TELchart ECS Feature Guide

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FEATURE GUIDE: TELCHART ECS 3.8.3.

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With the release of TELchart ECS 3.8.3.5 we are bringing you new features and
improvements. For a complete list of changes, see the release history on
https://telko.no. Here you will also find Feature Guides for previous releases.

Introduction:

Starting June 2020, we are introducing TELCARE for TELchart ECS. TELCARE is a Software as a Service solution
(SaaS):

With a TELCARE subscription you get access to all new features for TELchart ECS
With TELCARE you get:

• All new software functions developed for TELchart ECS


• Software Maintenance – we keep your software up to date with all new rules and regulations
• Free email and phone support

One software release is included per year with new functions requested by and developed together with
TELchart ECS users. You will see the first of these in this feature guide.

12 months of TELCARE is included when you buy a TELchart ECS.

Go to https://telko.no to order TELCARE for your vessels.

Improvement: Warning time at 0.1 seconds for safety zones


We have now added the option of setting the warning time for the anti grounding feature to 0.1 seconds. This
way, the navigator can take account of a safety buffer in the design of the safety zones, instead of having the
buffer in a fixed warning time.

This improvement allows for free configuration of the safety buffer along the route.

The option of 0.1 seconds is added to the Safety Check warning time. Note that the minimum width of the
Safety Check zone is 1 meter.

Telko AS | Færder Teknologipark | Ødekjærveien 27 | 3145 Tjøme | Norge | +47 33 30 39 60


Improvement: Edit route lane and turn radius in the chart
This improvement makes it a lot easier to create highly customized routes in a fast and efficient way, directly in
the chart.

When you edit a route, you can now left click on the route lane, and it is attached to the cursor. You can then
move in or out from the route centerline to alter the lane width. When you are happy with the lane width,
simply left click again.

To reset the lane to the route default width you right click
on it.

You can also edit the turn radius in your route. Simply left
click on the curve of the route centreline, and the curve is
now attached to the cursor. The next left click locks the
turn radius where the cursor is. Again, to reset the turn
radius to route default you just right click on it.

New feature: Alternative view for Route Monitoring


We have now added a third Route Monitoring layout, based on user feedback from SAR vessels. All three
layouts are easily available by simply left clicking on the route monitoring panel itself.

The main route The second view The new third view: optimized
monitoring view A zoomed in version of the first view for SAR

Note that when special SAR notation for night navigation using ‘<’ or ‘>’ in the waypoint text is used, the
waypoint text display is now optimized specifically for this use.

Improvement: RTZ route export and import format


In TELchart ECS you now have the option to export and import routes in the new standardized format RTZ (and
RTZP).

The routes can be imported and exported from the route organizer, just like the native TECDIS and TELchart ECS
format; *.lst.

You can also export routes from the route report tool.

With the RTZ route format, you can transfer routes from any RTZ-compatible navigation tool to the TELchart
ECS. Note that some manufacturer-specific features may not be transferred.

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Improvement: Plotting of observed bearings and distances
This improvement is a result of customer feedback; to help users log observed bearings and distances during a
voyage.

The bearing list has been improved with;

• A new column for Range.


• A Range button; when pressed, you can add range to selected observations, or remove range from an
observation (depending on what you have selected in the bearing list). The Range button is not
available for bearings that are converted to LOP directly from range-only observations.
• Estimated Position (EP) symbols are given a range estimation based on the time of the most recent
observation, not when you press the Save EP button.
• When an EP symbol is added through the bearing list, the action is now logged in the DR fix logs,
together with the bearings and ranges used.
• The previous way to insert range for bearings, by writing “range” in the text field, is replaced by the
Range button.

Improvement: Larger display of COG, SOG, CPA and TCPA for targets
This improvement was highly requested by some of our users. You can now click on the COG, SOG, CPA and
TCPA values in the target window, and they will become bigger and much more viewable. To revert to smaller
text. Simply click on the values one more time.

Improvement: Reduction of false Crossing Safety Contour Alerts under


anchor watch
In this release we have continued to reduce the false Crossing Safety Contour alerts (Antigrounding alerts).
While anchor watch is switched on and the vessel is within the anchor watch circle, the filtering of false
positives for the Crossing Safety contour alert has been increased (limited to 6 seconds for speeds above 0.5
knots, and movement above 0.03 NM for speeds below 0.5 knots).

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New feature: TELCARE subscription status in TELchart ECS
With the addition of TELCARE you need a way to see if
TELCARE is active on your TELchart ECS, and when the
current subscription period ends.

To see if TELCARE is activated, simply open the chart


information panel, by

• pressing F4 on the keyboard, or


• clicking on the ?-button in the chart menu.

If a valid TELCARE subscription is active, ‘TELCARE’ will


be shown at the end of the ‘TELchart ECS software’
information.

