The International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) issued a bulletin concerning its new ECDIS Data Presentation and Performance Check for ships. IHO says that the checks should be run at least once after installing an ECDIS. A re-run is recommended only after a software update, system upgrade or change of equipment. The results should be reported to the IHO if and only if anomalies are found.
Furthermore, IHO clarifies that the following checks are not intended for, and are not suitable to be used as a Port State Inspection / Carriage compliance test for ECDIS.
ECDIS operating with Edition 3.4 of the IHO Presentation Library (Annex A to S-52)
Note: The associated datasets will be removed when the planned retirement date of Edition 3.4 of the IHO Presentation Library is reached. The retirement date is currently set at 31 August 2017.
The instructions for loading the data, carrying out the checks and submitting the results to the IHO can be downloaded here.
Background information:
- Letter to Ships’ Masters, Owners and Operators concerning the important ENC/ECDIS Data Presentation and Performance Check in Ships,
- Background Paper– ENC/ECDIS Data Presentation and Performance Check for Ships.
IHO suggests at those who find any difficulty to submit their results using:
- the Online Reporting Form or;
- the Standalone PDF Reporting Form
ECDIS operating with Edition 4.0 of the IHO Presentation Library (Annex A to S-52)
Changes introduced in Edition 4.0 of the IHO Presentation Library invalidate the tests contained in the ECDIS Data Presentation and Performance Checks, which were specifically designed and developed for ECDIS, using previous editions of the Presentation Library.
An ECDIS type approval certificate showing conformance with tests in edition 4.0 of IEC 61174 demonstrates that the ECDIS does not have any of the identified ENC display anomalies.
The subsequent guidance here describes the method by which mariners may check the ECDIS displays for the new ENC symbols contained in Edition 4.0 of the Presentation Library.
IHO urges anyone who detects any anomaly in the display to contact the provider of the ECDIS and inform the IHO at info(at)iho.int.
Source: IHO
