An Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS) is a computerised navigation and information system that enables mariners to appraise, plan, execute, monitor and record a voyage route. To be considered an ECDIS, the system must meet the operational and functional requirements specified in the relevant IMO ECDIS performance standards (see below), be type-approved to standards developed by the International Electrotechnical Committee (IEC) and be used with electronic charts which conform to specifications published by the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO). Specifically when used with Electronic Navigational Charts (ENCs) an ECDIS can satisfy the carriage requirements for “charts” laid down in Regulation in Regulation 19 of SOLAS Chapter V.
Any system which does not meet the ECDIS definition, as set out above, is termed an Electronic Chart System (ECS) and can legally only be used as a navigational aid in conjunction with up-to-date, appropriately-scaled, paper nautical charts to meet SOLAS requirements.
ECDIS was primarily designed to be used with ENCs but may also be used with Raster Navigational Charts (RNCs) in areas either not covered by ENCs or only covered at a scale inappropriate for safe navigation. However, when operating ECDIS in the so-called Raster Chart Display System (RCDS) mode, current SOLAS regulations also require that the system be used with “an appropriate portfolio of paper charts” due to differences in functionality between RNCs and ENCs (see Safety of Navigation circular 207 below).
ENCs
An ENC is an example of a vector chart which meets the IHO S-57 product specification and has been issued officially by or on the authority of a Government, authorized Hydrographic Office or other relevant government institution. The characteristics of a vector chart is that the chart is made up of a number of “objects” which can be assigned unique properties (“attributes”) and stored in a multi-layered database. This enables the chart data to be displayed seamlessly, interrogated, re-scaled, rotated and the display optimised for day or night viewing. It also allows the mariner to customise the display by switching on/off certain layers (above a certain minimum level) to control the level of chart clutter.
One of the key safety benefits of using ECDIS with ENCs is the built-in anti-grounding features which, if properly implemented by the user, automatically gives advanced warning if the ship is standing into danger. For this reason vector charts are considered to have a level of “intelligence” embedded within them.
RNCs
Unlike an ENC, an RNC is basically a single-layer digital scanned image of a paper nautical chart which meets the IHO S-61 product specification and has been officially issued. The geographical limits, orientation and scale of the RNC are the same as those of the paper chart on which it is based. Movement from one RNC to another is not seamless and it is not possible to interrogate features displayed within the RNC or to use the chart data to automatically trigger anti-grounding alarms. Therefore the RNC lacks the “intelligence” of the
ECDIS Carriage Requirements
Since 01 July 2012 ECDIS has become a SOLAS mandatory carriage requirement for certain ship types and sizes, when undertaking international voyages, under an IMO-defined implementation plan which runs through to mid-2018.
The diagram below summarises the implementation plan:-
By Jul 2018, therefore, mandatory carriage of ECDIS will apply to:
- All new and existing* passenger ships of 500 gross tonnage and upwards
- All new and existing* tankers of 3000 gross tonnage and upwards
- All new cargo ships of 3000 gross tonnage and upwards
- All existing* cargo ships of 10000 gross tonnage and upwards
* The status of an “existing” ship is dependent upon the relevant implementation date for that ship type and size
From the point of view of using digital data for analysing and reconstructing a navigational incident/accident, there are a number of important requirements within the ECDIS performance standards.
Voyage Recording
The ECDIS should store, preserve and be able to reproduce certain minimum elements required to reconstruct the navigation and verify the official Electronic Navigational Chart (ENC) database used during the previous 12 hours and record the following at 1-minute intervals:
- Time
- Position
- Heading
- Speed
- ENC source (e.g. the country which has created the cell)
- ENC edition
- ENC publication date
- ENC update history
The ECDIS should also store and preserve the complete track for the entire voyage with time marks at intervals not exceeding 4 hours and it should not be possible for anyone to manipulate or change the recorded information.
Connection with Other Equipment
As a minimum the ECDIS is required to be connected to other navigational system that provide:
- Continuous position-fixing (i.e. from the ship’s electronic position-fixing system)
- Heading (i.e. from the ship’s transmitting heading device)
- Speed (i.e. from the ship’s speed and distance measuring equipment)
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Scroll down the page to view a number of documents relating to ECDIS. View and download the full document by clicking on the relevant link.
Apply to ECDIS installations on ships on or after 01 Jan 1996 but before 01 Jan 2009
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Apply to ECDIS installations on ships on or after 01 Jan 2009
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MSC.1/Circ.1503 (24 Jul 2015) – ECDIS: Guidance for Good Practice
This is a consolidation of various guidance on ECDIS-related issues, which had previously been developed over the years in an incremental manner, into a single document. The following topics are covered:
A. Chart carriage requirements
B. Maintenance of ECDIS software
C. Operating anomalies identified within ECDIS
D. Differences between Raster Chart Display System (RCDS) and ECDIS
E. ECDIS training
F. Transitioning from paper chart to ECDIS navigation
G. Guidance on training and assessment in the operational use of ECDIS simulators
Appendix 1 – List of ECDIS apparent operating and display anomalies
Appendix 2 – Differences between RCDS and ECDIS
Appendix 3 – Guidance on training and assessment in the operational use of ECDIS simulators
Appendix 4 – IMO performance standards for ECDIS and other circulars related to ECDIS
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