To see when the current subscription period ends,


place the cursor over the ‘TELchart ECS Software’
label, and the expiry date is shown in the hint text. You
may also review the license information in TELchart
ECS Setup (service key required).

TELCARE in TELchart ECS is administrated with license


codes – you get a new code for each subscription
period, directly from Telko.

New feature: Transit conning


(TELCARE subscription required)

The mini-conning in TELchart ECS has always been very useful for
maneuvers and while anchored. Now we have improved on it,
with the addition of a transit conning.

So now the most important sensor and voyage information is


displayed with bigger text, in a clear and very readable conning
window.

You can move the window around by dragging it with your


cursor.

To access the Transit conning you simply click anywhere on the


docking conning.

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New feature: TotalTide integration
(TELCARE subscription required)

TotalTide requires that Admiralty digital products (ADP) is installed on the TELchart ECS, with a valid subscription to
TotalTide.

In this release we are adding a feature that is in high demand – TotalTide from Admiralty. You can now see the
tidal data from the TotalTide service in TELchart ECS, with a simple and intuitive interface.

You open the Tides window by either clicking on a


tidal/tidal stream station in the chart, or by clicking
on the Tide button in the info panel.

If you hover over the tidal station, you will see


information about it in the chart.

Tide graph Heights

The Graph view shows you a tidal prediction graph,


that can display up to 7 days of tidal data. If a
minimum tidal height is configured, this will be
indicated in the graph with red highlights for unsafe This table shows you the hourly tidal height
values. predictions for the coming 7 days.

High water/ Low water Levels

This display of tides is the common format on paper. This panel gives you general information about the
You see the ends of the tidal movement, and what specific tidal station
time of day that happens.

Safe
The most powerful tool is the Safe tide table, that
helps you plan your voyage taking tidal windows into
account.

The table shows the available tidal windows, and all


calculations are based on the specified minimum safe
tide.

Tidal stream stations


Tidal stream stations work similarly to the Tidal stations, but use a different symbol in
the chart.

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Tidal Stream stations have similar functionality as the Tidal stations. The main
difference is that rates and directions are displayed.

New feature: Rendevous – Predictive vessel approach


(TELCARE subscription required)

This feature is a user request that we are thrilled to add to TELchart ECS.

For any target, you can now activate Rendevous – RDV, and TELchart ECS will
predict where on your route you will meet that target. This function works for
targets within 1 NM of your route, and predicts where the target will meet your
vessel (assuming the target will move along the same path your route shows)..

Rendevous supports up to 8 targets simultaneously, and the prediction is


updated every second.

The tool is simple to use:

• When TELchart ECS predicts that you will meet a target along
your route, a Rendevous-symbol is shown over the route.
• The symbol indicates if the point is a meeting or an overtaking.
• If you hold the cursor over the symbol, TTG (time to go) for the
meeting and target name is shown.
• If you click on the symbol, you can pick it up to slide it along your
route to find the Speed To Go to alter the rendezvous point to
that position. All other rendevous symbols will move accordingly. Click again to release the symbol.
• The symbol is shown in a target specific color to help you recognize what target you will meet and
where. The symbol color is matched with brackets around the target.

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New feature: Curved EBL
(TELCARE subscription required)

This new feature is a real gem. Curved EBL is a visual indication in the chart display of a potential turn to be
executed according to a specific turn radius and new course (taking wheelover distance into account), assuming
the turn is initiated at the time of display.

Curved EBL is accessible via a new checkbox in the Ship menu. When checked, a new
Curved EBL panel is shown in the top right corner of the chart display.

The Curved EBL panel consists of a clickable title with 3


possible modes (left click on title changes between modes):
• Curved EBL - Off: Not displayed in the chart.
• Curved EBL - Manual: Displayed according to parameters
set in TELchart ECS.
• Curved EBL - AP: Displayed according to turn radius and new course received from
autopilot. Length and wheelover is still adjustable in TELchart ECS.

Curved EBL is displayed in the chart as a thick blue line starting at the conning position,

This option is only available when information from the autopilot is received via track control or via the Options 3 sensor (only
selected autopilots (EMRI / Furuno FAP, Raytheon Anschutz NP5500)

extending straight for the wheelover distance, then turning according to


the specified turn radius onto the specified new course and extending on
this course until the total line length is of the specified distance.

If the specified distance is shorter than needed to complete the


projected turn, the lenght is extended to the exit point of the projected
turn.

• When using Curved EBL while in route monitoring the curved EBL will
assume that turns are triggered at the wheelover line.
• When the vessel passes the wheelover line, the curved EBL assumes
that the turn is triggered at that point and starts counting down the
curved ebl presented wheelover distance until it is 0.
• If the vessel starts turning before that point, the curved ebl
presented wheelover distance is set to 0 at once.

