What Is An ECDIS ?: Facts About Charts and Carriage Requirements

Facts about charts and carriage requirements
What is an ECDIS ?
IMO ECDIS performance standard states:
Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS) means
a navigation information system which, with adequate back up ar-

rangements, can be accepted as complying with the up to date chart

required by regulation V/19 and V/27 of the 1974 Safety of Lives at
Sea (SOLAS) Convention, by displaying selected information from a
System Electronic Navigational Chart (SENC) with positional infor-
mation from navigation sensors to assist the mariner in route planning
and route monitoring, and by displaying additional navigation-related
information if required.
(IMO Resolution A.817 (19))
Approval of ECDIS
To ensure conformance with International Maritime Organisation
(IMO) requirements, ECDIS must pass type approval and test proce-
dures developed by the International Electrotechnical Commission
(IEC) based on IMO ECDIS Performance Standards and applying the
IHO requirements S-52 and S57 in particular.
Type approval is normally conducted by recognized organisations or

by marine classication societies nominated by Flag States.
What is an ECS?
All systems, which are not tested to show compliance with IMO EC-
DIS Performance Standards, can be generically designated as Elec-
tronic Chart Systems (ECS). An ECS may be able to use either
ofcial ENCs, RNCs or other chart data produced privately and could
have functionality similar to ECDIS.
Where the vessel operates with ECS, the paper chart remains the of-
cial basis for navigation onboard, regardless of the type of electronic
chart used.
HAVE A SAFE VOYAGE WITH OFFICIAL CHARTS
To download your own copy, free of charge, please visit either: www.primar.org or www.ic-enc.org
IMO requirements for carrige

of Nautical Charts

IMO SOLAS Chapter V/2.
Nautical chart or nautical publication is a special-purpose map or

book, or a specially compiled database from which such a map or
book is derived, that is issued ofcially by, or on the authority of,
a Government authorised Hydrographic Ofce or other relevant
government institution and is designed to meet the requirements of
marine navigation.
IMO SOLAS V/19

2.1 All ships irrespective of size shall have:
2.1.4 Nautical charts and nautical publications to plan and display

the ships route for the intended voyage and to plot and monitor
positions throughout the voyage; an Electronic Chart Display and
Information System (ECDIS) may be accepted as meeting the chart
carriage requirements of this subparagraph;
2.1.5 Back-up arrangements to meet the functional requirements of

subparagraph 2.1.4, if this function is partly or fully fullled by elec-
tronic means.
Suitable back-up arrangements are dened in Appendix 6 to resolu-

tion A.817(19), as amended, and for example include an appropriate
folio of paper nautical charts or a second ECDIS system.
IMO SOLAS V/27

Nautical charts and nautical publications, such as Sailing Directions,
Lists of Lights, Notices to Mariners, Tide tables and all other nautical
publications necessary for the intended voyage, shall be adequate and
up to date.
Meeting carriage requirements with ECDIS

Only a type approved ECDIS operating with up to date ofcial ENCs
and with approriate back up may be used to replace all paper charts
on a vessel.
Ofcial charts and ENCs

Ofcial charts
Charts issued by, or on the authority of, a Government authorized
Hydrographic Ofce or other relevant government institutions are

ofcial and may be used to full carriage requirements (provided

they are kept up to date).
All other nautical charts are by denition not ofcial and are often
referred to as private charts. These charts are not accepted as the
basis for navigation under the SOLAS convention. Hydrographic
Ofces do not take any responsibility for the accuracy or reliability
of privately produced charts.
There are two kinds of ofcial digital charts commonly available;

Electronic Navigational Charts (ENC) and Raster Navigational
Charts (RNC).
Ofcial ENCs
An ENC (Electronic Navigational Chart) is a database, standard-
ized as to content, structure and format, issued for use with ECDIS
on the authority of government authorized Hydrographic Ofces
(HOs). It contains all chart information necessary for safe naviga-
tion and may contain supplementary information in addition to that
contained in the paper chart (e.g. Sailing Directions), which may be
considered necessary for safe navigation.
How do I recognise ofcial ENCs?

When buying ENCs:
Only authorized distributors sell ofcial ENCs as an ENC
service, which includes the delivery of update information.
The distributors are authorized either directly by the originating
Hydrographic Ofce or by a cooperation of Hydrographic
Ofces like Primar and IC-ENC.
When used in an ECDIS:

ECDIS distinguishes an ofcial ENC from unofcial private data.
When private data is on display, ECDIS informs mariners that
they must navigate by means of an ofcial up to date paper
chart by a warning, which appears continuously on the
screen. In addition, the boundary between ofcial and private data is
clearly marked.
Comprehensive Guide to Charts

and Carriage Requirements

Ever wondered what the difference is between an of-
cial electronic chart and an unofcial one? And how

can I tell? When is an ECDIS an ECDIS, and not an
ECS or RCDS?
Charting in general, and electronic charting in particular, is a

complex subject. These are therefore questions which are regularly
asked.
This is no surprise given the diverse range of regulations which

surround the carriage and use of charts, and the various interpreta-
tions given to these regulations. The technical jargon is also often
impenetrable.
In response to this, members of the two leading ENC centres

PRIMAR International ENC Service and IC-ENC have joined
forces to create a comprehensive guide to charts and chart carriage
requirements.
Written in an easy to read question and answer style, this guide

answers over twenty of the most commonly asked questions, and
comes with extensive annexes detailing the regulations in force
today.
This guide will provide a useful reference document for those in-
volved in the production, purchase, regulation or use of electronic
charts. It will be kept up-to-date, and improved upon in response
to your feedback.

What Is An ECDIS ?: Facts About Charts and Carriage Requirements

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

What Is An ECDIS ?: Facts About Charts and Carriage Requirements

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

What Is An ECDIS ?: Facts About Charts and Carriage Requirements

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Facts about charts and carriage requirements

rangements, can be accepted as complying with the up to date chart

Type approval is normally conducted by recognized organisations or

HAVE A SAFE VOYAGE WITH OFFICIAL CHARTS

IMO requirements for carrige

Nautical chart or nautical publication is a special-purpose map or

IMO SOLAS V/19

2.1.4 Nautical charts and nautical publications to plan and display

2.1.5 Back-up arrangements to meet the functional requirements of

Suitable back-up arrangements are dened in Appendix 6 to resolu-

IMO SOLAS V/27

Meeting carriage requirements with ECDIS

HAVE A SAFE VOYAGE WITH OFFICIAL CHARTS

Ofcial charts and ENCs

ofcial and may be used to full carriage requirements (provided

There are two kinds of ofcial digital charts commonly available;

How do I recognise ofcial ENCs?

When used in an ECDIS:

HAVE A SAFE VOYAGE WITH OFFICIAL CHARTS

Comprehensive Guide to Charts

cial electronic chart and an unofcial one? And how

Charting in general, and electronic charting in particular, is a

This is no surprise given the diverse range of regulations which

In response to this, members of the two leading ENC centres

Written in an easy to read question and answer style, this guide

HAVE A SAFE VOYAGE WITH OFFICIAL CHARTS

You might also like