The International Maritime Organization (IMO) subcommittee on Navigation, Communications and Search and Rescue (NCSR) has extended the transition period for software updates to existing Electronic Chart Display & Information Systems (ECDIS) for one year to 31 August 2017.
The NCSR accepted the proposal of the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) to give all ship owners using ECDIS more time to be able to obtain the correct software updates to the new IHO-52 presentation library and thus ensure compliance with the guidelines on Maintenance of ECDIS software contained in IMO Circular MSC.1/Circ.1503.
- In practice this extension means the current IHO Presentation Library edition 3.4 in use on existing ECDIS will remain valid until 31 August 2017.
- From 01 September 2017, all vessels will be expected to have upgraded their ECDIS software to the IHO Presentation Library edition 4.0 in order to remain compliant.
Ship owners are encouraged to contact their ECDIS manufacturer to start the transition to the updated ECDIS Standards, in order to ensure a smooth switchover and take advantage of the benefits that the new editions will bring to the bridge. While there is more time available, the upgrade requirements will vary between different ECDIS makes and models, so it is important that owners work together with their ECDIS manufacturers to identify the steps that need to be taken for all ECDIS systems across their fleet.
Source: RMI
