Tag: ECDIS

The 2020 sulphur cap will enter into force on 1st January 2020, meaning that a comprehensive approach to compliance is expected by all Port State Control (PSC) regimes. PSC inspections will be conducted according to the IMO PSC procedures, the 2019 guidelines for PSC under MARPOL Annex VI.

As part of the Sea Traffic Management STM Validation project Costa Crociere, part of Carnival Corporation, incorporated Costa and Aida ships to exchange information with other actors, using STM supported standardised formats and interfaces. After verifying operations with these first ships, the rest of the Carnival Corporation fleet has now been added.

In an era where we experience hologram concerts, when we use our smartphone while we are at the office to control the AC at home, when deep learning algorithms are used to apply smart supermarket shopping, no one could argue that technology is defining our lives in every sector.

Australia's Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) issued an investigation report on the grounding of the Australian Border Force cutter Roebuck Bay (ABFC Roebuck Bay) on Henry Reef, Queensland, in September 2017. The report identified an amendment on the passage plan which led the vessel to the reef and poor use of ECDIS.

Complying with the ISM Code is at least a prerequisite for a safe navigation. As part of its series on ISM Code-related accidents, SAFETY4SEA focuses on the grounding of the Maltese-registered tanker ‘Ovit’ in the Dover Strait, off UK, in September 2013. 

As emerging technologies are enhancing ship routing, navigation is getting faster and safer, while there are new possibilities for mega-container ships and fully autonomous ships to sail the high seas in the coming future. Ship routing has been steadily improving, as the shipping industry successfully mitigates several issues.

Wärtsilä revealed its new Navi-Planner voyage planning and optimisation solution during Nor-Shipping 2019. Developed by Transas, a Wärtsilä company, the new Navi-Planner utilizes the connected ECDIS. The new connectivity enables onboard voyage planning to be cut from 5 hours to 30min, and it also aims to provide better navigational safety standard for less experienced seafarers.

During the 2019 SAFETY4SEA London Forum, Capt. Paul Whyte, MBE AFNI, Shipping Technical Director (Navigation Services), London Offshore Consultants talked about the importance of situational awareness in shipping industry referring also worst aviation accidents and lessons that translate to the maritime industry.

As the North P&I Club informs, the UK Admiralty Court has recently rejected a shipowner’s claim for general average. It specifically concluded that the ship was unseaworthy because of an error in the passage plan. North Club noted that this case has showcased how important a proper berth-to-berth passage planning is, saying that it 'is much more than just putting courses on a chart or ECDIS.'

A year-long research project carried out by the UK and Danish marine investigation authorities has highlighted major concerns over the design and operation of ECDIS and significant shortfalls in the way in which seafarers are training to use the systems.