Guidance on ECDIS for ships calling at Australian ports

AMSA has issued Marine Notice to provide guidance  on ECDIS for ships calling at Australian ports. The phased carriage requirement of Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS) is underway and is scheduled to be completed by 2018

Guidance on ECDIS for ships calling at Australian ports

The phased carriage requirement of Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS) is underway and is scheduled to be completed by 2018.Comprehensive guidance is available in the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Circular MSC.1/Circ.1503 ECDIS Guidance for Good Practice. All ships masters, navigating officers and operators of ships fitted with ECDIS are encouraged to use this guidance to facilitate the safe and effective use of ECDIS.This Marine Notice highlights areas relevant to the safe and proper operation of ECDIS for ships visiting Australian ports. It also provides information on AMSA’s expectations for ECDIS compliance during port State control (PSC) Inspections.

Software Quality Assurance

Ship owners and operators need to ensure careful management and regular maintenance of both ECDIS hardware and software. MSC.1/Circ.1503 contains guidance on maintenance of ECDIS software and identifies the need to keep ECDIS updated to meet the current International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) standards.The IHO published new editions of the S-52, S-63, and S-64 standards in August 2015. The following IHO standards apply to all newly installed ECDIS equipment:

The current editions of these standards remain valid until 31 August 2017, at which time the previous versions will no longer display the appropriate presentation library. To display the latest approved presentation library, existing ECDIS systems will require upgrading or in some cases replacing before 31 August 2017.

Anomalies

A list of known ECDIS anomalies is included in MSC.1/Circ.1503. Due to the complex nature of ECDIS, and because it involves a mix of hardware, software and data, it is possible (but considered not likely) that further undetected anomalies may exist. The existence of anomalies highlights the importance of maintaining ECDIS software to ensure the correct display of up-to-date electronic navigational charts.To help understand the extent of these anomalies, navigating officers are encouraged to report any such anomalies, including specific details regarding fitted equipment, to their flag State authority.

ECDIS Data Presentation and Performance Check dataset

The IHO has produced an ECDIS Data Presentation and Performance Check dataset that allows mariners to check some important aspects of the operation of their ECDIS. This dataset contains two fictitious ENC cells which can be loaded into an ECDIS to assess operating performance. The test will check whether there are any display anomalies that need to be remedied or otherwise managed. If the check highlights a problem, guidance notes in the check dataset offer suggested courses of action.

Chart Carriage Requirements

The International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea(SOLAS) Chapter V Regulation 27 states that all nautical charts necessary for the intended voyage shall be adequate and up to date. For ships using ECDIS to meet the chart carriage requirement of SOLAS, all ENCs (and any RNCs) must be of the latest available edition and be kept up to date using both the electronic chart updates (e.g. ENC updates) and the latest available notices to mariners.

Mode of ECDIS operation

ECDIS may be operated in one of two modes:

• ECDIS mode when ENC’s are used

• Raster Chart Display System (RCDS) mode, when suitable ENC’s are not available and Raster Navigational Chart’s (RNC) are used instead.

RCDS mode does not have the same functionality as ECDIS mode and can only be used together with an appropriate folio of up to date paper charts. MSC.1/Circ.1503 provides guidance on the limitations and dangers of operating ECDIS in RCDS mode.All Australian waters are covered by ENCs and therefore ECDIS should not need to be operated in RCDS mode. Where lack of ENC coverage requires navigation in RCDS mode, mariners should critically consider the implications of not having a look-ahead capability.

ECDIS training requirements

The International Convention on the Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW), requires all officers who carry out navigational tasks to be appropriately trained. All officers in charge of a navigational watch must have a thorough knowledge of and ability to use nautical charts and nautical publications (see STCW Code Table A-II/1). The definition of a nautical chart in SOLAS V/2 includes a special-purpose map or book, or “a specially compiled database”. This includes ENCs and RNCs, relating to the use of ECDIS. All masters and officers in charge of a navigational watch on ECDIS-fitted ships who commenced an approved education and training program before 1 July 2013 will need to have undertaken approved ECDIS training.

Port State Control inspections

AMSA’s PSC Inspectors focus on how ships meet the SOLAS requirements for chart carriage and the safe and effective conduct of navigation tasks. PSC Inspectors will take account of ECDIS-related issues including:

Source: Australian Maritime Safety Authority