ECDIS

Question 1

Purpose / advantages of ECDIS

Answer 1

Reduced workload for OOW

Improved SA

Real time position information

Overylaying, Admiralty info and Input

Safety Alarming

Automatic log book recording

Quick and easy corrections (done by professionals)

Question 2

Disadvantages of ECDIS

Answer 2

Over reliance

Relies on integrity of feed inputs

Information overload

Alarm apathy

Potential ‘old’ survey information

High potential for user error

Question 3

What makes an ENC

Answer 3

It meets the IMO performance standards under MSC 232 and therefore meets the carriage requirements of SOLAS

Question 4

What Inputs must an ECDIS have?

Answer 4

GPS (position)
Heading
STW
SOG
COG
UPS

Additional:
AIS/RADAR overlay

Question 5

S52

Answer 5

Specifications for chart content and Display aspects of ECDIS
Current Version is S52 4.0

Question 6

S57

Answer 6

Transfer standards for Digital Hydrographic Data

Question 7

S61

Answer 7

Product specification for Rastar Navigational Charts

Question 8

S63

Answer 8

Digital Data Incription

Question 9

When can we run in RCDS

Answer 9

Rastar Chart Display System

No ENC available

Risk assessment has been carried out on the use of RCDS

An appropriate back up portfolio of Paper Charts is present

Question 10

SENC

Answer 10

System Electronic Navigational Chart

A ENC is considered a SENC, when it is APPROVED, and has undergone lossless transformation of the database

Only an SENC is allowed for a paperless Bridge

Question 11

What vessels are required to carry ECDIS?

Answer 11

Passenger ships ≥500gt
Cargo Ships ≥3000gt

Question 12

Safety Contour

Answer 12

User set contour line depicting possible unsafe water on the other side. The system will highlight in bold the next deep contour line from the users chosen depth.
ESSENTIAL for safe navigation and monitoring

Question 13

Safety Contour calculating

Answer 13

Draught + UKC allowance , swell, list etc + allowance for squat + Potentially HOT as well.

Colour between Safety and Shallow contour will be light blue

If it doesn’t match the set depth, it will automatically choose the next available depth contour

I.e. safety contour set to 7m. the ECDIS will choose a 10m contour

Question 14

Safety Depth

Answer 14

User Chosen depth, beneath which isolated sountings will be in bold. Usually set to match the safety contour

ESSENTIAL for safety of navigation and monitoring

Question 15

Safety frame

Answer 15

‘Guard zone’ similar to on a radar.
User set, commonly set to 1 NM either side in normal navigation, and 15 minutes ‘look ahead’ time

Question 16

When an ECDIS is being used to satisfy the carriage requirements of SOLAS, what must be present?

What makes ECDIS ‘Approved’

Answer 16

Type approval cert
Installed by approved association
This will be outlined in the CSSEP, form E

Mandatory feed inputs
Heading
Position
COG
SOG
STW
UPS

Appropriate backup for vessels operation

Up to date charts
Up to date software (S52)

Fully trained crew

Question 17

What is the AVCS?
What basis do we purchase charts

Answer 17

Admiralty Vector Chart Sevices
Single ENC units or Folios can be licensed for limited periods, 3,6,9,12 months,

Or by PAYS, Pay as you Sail
Where you get full coverage for passage planning, but only pay for the ENCs your vessel crosses

Question 18

Where can we get more guidance on ECDIS in RCDS mode?

Answer 18

MGN 285 - Electronic Charts - Use of risk assessment methodology when operating ECDIS in RCDS Mode

Question 19

Pros of Rastar Charts

Answer 19

User friendly as they are scans of original paper charts (familair)

Are approved as they are admiralty charts

Cheap to produce

Global coverage

Question 20

Negatives of Rastar Charts

Answer 20

Large file size

Not seamless, has boundaries

Not inherently intelligent (no alarms, layers, indications)

Question 21

Pros of Vector Charts

Answer 21

Can be interrogated

Alarms and Indications

Scalable with no distortion

Admiralty Information over layering

Own ship route monitoring

Apparently seamless joint between charts

Question 22

Negatives of Vector charts

Answer 22

Same Survey data as paper charts

Not all approved data

Unfamiliar Symbols to new users (specialist training required)

High chance of a false sense of security

Clutter in the wrong compilation scale

Expensive and timely to produce

Question 23

What is CATZOC

Answer 23

Category Zone of Confidence

Reliability indication of:
Position and depth

Question 24

Isolated danger symbol ECDIS

Answer 24

Will display isolated dangers less than the user set safety contour with this symbol

Question 25

List of MANDATORY ECDIS alarms

Answer 25

Crossing safety contour

Deviate from route

Position system failure

Approaching a critical point

Rastar Chart Navigational Mode (NON ENC area)

Different Geodetic Datum

Question 26

List of ECDIS Indications

Answer 26

Information overscale

Information underscale

Larger ENC available

Route plan over a safety contour

Route plan over a specified area

Position system failure (planning mode)

System test failure

Question 27

Ensuring Charts are up to date on ECDIS

Answer 27

ECDIS should display this data prominently on the screen

Or in the chart properties section, to the right side of the screen

We can also check our chart catalogue, and the charts not up to date will appear in orange

This interrogation of the properties can be type specific

Question 28

What methods can we use to update ECDIS charts?

Answer 28

Download file
USB
CD/DVD
Manually

Open file, only use the most recent update as they are cumulative
Read the ‘read me’ file
Perform update
Log

Question 29

UKHO is set to stop producing Paper Charts in what year?

Answer 29

2026

Question 30

Chart carriage requirements for yachts, as seen in LY3?

Answer 30

<3000gt:
Paper charts
1xECDIS + APC
2x ECDIS

> 3000gt
1x ECDIS + APC
2x ECDIS

Question 31

How do we check an ECDIS is up to date?

Answer 31

Open the IHO performance standards

Open Chart 1 on the ECDIS

Find the appropriate Lat and Long

Compare the symbols match between the performance standards and the Chart 1

Question 32

What Items are included in an ECDIS chart update?

Answer 32

Permits for charts
Vector Chart Display 1
Vector Chart Display 2
Admiralty Overlay (T’s & P’s)