FLEET OPERATIONS

PART A – NAVIGATION

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3.8 Ecdis procedures

ECDIS carriage is mandatory on a rolling timetable from July 2012. The legislation will be phased by ship type and size to apply eventually to almost all large merchant and passenger vessels.

Existing ships will have to fit ECDIS before the first survey following the implementation date.

There are two important exceptions. Existing cargo ships of fewer than 10,000 gross tons won’t require ECDIS. And some flag states may also exempt ships due to be taken out of service within two years of the implementation date.

The remaining implementation dates are for existing cargo ships >20,000 gt as of 1^st July 2016 and for existing cargo ships >10,000 gt as of 1^st July 2017.

This section is aimed at vessels using ECDIS as the primary means of navigation. Vessels fitted with ECDIS as a secondary means of navigation, using it as an aid to navigation to monitor the passage plan, in addition of paper charts, shall comply with this chapter.

The Record of Equipment for Cargo Ship Safety (Form E) attached to the Cargo Ship Safety Equipment Certificate will state if ECDIS is fitted and the method of back-up (either another ECDIS or paper charts). The ‘Record of Approved Cargo ship Safety Equipment’ will provide additional information of systems provided.

If the vessel is ECDIS complaint and has one ECDIS and paper charts, either is designated as the primary means of navigation and the other the back up. If the back-up is ECDIS it must be loaded with relevant official charts and the voyage plan before commencement of the voyage. Similarly, if paper charts is being used as the back-up, they must be readily available and the voyage plan must be indicated on the charts. The back-up arrangement must be ready for immediate use, particularly when in confined waters.  

This section is supplemented by:

• NAV 02(E) – ECDIS Passage Plan

• NAV 11 – Change of Watch Checklist.

• NAV 16 - ECDIS Type-Specific Familiarisation Checklist

• NAV 17 – ECDIS display requirements

• Admiralty Quick Guide to ENC Symbols

WARNING - The introduction of any new bridge equipment has potential for risk during the transitional phase whilst navigating officers and masters become properly accustomed and experienced in its use. Radar was an example of this and brought about a number of what were termed ‘radar assisted collisions’.

ECDIS, and the switch from conventional paper charts,is probably the most significant change ever experienced within the industry and will undoubtedly bring a period of increased risk.

As with all electronic equipment, ECDIS is an aid to navigation. It is not a substitute for maintaining a proper lookout or confirming the ship’s position by all available means.It is important that traditional navigation skills continue to be used.

There is a danger that some navigation officers will increasingly trust what is displayed on the screen without question and be lulled into a false sense of security.

Each vessel which operates with ECDIS as its primary means of navigation (i.e. paperless) must compile a risk assessment for this mode of operation with appropriate controls implemented. A generic risk assessment is included in the ShipSure risk assessment database which can be used as a template for the vessel specific risk assessment on board.