ECDIS

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Last update: October 2020
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Overview

Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS) means a navigation information system which, with adequate back-up arrangements, can be accepted as complying with the up-to-date chart required by regulation V/19 & V/27 of the 1974 SOLAS Convention, by displaying selected information from a system electronic navigational chart (SENC) with positional information from navigation sensors to assist the mariner in route planning and route monitoring, and by displaying additional navigation-related information if required.

Performance standards, testing standard & carriage requirement

Carriage requirement

  • The mandatory carriage of ECDIS, as required by SOLAS regulation V/19.2.10, was subject to a staged entry into force between 1 July 2012 and 1 July 2018.
  • As per SOLAS regulations V/18 and V/19, for a ship to use ECDIS to meet the chart carriage requirements of SOLAS, the ECDIS equipment must conform to the relevant IMO performance standards.
  • In accordance with SOLAS regulation V/19.2.1.4, ships must carry all nautical charts necessary for the intended voyage.

Performance standards

  • ECDIS must comply with MSC.232(82) if installed on or after 1 January 2009
  • ECDIS must comply with A.817(19) as amended by resolutions MSC.64(67) and MSC.86(70) if installed on or after 1 January 1996 but before 1 January 2009

Testing standard

  • IEC 61174 specifies the performance requirements, methods of testing and required test results of ECDIS conforming to MSC.232(82)

IHO standards

Electronic charts in ECDIS

ENCs

Main article: Electronic Navigational Chart (ENC).

Commonly referred to as ‘vector charts’, Electronic Navigational Charts (ENCs) are layered with digital information enabling the mariner to electronically interrogate features on the chart. ENCs enable the ECDIS to set different types of navigational alarms to act as a warning to the mariner. ENC must conform to IHO (International Hydrographic Office) S-57 standards. The ENCs must be supplied by or on the authority of a Government or supplied/authorised by a National Hydrographic Office.

RNCs

Raster Navigational Charts (RNC) are scanned geo-referenced images of official paper charts. RNCs must conform to IHO product specifications S-61. They must be officially authorised and produced by or under the authority of a National Hydrographic Office

Chart & Software Updates

ECDIS updates normally coincide with weekly paper chart corrections. Updates can be sent via email and transferred onto CD or USB flash drive for updating the ECDIS. Software and large ENC/RNC updates are generally received on a data CD and delivered to the ship, particularly where files are too large or expensive to send via email. An ECDIS that is not updated correctly and on a regular basis may not meet the chart carriage requirements as set out in SOLAS regulation V/19.2.1.4.

System

Components

  • Computer
  • Display / Monitor
  • Keyboard / Trackball
  • Control Panel
  • CD/DVD Drive
  • Alarm Panel

Mandatory interfaces

Optional interfaces

  • AIS
  • Radar (Radar Image Overlay RIO)
  • VDR
  • BAM
  • Echo sounder
  • Autopilot
  • Met instruments

Training requirements

IMO Model Course 1.27 (Generic Training)

Requirement under STCW revised code (Manila Amendments) for all Masters and Nav Officers

  • legal background and requirements of ECDIS
  • theoretical background information, including knowing limitations of ECDIS
  • types of electronic charts (ENC and RNC)
  • functions and settings, including familiarity of different alarms and sensors
  • types of display and orientation
  • operating basic navigational functions
  • understanding route planning functions with particular emphasis on route checking and monitoring
  • updates and maintenance of ECDIS software and electronic charts
  • knowing what back-up systems are required and necessary updates/maintenance
  • knowing the risks – overreliance on ECDIS

Familiarisation

  • Requirement under ISM Code, section 6, where ECDIS is used a primary means of navigation
  • Officers who have undergone ECDIS generic training may not be familiar or be able to fully operate confidently an ECDIS model that they have never used or trained on before
  • MCA says type/model specific training must be delivered by ‘the manufacturer; the manufacturer’s approved agent or a trainer who has attended such a programme

International Safety Management (ISM)

Requires companies to ensure each ship has properly maintained equipment with qualified and certificated seafarers in accordance with national and international legislative requirements. This includes SOLAS and STCW.

