3.8.22 Virus protection

Ship staff is strictly prohibited from using the master or any other diskettes containing programme files to re-install shipboard software applications without prior permission from the Company. If difficulties are found with computer programmes, these problems must first be highlighted to the Management Office. This will eliminate any problems that may be experienced when trying to reinstall the software.

Any device used to transfer ECDIS updates must be a dedicated unit for that sole purpose only and be free of any viruses that may corrupt the ECDIS software.

Ships personnel are strictly prohibited from installing software which has not been authorised by the Company onto a shipboard computer system. It is in breach of these instructions to install any other operating system in an ECDIS. Computers which are supplied to the vessel for use in the ship's communication, navigation, engine room, cargo monitoring and loading systems etc. are not to be used for any other purpose.

3.8.23 Ecdis Anomalies

1. A list of known ECDIS anomalies is included in MSC.1/Circ.1503. Due to the complex nature of ECDIS, and because it involves a mix of hardware, software and data, it is possible (but considered not likely) that further undetected anomalies may exist. The existence of anomalies highlights the importance of maintaining ECDIS software to ensure the correct display of up-to-date electronic navigational charts.To help understand the extent of these anomalies, navigating officers are encouraged to report any such anomalies, including specific details regarding fitted equipment, to their flag State authority.The IHO has produced an ECDIS Data Presentation and Performance Check dataset that allows mariners to check some important aspects of the operation of their ECDIS. This dataset contains two fictitious ENC cells which can be loaded into an ECDIS to assess operating performance. The test will check whether there are any display anomalies that need to be remedied or otherwise managed. If the check highlights a problem, guidance notes in the check dataset offer suggested courses of action.

Examples of anomalies include but not limited to:-

• failure to display a navigational feature correctly, such as:

• navigation areas recently recognized by IMO such as PSSA (Particularly Sensitive Sea Area) and ASL (Archipelagic Sea Lanes);

• lights with complex characteristics; and

• underwater features and isolated dangers;

• failure to detect objects by "route checking" in voyage planning mode;

• failure to alarm correctly; and

• failure to manage a number of alarms correctly.

All vessels fitted with ECDIS, regardless of Flag, must ensure that the performance tests are completed as detailed below in b). 

All instructions and the dataset can be found at –

http://www.iho.int/srv1/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=585:news&catid=166:1news-links&Itemid=287&lang=en

The following documents, available on the link above, should be used for guidance:

• ECDIS Check Covering Letter

• IHO ECDIS Performance Check Instructions

• ECDIS Check Feedback Form

The ECDIS check covering letter from the manufacturer will contain all the relevant information and the procedures to enable the officers on board to familiarise themselves with the changes.

Note

Throughout this document the abbreviation ‘GPS’ has been used to represent Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) input to ECDIS. However, other GNSS such as GLONASS, Compass and Galileo are being developed and may, in the future, be used as a viable alternative to GPS.