Tag: ECDIS

AMSA issues Marine Notice 7/2012 AMSA issues Marine Notice 7/2012 regarding Guidance on ECDIS for ships calling at Australian ports as follows:This notice aims to clarify some of the emerging issues relating to the carriage requirements for Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS) and provide guidance to ships fitted with ECDIS calling at Australian ports. Two flow charts that address ECDIS related issues and which will be used by AMSA's Port State Control (PSC) inspectors, are attached.As mandatory carriage of ECDIS will be phased in from 1 July 2012, ship operators and navigating officers of ECDIS fitted ships are encouraged to take this guidance into account.1. Cargo Ship Safety Equipment Certificate (Form E)Details of a ship's navigational systems and equipment are recorded in Section 3 of Form E (Record of equipment - Cargo Ship Safety Equipment Certificate). The means of complying with SOLAS Chapter V Regulation 19 (i.e. paper charts and/or ECDIS) needs to be indicated on a ship's Form E. If the ship uses ECDIS for navigation, Form E must clearly state the back-up arrangement in place. If a vessel requires flexibility in using either paper charts or ECDIS as the means of navigation, such an arrangement must ...

The Republic of the Marshall Islands issues Marine Safety Advisory The Republic of the Marshall Islands issues Marine Safety Advisory regarding ECDIS Training and Seafarer Documentation as required by the Manila Amendments to the STCW Code as follows:The Manila Amendments to the STCW Convention and Code entered into force on 1 January 2012. In accordance with these regulations, ALL deck officers assigned to serve on vessels that are fitted with Electronic Chart Display and Information Systems (ECDIS) must receive approved training in the use and limitations of ECDIS.The Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) Maritime Administrator (the "Administrator") will take into consideration that prior to the entry into force of the Manila Amendments to STCW, the IMO Model Course 1.27 was valid and acceptable for training in ECDIS and that this course is still valid and effective.Certificates of training issued in accordance with the requirements of IMO Model Course 1.27, or equivalent, will be "grandfathered" and accepted as approved training for service on vessels fitted with ECDIS.For more information, click here.Source: The Republic of the Marshall Islands

ransas Marine releases new 4-level ECDIS concept to suit all types of customers needs The Transas Marine 4-level ECDIS concept is designed to provide an IMO compliant solution for the shipping companies.The new range of product packages Standard, Standard+, Premium and Premium+, features Transas well renowned Navi-Sailor software with the best technology applied through all systems. From the entry-level Standard ECDIS to the Premium+ advanced ECDIS Multifunction Display, they all include a carefully selected standard features with an extensive range of additional options.Anders Rydlinger, Transas Marine Product Development Director says: "This concept is truly unique. Our objective is to provide a solution to the market where a "Standard" system features the best available quality and at the same time is user-friendly and cost-efficient. On another side, there are shipping companies which want to utilize a comprehensive technology going beyond IMO requirements. With our new 4-level concept we cover all market requirements".Source: Transas Marine

ECDIS circular The Commissariat aux Affaires Maritimes (CAM) of Luxembourg has issued circular, which concerns Electronic Chart Display and Information System.The implementation dates of the ECDIS requirements as per the SOLAS convention are reminded in this circular.Moreover, it has to be noticed that until these dates, the use of a type-approved ECDIS on board of existing ships flying the Luxembourg flag, as the primary means of navigation will be accepted by the CAM provided that the relevant chart information is available as an Electronic Navigational Chart (ENC) and back-up arrangements are in place at all times.For more information, click hereSource: CAM of Luxembourg

ECDIS type-specific training CD Rom UK company PC Maritime has announced that its Navmaster ECDIS type-specific training CD Rom is now available. The company believes it is the first manufacturer to provide a stand-alone type-specific training CD Rom.PC Maritime takes the view that the required training should be made as convenient as possible to the customer. Anne Edmonds, PC Maritime's marketing director, explains: "One Navmaster ECDIS type training CD Rom onboard can be used by any number of ship's officers, as and when their time permits. Internet access is not required, although we will later add a web-based version for shore use. The CD Rom will enable our customers worldwide to comply with the STCW requirement that all watchkeeping officers must have familiarisation training in the ECDIS they use. To complete the whole course will take about eight hours, after which a controlled assessment test can be taken and a competency certificate issued."Edmonds states that computer-based training (CBT) is effective, repeatable and gives the shipowner greater flexibility to move officers between ships. Most fleets have more than one ECDIS supplier. With the Navmaster CD onboard, a navigating officer could join a Navmaster-equipped ship and be competent and certified in operating ...