Detailed requirements

MSC.232(82)

Defintions
Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS) means a navigation information system which with adequate back-up arrangements can be accepted as complying with the up-to-date chart required by regulations V/19 and V/27 of the 1974 SOLAS Convention, as amended, by displaying selected information from a system electronic navigational chart (SENC) with positional information from navigation sensors to assist the mariner in route planning and route monitoring, and if required display

additional navigation-related information

Electronic Navigational Chart (ENC) means the database, standardized as to content, structure and format, issued for use with ECDIS by or on the authority of a Government, authorized Hydrographic Office or other relevant government institution, and conform to IHO standards. The ENC contains all the chart information necessary for safe navigation and may contain supplementary information in addition to that contained in the paper chart (e.g. sailing directions) which may be considered necessary for safe navigation
System Electronic Navigational Chart (SENC) means a database, in the manufacturer's internal ECDIS format, resulting from the lossless transformation of the entire ENC contents and its updates. It is this database that is accessed by ECDIS for the display generation and other navigational functions, and is equivalent to an up-to-date paper chart. The SENC may also contain information added by the mariner and information from other sources
Standard Display is the display mode intended to be used as a minimum during route planning and route monitoring. The chart content is listed in appendix 2
Display Base means the chart content as listed in appendix 2 and which cannot be removed from the display. It is not intended to be sufficient for safe navigation
Module A - Database
4 Provision and updating of chart information 4.1 The chart information to be used in ECDIS should be the latest edition, as corrected by official updates, of that issued by or on the authority of a Government, government-authorized Hydrographic Office or other relevant government institution, and conform to IHO standards (IHO Special Publication S-52 and S-57)
4.2 The contents of the SENC should be adequate and up-to-date for the intended voyage to comply with regulation V/27 of the 1974 SOLAS Convention as amended
4.3 It should not be possible to alter the contents of the ENC or SENC information transformed from the ENC
4.4 Updates should be stored separately from the ENC
4.5 ECDIS should be capable of accepting official updates to the ENC data provided in conformity with IHO standards. These updates should be automatically applied to the SENC. By whatever means updates are received, the implementation procedure should not interfere with the display in use
4.6 ECDIS should also be capable of accepting updates to the ENC data entered manually with simple means for verification prior to the final acceptance of the data. They should be distinguishable on the display from ENC information and its official updates and not affect display legibility
4.7 ECDIS should keep and display on demand a record of updates including time of application to the SENC. This record should include updates for each ENC until it is superseded by a new edition
4.8 ECDIS should allow the mariner to display updates in order to review their contents and to ascertain that they have been included in the SENC
4.9 ECDIS should be capable of accepting both non-encrypted ENCs and ENCs encrypted in accordance with the IHO Data Protection Scheme
Module B - Operational and functional requirements
5 Display of SENC information 5.1 ECDIS should be capable of displaying all SENC information. An ECDIS should be capable of accepting and converting an ENC and its updates into a SENC. The ECDIS may also be capable of accepting a SENC resulting from conversion of ENC to SENC ashore, in accordance with IHO TR 3.11. This method of ENC supply is known as SENC delivery.
5.2 SENC information available for display during route planning and route monitoring should be subdivided into the following three categories, Display Base, Standard Display and All Other Information (see appendix 2).
5.3 ECDIS should present the Standard Display at any time by a single operator action.
5.4 When an ECDIS is switched on following a switch off or power failure, it should return to the most recent manually selected settings for display.
5.5 It should be easy to add or remove information from the ECDIS display. It should not be possible to remove information contained in the Display Base.
5.6 For any operator identified geographical position (e.g. by cursor picking) ECDIS should display on demand the information about the chart objects associated with such a position.
5.7 It should be possible to change the display scale by appropriate steps e.g. by means of either chart scale values or ranges in nautical miles.
5.8 It should be possible for the mariner to select a safety contour from the depth contours provided by the SENC. ECDIS should emphasize the safety contour over other contours on the display, however:
.1 if the mariner does not specify a safety contour, this should default to 30m. If the safety contour specified by the mariner or the default 30 m contour is not in the displayed SENC, the safety contour shown should default to the next deeper contour;
.2 if the safety contour in use becomes unavailable due to a change in source data,the safety contour should default to the next deeper contour; and
.3 in each of the above cases, an indication should be provided.
5.9 It should be possible for the mariner to select a safety depth. ECDIS should emphasize soundings equal to or less than the safety depth whenever spot soundings are selected for display.
5.10 The ENC and all updates to it should be displayed without any degradation of their information content.
5.11 ECDIS should provide a means to ensure that the ENC and all updates to it have been correctly loaded into the SENC.
5.12 The ENC data and updates to it should be clearly distinguishable from other displayed information, including those listed in appendix 3.
6 Scale 6.1 ECDIS should provide an indication if:
.1 the information is displayed at a larger scale than that contained in the ENC; or
