Tag: IHO

IHO launches ENC datasets for ECDIS performance check

IMarEST has obtained observer status at the International Hydrographic Organisation

Update Report on IHO Action concerning ECDIS Software Issues The International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) issued a safety notice about reliable operation of ECDIS. It states about one-third of the various type-approved ECDIS for which it has received reports appear to function as expected.Another third display all significant underwater features, but the isolated danger symbol required to be shown under certain conditions is not always used. Most of the remaining third failed to display some significant underwater features in the "Standard" display mode. Under various conditions, mostly related to safety depth settings and other variable factors, these underwater features can include some types of wrecks and other obstructions.All of these features are displayed in the "Full display" or "All display" mode. One manufacturer, though, Japan Radio Co. Ltd. (JRC) confirmed that earlier versions of its ECDIS will not display some types of wrecks and underwater obstructions in any display mode.JRC has issued a notice alerting its customers and will make an upgrade package available shortly. Mariners using ECDIS should check their ECDIS equipment using the IHO ENC Data Presentation and Performance Check. Mariners should contact the ECDIS manufacturer if the equipment does not operate properly and should exercise appropriate caution until ...

Anomalies or unexpected behaviour in systems The International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) has issued a set of data comprising two fictitious Electronic Navigational Chart (ENC) cells and four sets of tests to check for a number of anomalies or unexpected behaviour in systems and to allow operators to see whether their ECDIS software is up to date and conforms to the latest ECDIS standards for displaying chart data. (Seaways January 2012).The IHO have advised that, as of end of January 2012, almost 400 reports of checks (covering 15 of the 25 or so manufacturers of type-certified ECDIS) have been received by IHO from sea. Despite this relatively low number of responses, all those reports received by the IHO indicated some level of unexpected behaviour was present on all the systems that were checked. However, at the same time, the nature of the unexpected behaviour was not exactly the same in every manufacturer's system.While the anomalies range in their potential seriousness for safety of navigation, there were concerns raised over the display of underwater features and isolated dangers; the display of complex lights as intended; the display of 'submerged wreck - dangerous' as intended by the standards; the display of 'underwater hazard ...