27 Amsa MN 11.12
27 Amsa MN 11.12
27 Amsa MN 11.12
MARINE 11/2012
NOTICE
Marine Notice 11/2012
Supersedes 15/2010 and 7/2012
This notice aims to clarify some of the emerging 2. Determining the means of navigation
issues relating to the carriage requirements for
In determining the means of navigation being
Electronic Chart Display and Information System
used, apart from considering the relevant form
(ECDIS) and to provide guidance for ECDIS-fitted
containing the ship’s “Record of Equipment”,
ships calling at Australian ports.
AMSA’s PSC inspectors will look for evidence
As the mandatory carriage of ECDIS will be phased in of planning and presentation of the ship’s route
from 1 July 2012 onwards1, ship operators, masters for the completed (or intended) voyage and of
and navigating officers of ECDIS-fitted ships are plotting and monitoring of the ship’s positions
encouraged to take this guidance into account. throughout the voyage. This information may
be cross-checked by the PSC inspectors against
Two flow charts that address ECDIS-related issues entries made in the ship’s official documents such
and which will be used by AMSA’s Port State Control as the deck log book and manoeuvring book.
(PSC) inspectors, are attached.
3. Compliant ECDIS
1. Safety Certificates under SOLAS As per SOLAS Chapter V Regulations 18 and
Details of a ship’s navigational systems and 19, for a ship to rely on ECDIS for navigation, the
equipment are recorded in the “Record of Equipment” ECDIS equipment must conform to the relevant
attached to the relevant safety certificate under IMO Performance Standards. ECDIS units on
SOLAS, including: board are required to comply with one of two
performance standards (either IMO Resolution
• Passenger Ship Safety Certificate - Form P
A.817(19) or MSC.232(82)), depending on the
• Cargo Ship Safety Equipment Certificate - Form E date of their installations.
• Cargo Ship Safety Certificate - Form C
Where ECDIS is being used for navigation, it
The means of complying with SOLAS Chapter V must:
Regulation 19 needs to be indicated (i.e. paper
i) be type-approved;
charts and/or ECDIS) in the relevant form containing
the ship’s “Record of Equipment”. If a ship uses ii) be maintained to the latest applicable
ECDIS for navigation, the “Record of Equipment” International Hydrographic Organization
must clearly state the back-up arrangement in place. (IHO) standards;
Additionally, if a ship requires flexibility in using either iii) use official and up to date electronic charts;
paper charts or ECDIS as the means of navigation, and
such an arrangement must be clearly indicated in the
ship’s “Record of Equipment”. In such cases, both iv) have an adequate, independent back-up
paper charts and ECDIS must comply with SOLAS arrangement.
requirements.
1
Depending on ship type, size and construction date, as required by SOLAS regulation V/19.2.10
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MARINE NOTICE 11/2012
charts are being used as the back-up, they must 5. ECDIS training requirements
be readily available and the voyage plan must be
Under the provisions of Standards of Training,
indicated on them. The back-up arrangement must
Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers
be ready for immediate use, particularly when in
(STCW) Convention, there has been a long-
confined waters.
standing requirement for all officers who carry
Non-Australian flagged ships should comply with out navigational tasks to be appropriately trained.
SOLAS and their flag State requirements. All officers in charge of a navigational watch on
ships of 500 gross tonnage or more must have a
4. Mode of ECDIS operation thorough knowledge of and ability to use nautical
charts and nautical publications (ref STCW Code
A type-approved ECDIS, when using current
Table A-II/1). The definition of a nautical chart
editions of ENC with the latest updates and
as provided in SOLAS Chapter V Regulation
corrections available, operates in ECDIS mode.
2 includes a special-purpose map or book, or
An alternative mode, known as Raster Chart
“a specially compiled database”. This clearly
Display System (RCDS) mode, can only be used
includes ENCs and RNCs, and hence includes
if there are no suitable ENCs available for the area
the use of ECDIS. In respect of seafarers who
being navigated. In recent years, ENC coverage
commenced an approved education and training
has increased rapidly. However, there may still
programme before 1 July 2013, there remains a
be some areas, such as polar regions, for which
clear requirement that approved ECDIS training
suitably detailed ENCs have not been issued.
(as outlined below below) be undertaken by all
In Australia’s case, ENCs exist for all well-used masters and officers in charge of a navigational
coastal shipping routes and for all major ports. watch on ECDIS-fitted ships.