.2 own ships position is covered by an ENC at a larger scale than that provided by
the display.
7 Display of other navigational information 7.1 Radar information and/or AIS information may be transferred from systems compliant with the relevant standards of the Organization. Other navigational information may be added to the ECDIS display. However, it should not degrade the displayed SENC information and it should be clearly distinguishable from the SENC information
7.2 It should be possible to remove the radar information, AIS information and other navigational information by single operator action
7.3 ECDIS and added navigational information should use a common reference system. If this is not the case, an indication should be provided
7.4 Radar:
7.4.1 Transferred radar information may contain a radar image and/or tracked target information
7.4.2 If the radar image is added to the ECDIS display, the chart and the radar image should match in scale, projection and in orientation
7.4.3 The radar image and the position from the position sensor should both be adjusted automatically for antenna offset from the conning position
8 Display mode and generation of the neighbouring area 8.1 It should always be possible to display the SENC information in a ìnorth-upî orientation. Other orientations are permitted. When such orientations are displayed, the orientation should be altered in steps large enough to avoid unstable display of the chart information.
8.2 ECDIS should provide for true motion mode. Other modes are permitted.
8.3 When true motion mode is in use, reset and generation of the chart display of the neighbouring area should take place automatically at own ship's distance from the edge of the display as determined by the mariner.
8.4 It should be possible to manually change the displayed chart area and the position of own ship relative to the edge of the display.
8.5 If the area covered by the ECDIS display includes waters for which no ENC at a scale appropriate for navigation is available, the areas representing those waters should carry an indication (see appendix 5) to the mariner to refer to the paper chart or to the RCDS mode of operation (see appendix 7).
9 Colours and symbols 9.1 IHO recommended colours and symbols should be used to represent SENC information (Special Publication S-52, Appendix 2)
9.2 The colours and symbols other than those mentioned in 9.1 should comply with the applicable requirements contained in the IMO standards for navigational symbols
9.3 SENC information displayed at the scale specified in the ENC should use the specified size of symbols, figures and letters
9.4 ECDIS should allow the mariner to select whether own ship is displayed in true scale or as a symbol
10 Display requirements 10.1 ECDIS should be capable of displaying information for:
.1 route planning and supplementary navigation tasks; and
.2 route monitoring.
10.2 The effective size of the chart presentation for route monitoring should be at least 270 mm x 270 mm
10.3 The display should be capable of meeting colour and resolution recommendations of IHO
10.4 The method of presentation should ensure that the displayed information is clearly visible to more than one observer in the conditions of light normally experienced on the bridge of the ship by day and by night
10.5 If information categories included in the Standard Display (See appendix 2) are removed to customize the display, this should be permanently indicated. Identification of categories which are removed from the Standard Display should be shown on demand
11 Route planning, monitoring and voyage recording 11.1 It should be possible to carry out route planning and route monitoring in a simple and reliable manner
11.2 The largest scale data available in the SENC for the area given should always be used by the ECDIS for all alarms or indications of crossing the ship's safety contour and of entering a prohibited area, and for alarms and indications according to appendix 5
11.3 Route Planning 11.3.1 It should be possible to carry out route planning including both straight and curved segments
11.3.2 It should be possible to adjust a planned route alphanumerically and graphically including:
.1 adding waypoints to a route;
.2 deleting waypoints from a route; and
.3 changing the position of a waypoint.
11.3.3 It should be possible to plan one or more alternative routes in addition to the selected route. The selected route should be clearly distinguishable from the other routes
11.3.4 An indication is required if the mariner plans a route across an own ship's safety contour
11.3.5 An indication should be given if the mariner plans a route closer than a user-specified distance from the boundary of a prohibited area or a geographic area for which special conditions exist (see appendix 4).An indication should also be given if the mariner plans a route closer than a user-specified distance from a point object, such as a fixed or floating aid to navigation or isolated danger
11.3.6 It should be possible for the mariner to specify a cross track limit of deviation from the planned route at which an automatic off-track alarm should be activated
11.4 Route Monitoring 11.4.1 For route monitoring the selected route and own ship's position should appear whenever the display covers that area
11.4.2 It should be possible to display a sea area that does not have the ship on the display (e.g. for look ahead, route planning), while route monitoring. If this is done on the display used for route monitoring, the automatic route monitoring functions (e.g. updating ship's position, and providing alarms and indications) should be continuous. It should be possible to return to the route monitoring display covering own ship's position immediately by single operator action
11.4.3 ECDIS should give an alarm if, within a specified time set by the mariner, own ship will cross the safety contour
11.4.4 ECDIS should give an alarm or indication, as selected by the mariner, if, within a specified time set by the mariner, own ship will cross the boundary of a prohibited area or of a geographical area for which special conditions exist (see appendix 4)
11.4.5 An alarm should be given when the specified cross track limit for deviation from the planned route is exceeded