The Republic of the Marshall Islands issues Marine Guideline The Republic of the Marshall Islands issues Marine Guideline regarding Safety of Navigation, ECDIS, Navigation Chart Correction and Input to ARPA Equipped Radars and Traffic Separation Lanes as follows:This Marine Guideline provides advice and guidance to mariners on the importance of initiating and maintaining a regular and efficient system of chart and publication updating, the proper use of ARPA Radar, and Rules of the Road in Traffic Separation Lanes. Nautical chart and publication carriage requirements are addressed in Reference (a) above. This Guideline supersedes Rev. 2/08 and reflects the addition of new Reference (d) above and new section 3.0 on ECDIS with the rest renumbered.For more information, click here.Source: The Republic of the Marshall Islands

By the Bahamas Maritime Authority The Bahamas Maritime Authority issues Bulletin which outlines the Bahamas training requirements for applicable officers serving onboard ships fitted with Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS) as follows:The ship specific ECDIS training should relate to the make and model of the ECDIS equipment installed on the ship.This should build on the generic training, and be delivered by either:i. the manufacturer; orii. the manufacturers approved agent ,oriii. a trainer who has attended such a programmeFor more information, click hereSource: The Bahamas Maritime Authority

The first to receive BSH Flag State approval for its STCW conform ECDIS training Transas Marine GmbH is the first among all German training institutes to receive BSH Flag State approval for its STCW conform ECDIS training. BSH has issued a certificate for Transas with an honorable number BSH-2011-921-001.ECDIS Training offered by Transas Marine follows the IMO Model Course 1.27 fully compliant to the Manila Amendments to STCW 2010, which will be compulsory for training from 1st of January 2012. This allows Transas to issue STCW 2010 compliant ECDIS training certificates.After successful formal and on-site BSH audits, Transas ECDIS training course was certified until 2015. In a challenging time of ECDIS mandatory requirements, training becomes of vital importance. The BSH certification is recognition of Transas Marine as a high-level ECDIS training provider according to the latest regulations.Transas Marine has the biggest ECDIS background in the maritime industry. With the first ECDIS in the world to receive BSH type-approval in 1999, today Transas introduces the most comprehensive ECDIS solutions to the market. Transas Marine runs certified IMO Model Course 1.27 in its premises and through its Global ECDIS Training Network GET-Net around the world.Source: Transas Marine

The maritime community will integrate digital navigation into ship operations Admiralty, the publications brand of UKHO, has announced a series of 'Digital Navigation Insights' initiatives to help the maritime community safely and successfully integrate digital navigation into ship and shore-side operations.Next year marks the beginning of a new era of shipping operations, as the first of the ECDIS Mandate deadlines comes into force in July 2012. The 'Digital Navigation Insights' initiatives will continue Admiralty's campaign to help the maritime community meet the strategic and operational challenges of ECDIS compliance, which requires ECDIS to be the primary means of navigation on all large passenger, tanker and cargo ships on a rolling timetable.The first of the initiatives is the Admiralty digital integration workshop, which is available to attendees of Marintec China 2011 on the Admiralty stand. Developed in conjunction with Captain Paul Hailwood, a renowned expert on ECDIS and integrated bridge operations, and based on insight from shipping companies who have successfully made the transition to digital, the workshop provides a clear, step-by-step process to support the planning and delivery of compliance with the ECDIS Mandate.The workshop builds a comprehensive checklist of activity for each key stage, from the initial risk assessment ...

Part of the problem is that adopting ECDIS requires rewriting of operational and office procedures Last week saw the second "ECDIS Revolution" conference arrive in London presenting another opportunity to chew over the issues surrounding the adoption of digital navigation, a process that begins in earnest in July next year when the first deadline rolls around.The trouble - as many articles here and elsewhere have pointed out - is that ECDIS is many things to many people. It is also some things to some people and different things to others.One of the recurring themes of the conference struck a philosophical note: when was an ECDIS not an ECDIS? When the gyro input failed? When GPS went offline? When you plugged in a flash drive? The answer it seems is "it depends", though at least the event had a degree of levity to sustain it over the two days.Part of the problem is that adopting ECDIS is not like upgrading your satcomms. It involves officers, superintendents, flag states, port states, class societies, equipment suppliers, chart agents, hydrographic offices. It requires rewriting of operational and office procedures, establishment of set standards and interpretations and yes, perhaps even a philosophical mindset.The other problem ...