aDrended, Chaptcr \r, Re8.

1290 IniesraLed Bndgc SIsteNS).

78 THI NAUTICAL INSTITL]TE

lbold tcxt inse ed f.,r enphassi