11.4.6 An indication should be given to the mariner if, continuing on its present course and speed, over a specified time or distance set by the mariner, own ship will pass closer than a user-specified distance from a danger (e.g. obstruction, wreck, rock) that is shallower than the mariner's safety contour or an aid to navigation
11.4.7 The ship's position should be derived from a continuous positioning system of an accuracy consistent with the requirements of safe navigation. Whenever possible, a second independent positioning source, preferably of a different type, should be provided. In such cases ECDIS should be capable of identifying discrepancies between the two sources
11.4.8 ECDIS should provide an alarm when the input from position, heading or speed sources is lost. ECDIS should also repeat, but only as an indication, any alarm or indication passed to it from position, heading or speed sources
11.4.9 An alarm should be given by ECDIS when the ship reaches a specified time or distance, set by the mariner, in advance of a critical point on the planned route
11.4.10 The positioning system and the SENC should be on the same geodetic datum. ECDIS should give an alarm if this is not the case
11.4.11 It should be possible to display alternative routes in addition to the selected route. The selected route should be clearly distinguishable from the other routes. During the voyage, it should be possible for the mariner to modify the selected sailing route or change to an alternative route
11.4.12 It should be possible to display:
.1 time-labels along a ship's track manually on demand and automatically at intervals selected between 1 and 120 minutes; and
.2 an adequate number of: points, free movable electronic bearing lines, variable and fixed range markers and other symbols required for navigation purposes and specified in appendix 3.
11.4.13 It should be possible to enter the geographical co-ordinates of any position and then display that position on demand. Also, it should be possible to select any point (features, symbol or position) on the display and read its geographical co-ordinates on demand
11.4.14 It should be possible to adjust the displayed geographic position of the ship manually. This manual adjustment should be noted alpha-numerically on the screen, maintained until altered by the mariner and automatically recorded
11.15.1 ECDIS should provide the capability to enter and plot manually obtained bearing and distance lines of position (LOP), and calculate the resulting position of own ship. It should be possible to use the resulting position as an origin for dead-reckoning
11.15.2 ECDIS should indicate discrepancies between the positions obtained by continuous positioning systems and positions obtained by manual observations
11.5 Voyage recording 11.5.1 ECDIS should store and be able to reproduce certain minimum elements required to reconstruct the navigation and verify the official database used during the previous 12 hours. The following data should be recorded at one minute intervals:
.1 to ensure a record of own ship's past track: time, position, heading, and speed; and
.2 to ensure a record of official data used: ENC source, edition, date, cell and update history.
11.5.2 In addition, ECDIS should record the complete track for the entire voyage, with time marks at intervals not exceeding 4 hours.
11.5.3 It should not be possible to manipulate or change the recorded information.
11.5.4 ECDIS should have a capability to preserve the record of the previous 12 hours and of the voyage track.
12 Calculations and accruacy 12.1 The accuracy of all calculations performed by ECDIS should be independent of the characteristics of the output device and should be consistent with the SENC accuracy
12.2 Bearings and distances drawn on the display or those measured between features already drawn on the display should have accuracy no less than that afforded by the resolution of the display
12.3 The system should be capable of performing and presenting the results of at least the following calculations:
.1 true distance and azimuth between two geographical positions;
.2 geographic position from known position and distance/azimuth; and
.3 geodetic calculations such as spheroidal distance, rhumb line, and great circle.
13 Performance tests, malfunctions alarms and indications 13.1 ECDIS should be provided with means for either automatically or manually carrying out on-board tests of major functions. In case of a failure, the test should display information to indicate which module is at fault
13.2 ECDIS should provide a suitable alarm or indication of system malfunction
14 Back-up arrangements 14 Adequate back-up arrangements should be provided to ensure safe navigation in case of an ECDIS failure; see appendix 6.
.1 Facilities enabling a safe take-over of the ECDIS functions should be provided in order to ensure that an ECDIS failure does not develop into a critical situation.
.2 A back-up arrangement should provide means of safe navigation for the remaining part of a voyage in the case of an ECDIS failure
Module C - Interfacing and integration
15 Connections with other equipment (IEC 61162) 15.1 ECDIS should not degrade the performance of any equipment providing sensor inputs. Nor should the connection of optional equipment degrade the performance of ECDIS below this standard
15.2 ECDIS should be connected to the ship's position fixing system, to the gyro compass and to the speed and distance measuring device. For ships not fitted with a gyro compass, ECDIS should be connected to a marine transmitting heading device
15.3 ECDIS may provide a means to supply SENC information to external equipment
16 Power supply 16.1 It should be possible to operate ECDIS and all equipment necessary for its normal functioning when supplied by an emergency source of electrical power in accordance with the appropriate requirements of chapter II-1 of the 1974 SOLAS Convention, as amended
16.2 Changing from one source of power supply to another or any interruption of the supply for a period of up to 45 seconds should not require the equipment to be manually re-initialized
Appendix 2 - SENC information available for display during route planning and route monitoring
1. Display base to be permanently shown on the ECDIS display, consisting of: .1 coastline (high water);

