Tag: ECDIS

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 ...

Safebridge announces the first release of its new online ECDIS course Safebridge has announced the first release of its new online courseware for type-specific ECDIS training, which will be commercially available by the end of the year.The Safebridge training software platform combines an e-learning component with OEM software and electronic charts (ENC). The learning process is controlled by Learning Management Software (LMS) to provide an interactive simulator that is true to the actual ECDIS brand being studied.The company has cooperative agreements to develop type-specific training packages built around ECDIS products from Sperry Marine, Imtech, Transas, Raytheon Anschütz and JRC, and expects to develop similar programs for other ECDIS suppliers in 2012."As the new IMO ECDIS carriage requirements come into effect in 2012, internet-based e-learning provides a cost-effective training tool to meet the type-specific training requirements mandated under STCW, ISM, Port State Control and Flag State regulations," said Ulf Steden, managing director of Safebridge."While many ECDIS suppliers offer their own type-specific training courses, it is impractical and expensive for an officer to attend these one- or two- day courses for multiple ECDIS vendors. With the Safebridge solution, they now have the convenience of doing it all online with self-paced guided courseware.""It ...

Using the Maritime Information Systems of Norway voyage decision support system Tolani Shipping's Singapore division is to use the Maritime Information Systems (Maris) of Norway voyage decision support system as part of an initiative to adapt green technology to its owned and operated vessels.Tolani Shipping owns a fleet of bulk carriers ranging in size from 50,000dwt to 84,000dwt with an average age of five years. With its origins in India, Tolani Shipping established a presence in Singapore in 2003 and operates vessels under both the Indian and Singaporean flags.The Maris VDS System is an electronic tool based on the Maris ECDIS, designed to plan and execute voyages in a safe manner with optimal fuel and time consumption and also document and analyse the results.The system comprises a separate VDS computer which is also a fully functional ECDIS. It operates in a LAN with the two regular ECDIS installations required for approved ECDIS navigation. The reason for choosing a total of three is that the VDS will have a second important function as a spare ECDIS. Approved ECDIS navigation will require two functional ECDIS installations at any time, meaning, for instance, that vessels may be refused clearance for leaving port if ...

Type Specific Training Course approval for an ECDIS Training Course offered by FURUNO ClassNK has issued its first Type Specific Training Course approval for an ECDIS Training Course offered by FURUNO INS Training Centre Singapore.The approval, which coincides with the opening of the new training centre, certifies that the course offered by the centre complies with the classification society's new Standard for Maritime Education & TrainingNew requirements for the installation of ECDIS systems will be phased in from 1 July 2012, after which vessels will be required to navigate using ECDIS as their primary chart system.As part of this process, masters and deck officers will be required to undergo adequate training and prove their understanding and proficiency in using the new systems.In addition to the generic ECDIS training required by the STCW Convention and Code, the governments of the UK and Ireland, as well as the Paris MOU, require masters and all deck officers on flag vessels which make use of ECDIS systems as their primary means of navigation to undergo Type Specific ECDIS training for the ECDIS systems used onboard their vessels.In recognition of this growing demand ClassNK developed new certification standards for Type Specific ECDIS training programmes, that ...

ECDIS MITAGS-179 course The Maritime Institute of Technology and Graduate Studies (MITAGS) has received approval of updates to its Electronic Chart Display and Information Systems (ECDIS) (MITAGS-179) course that is part of the Advanced Navigation course. This approval now aligns the course with the latest revisions of the Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) code as amended in 2010."Any applicant who has successfully completes the ECDIS course at MITAGS will now be considered to have successfully demonstrated the competencies of the amended STCW code of 2010," said Eric Friend, Director of Training for MITAGS. "Our Pacific Maritime Institute (PMI) will be seeking approval for their course as well. MITAGS-PMI has strived to maintain its leadership in maritime training and will continue to remain vigilant about any and all changes to U.S. Coast Guard and International Maritime Organization requirements regarding training under the STCW Convention."The U.S. Coast Guard endorsed the ECDIS approval by stating the following on the approval letter received by MITAGS. "The Plan and Conduct a Passage and Determine Position: Thorough Knowledge of and Ability to Use ECDIS of Table A-II/1 of the STCW Code as amended including the amendments: And Determine Position and the Accuracy of the ...

Electronic Chart Display and Information System - ECDIS Electronic Navigation chart is a modern tool that can definitely save ships from possible sea accidents. Like cars and other land vehicles with GPS, marines should also have something that will guide them in the ocean. The Electronic Chart Display and Information System or ECDIS is a type of modern map for ships.ECDIS integrates radar and GPS, and uses the Automatic Identification System (AIS) which is used to broadcast their position to other ships by using radio signals, and displays an electronic map in real time with accurate readings of the weather and the local water depth.UN International Maritime Organization released a mandate to use ECDIS in 2012. International ships will be required to use electronic navigation charts to prevent accidents and unexpected incidents that may ruin the underwater world. There is no exact date released yet, but definitely, it will be implemented soon.Numerous sea accidents have ruined pristine marine lives. The most recent is the MV Rena Oil Spill killing thousands of sea birds and fishes. Coral reefs and other habitats of smaller fishes were also destroyed. The smell of the oil on the beach can also affect the health of ...

Notice clarifying which ECDIS training is acceptable for Irish Flagged vessels The director general of Maritime Safety Directorate, Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, Ireland, has published a notice that clarifies which generic and ship specific equipment ECDIS training is acceptable for Master and all Navigational Officers of Irish Flagged vessels, which have ECDIS as their primary means of navigation.For the ECDIS generic training, Ireland has recognised:NARAS Operational courses completed after 1st January 2005, ECDIS programmes based on the IMO Model ECDIS course (1.27) approved by the Irish Maritime Administration, ECDIS programmes based on the IMO Model ECDIS course (1.27) approved by the Maritime Administration of an EU Member State or by a country which is recognised by Ireland under STCW 78, as amended, Regulation I/10.The note further states that recognised ECDIS ship specific equipment trainings have to relate to the make and model of the equipment fitted on the ship on which a Master or Navigational Officer is currently serving.This makes it necessary for a Master or Navigation Officer to complete training for each different system he is expected to operate.The equipment specific training should concentrate on the functionality and effective use of the system onboard.Equipment specific ECDIS training ...

A step towards providing further value-added solutions and integrated bridge systems Norwegian electronic navigation company Maris (Maritime Information Systems) has formalised an agreement with Beijing Highlander Digital Record Technology (Highlander), which specialises in marine electronics technology.The global deal will see Maris offering technical support as the partners roll out a joint project to offer ECDIS and radar Systems. For the ECDIS part of the agreement, Maris will initially supply both software and hardware, with a view to Highlander developing its own hardware manufacturing in the near future, and Maris retaining its role as software supplier. For radars, Maris will initially supply complete systems, at the same time assisting in securing the relevant type approvals."We have already delivered more than 100 ECDIS systems as part of our collaboration to date, but the formalised agreement represents a commitment to long term cooperation from both sides," said Steinar Gundersen, Maris deputy chief executive (corporate). "Combining Maris expertise with a powerful manufacturing partner that matches our aspirations to deliver our proven technology to the industry is very timely, given the volume production that will be required to meet the approaching mandatory ECDIS regime."The partners said that the collaboration represented a first step towards providing ...