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New feature: Speed To Go (STG) calculator
(TELCARE subscription required)

The new Speed to Go (STG) Calculator is a feature available from the ETA calculator.

ETA calculator STG calculator

Click to switch to STG mode ETD and ETA from current Customized ETA Customized ETD and ETA
speed

By clicking in the ETA calculator panel, the panel switches to an STG calculator mode. In this mode, you can set
date and time for each waypoint (or own ship position) you have selected. When times are set for both
waypoints, the required STG can be calculated and displayed.

When the STG calculator is shown, the ETA times are initialized with the current ETAs for the waypoints
according to the current ETA mode (current / planned speed). If own ship position or waypoints behind the
vessel are selected, the ETA time should be initialized to the current time.

If one of the selected endpoints is own ship, and the time specified is within 1 minute of the current time, that
time should be updated according to current time on a continual basis while the calculator is displayed.

New feature: TTG calculation in the STG calculator


(TELCARE subscription required)

This is a special feature in the STG calculator, that allows you to calculate
how long the current SOG can be maintained before speed must change to
STG set in calculator to reach the set ETA.

The function is accessible by left clicking in the STG calculator (when own
ship is selected as starting point).

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Improvement: Calculate default speed from ETD and ETA
(TELCARE subscription required)

Until now, it has been possible to specify a single date/time for a waypoint in the waypoint list, and all other
times were updated according to route speed settings. However, ships typically have a fixed departure time and
a fixed arrival time.

Adjusting your default speed to comply with those fixed departure and arrival times has worked, but it has also
required multiple steps. We have simplified this functionality, and the following improvement is added to
TELchart ECS in this release:

When setting a fixed


ETA, it appears in
orange in the
waypoint list.

If you add a fixed ETD


as well, the default
speed of the route will
update accordingly

If you postpone the


ETD, the default speed
will update
accordingly.

So now, when you specify an ETD and ETA for any two waypoints along the route, a default speed for the route
is calculated automatically. Of course it accounts for stop times and fixed speeds on specific route legs,
providing you with a ready to use default speed.

And note that you are not limited to the end points of the route; you can calculate the default speed between
any of the waypoints in the route.

In order to set a new fixed time (shown in orange), remove an existing fixed time.

Improvement: Use own ship as start or end point for ETA calculation
(TELCARE subscription required)

This is a simple and useful addition to the


ETA calculator in TELchart ECS. You can
now use own ship as a start or end point
for the ETA calculations.

By right clicking on your own ship and the


waypoint you want to calculate to/from,
the ETA calculator is shown. Right clicking
your own ship again when already selected removes the ETA calculator.

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New feature: GNSS jamming and spoofing detection with
Orolia M-SecureSync (TELCARE subscription required)
When Orolia M-SecureSync hardware is present on board, it can now be integrated with TELchart ECS to
provide GNSS jamming and spoofing information to the navigator.

The user interface is unobtrusive, providing information to the navigator when needed. Information regarding
jamming and spoofing is available in the same place as other information related to the integrity of the position
sensor information. The tooltip for the position sensor label provides this information, and the sensor label is
highlighted yellow when issues are detected.

Normal situation, no GNSS jamming or spoofing is GNSS jamming detected, position sensor label is
detected. Position sensor label tooltip shows ‘No highlighted yellow and tooltip shows ‘Jamming
interference’. detected’.

Additionally, a notification panel is shown next to the sensor data alerting the navigator when jamming or
spoofing is detected. This panel may also be displayed by the navigator by clicking the position sensor label.

Notification showing that GNSS jamming is detected. Notification showing that GNSS spoofing is detected.

The ‘Show log’ button brings up a log of recorded instances of GNSS jamming and spoofing.

Log of previous instances of detected GNSS jamming and spoofing.

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Other fixes and improvements
TELchart ECS 3.8.3.5 also contains several other fixes and improvements.

• Performance and stability when operating continuously for very long periods
Several improvements have been made to TELchart ECS that improves performance and stability when
TELchart ECS is left in continuous operation for very long time periods (longer than 1-2 months) without
any restarts. These improvements especially benefit users making use of ‘Head up’ chart display and
users operating continuously in inshore waters.
• Improvements to S63 single click chart loading
Simplified chart loading from S63 ENC suppliers such as Navtor, GNS, ChartCo and ChartWorld has been
improved, simplifying the chart loading process.
• Fix for selecting individual past tracks for display
An issue has been fixed where individual past tracks selected for display were not displayed when track
filtering was set to a period of less than 1 day.
• Fix for AIS updating when destination contains illegal characters
An issue has been fixed where AIS destination texts containing illegal characters (such as comma) were
not properly handled.

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