.2 own ship's safety contour;
.3 isolated underwater dangers of depths less than the safety contour which lie within the safe waters defined by the safety contour;
.4 isolated dangers which lie within the safe water defined by the safety contour, such as fixed structures, overhead wires, etc.;
.5 scale, range and north arrow;
.6 units of depth and height; and
.7 display mode.

2. Standard display consisting of: .1 display base

.2 drying line
.3 buoys, beacons, other aids to navigation and fixed structures
.4 boundaries of fairways, channels, etc.
.5 visual and radar conspicuous features
.6 prohibited and restricted areas
.7 chart scale boundaries
.8 indication of cautionary notes
.9 shipsí routeing systems and ferry routes
.10 archipelagic sea lanes.

3. All other information, to be displayed individually on demand, for example: .1 spot soundings

.2 submarine cables and pipelines
.3 details of all isolated dangers
.4 details of aids to navigation
.5 contents of cautionary notes
.6 ENC edition date
.7 most recent chart update number
.8 magnetic variation
.9 graticule
.10 place names.

ECDIS Alarms and Indications

MSC.232(82)

Requirement Information
Alarm Crossing safety contour
Alarm or indication Area with special conditions:
Traffic separation zone
Inshore traffic zone
Restricted area
Caution area
Offshore production area
Areas to be avoided
User defined areas to be avoided
Military practise area
Seaplane landing area
Submarine transit lane
Anchorage area
Marine farm/aquaculture
PSSA (Particularly Sensitive Sea Area)
Alarm Deviation from route
Alarm Positioning system failure
Alarm Approach to critical point
Alarm Different geodetic datum
Alarm or indication Malfunction of ECDIS
Indication Default saftey contour
Indication Information overscale
Indication Larger ENC scale available
Indication Different reference system
Indication No ENC available
Indication Customized display
Indication Route planning across saftey contour
Indication Route planning cross specified area
Indication Crossing a danger in route monitoring mode
Indication System test failure

RCDS mode of operation

Appendix 7 of MSC.232(82) provides requirements for Raster Chart Display System (RCDS) mode of operation.

See also

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