Hence, unless a ship will be operating in or
5.1 Generic ECDIS training
transiting through an area for which there are
no suitable ENCs, ECDIS should not need to be All masters and officers in charge of a navigational
operated in RCDS mode in Australian waters. IMO watch should, as a minimum, complete generic
SN.1/Circ.207/Rev.1 addresses the differences ECDIS training that follows IMO Model Course 1.27
between ECDIS and RCDS. and conforms to the relevant STCW requirements.
documentation. Masters of ECDIS fitted ships The following is a non-exhaustive list of ECDIS-
should ensure that all officers in charge of a related issues which AMSA’s PSC inspectors pay
navigational watch are competent in the safe and close attention to:
effective use of the ship’s ECDIS.
• appropriate declaration in the ship’s “Record of
Equipment” form
The 2010 Manila Amendments to the STCW
Convention and Code have introduced several • ECDIS type approval certificate, confirming that
additional specific competencies in the use of the ship’s ECDIS complies with the relevant
ECDIS for masters and officers in charge of a IMO performance standards and the IEC
navigational watch serving on ECDIS-fitted ships. (International Electrotechnical Commission)
Training requirements in accordance with the 2010 test standards
Manila Amendments become effective on 1 July
• maintenance of the ECDIS software to the latest
2013.
applicable IHO standards
6. ECDIS anomalies • use of latest edition official electronic charts,
updated and corrected to the latest available
An ECDIS anomaly is an unexpected or unintended
updates and notices to mariners
behaviour of an ECDIS unit which may affect the
use of the equipment or navigational decisions • adequate independent back-up arrangements
made by the user. Examples include, but are not (as detailed on “Record of Equipment”),
limited to: ensuring safe navigation for the remainder of
the voyage in the event of an ECDIS failure
• failure to display a navigational feature correctly
• approved ECDIS generic and familiarisation
• failure to alarm correctly
training undertaken by the master and officers
• failure to manage a number of alarms correctly in charge of a navigational watch
The IHO ECDIS check dataset (as mentioned in • documented procedures for using ECDIS
paragraph 3.2.1) provides a test facility for the
• listing of ECDIS as critical equipment in the
presence of the more serious known anomalies,
ship’s Safety Management System
such as:
• conformance and alignment with input from
• the display of navigation areas recently
sensors (e.g. heading, speed, rate of turn etc)
recognised by IMO such as ESSA
and presentation of such information on the
(Environmentally Sensitive Sea Area), PSSA
ECDIS display
(Particularly Sensitive Sea Area) and ASL
(Archipelagic Sea Lanes) • evidence of periodic tests and checks of the
ECDIS equipment that need to be carried out in
• the display of lights with complex characteristics
accordance with the ship’s Safety Management
• the display of underwater features and isolated System
dangers
• demonstration of operational competency
• detection of objects by “route checking” in by the ship’s navigating officers (e.g. safety
voyage planning mode checking of a voyage plan)
Mick Kinley
A/g Chief Executive Officer
27 June 2012
No
Is ECDIS being used for (Without any valid reasons) Action code 30
navigation? (depending on
circumstances)
Yes
No
Is the ECDIS type-approved?
Action code 30
Yes
No
(Actions depend on the seriousness of any resulting
Has the ECDIS been limitations on effective operation)
maintained to the latest Action code 30
applicable IHO standards and or 17
as may be required by its type
approval?
Yes
Yes
Notes: ENCs (and any RNCs) with latest updates and corrections are to be
used in ECDIS for navigation. Use of the following is unacceptable (Code
30):
1. Unofficial or private charts
2. Raster charts in an area with full and adequate ENC coverage
Is the ECDIS using appropriate
official electronic charts with
latest updates and corrections No (See note above)
as applicable? Action code 30
Yes
Yes
Yes
Notes:
Action code 17: Rectify deficiency before departure
No action required Action code 18: Rectify deficiency within three months
Action code 30: Detainable deficiency
ECDIS NOT listed
in the ship’s
Record of Equipment Form
No
Are paper charts* being used for
navigation? Action code 30
Yes
No
Is there sufficient evidence of passage
Action code 30
planning done on paper charts* ?
Yes
No
Are all the paper charts* required for Action code 30 or
the voyage on board? 17
Yes
Yes
*Paper charts:
Notes:
Action code 17: Rectify deficiency before departure
Action code 30: Detainable deficiency