Finals Flashcards
provides real-time positional data, allowing for precise tracking of the vessel’s location on digital charts
GPS
displays real-time information on nearby vessels, including their names, positions, courses, speeds, and types
AIS
overlays realtime radar images onto digital charts, giving mariners a comprehensive view of their surroundings
RADAR
provides precise heading information, enabling accurate orientation of the vessel on the digital chart
Gyrocompass
provides real time information on the vessel’s speed through water (STW) or speed over ground (SOG), depending on the type of log used
Speed Log
Displays ENCs with real-time vessel positioning, allowing for various view options north-up, course- up, and head-up)
Chart Display and Management
Facilitates route creation and ongoing monitoring, complete with waypoints, distances, and planned speeds.
Route Planning and Monitoring
Alerts the crew to potential hazards, such as depth constraints, traffic, and navigational dangers, and provides warning when deviations occur.
Alarm and Warning System
Integrates data from GPS gyrocompass, and speed logs
Automatic Positioning and Navigation Data
Customizable settings safety and depth alarms provide a tailored navigation experience based on the vessel’s requirements
Safety Settings
Combined data inputs allow ECDIS to present a comprehensive view of the surrounding environment, displaying other vessels (via AIS), potential hazards, and changing conditions (like tidal currents)
Enhanced Situational Awareness
Integrating GPS data into ECDIS allows for precise positioning, essential for route monitoring and hazard avoidance
Accuracy and Precision in Positioning
When AIS and radar data are integrated, ECDIS can help identify nearby vessels and potential collision courses, especially useful in crowded or narrow waters
Effective Collision Avoidance
Integration with equipment like depth sensors and speed logs allows ECDIS to automatically generate alerts for depth hazards, speed adjustments, or course deviations
Automated Alerts for Faster Decision-Making
Integration is essential for reliable performance in challenging environments, such as in heavy weather, strong currents, or reduced visibility
Reliability During Adverse Conditions
RADAR provides real-time situational awareness by detecting and displaying nearby objects
Real-time Information
It can be relied upon even if GPS or GNSS signals are unavailable or degraded
Independent from GPS
It can detect both static and moving targets, ensuring safe passage, particularly in congested or narrow waterways
Obstacle Detection
Track and calculate critical information about other vessels such as Closest Point of Approach (CPA) and Time to PA (TCPA), which helps in collision avoidance
Automatic Tracking
Enhances the decision-making process in crowded waters and narrow channels by providing continuous updates on potential collision risks
Increased Safety
Provides valuable data about other vessels, including ship name, position, course, speed, type, size, and navigational status, all displayed directly on ECDIS
Detailed Vessel Information
AIS helps identify vessels that may not be easily visible on RADAR, especially in high-traffic areas, thus improving collision avoidance and route planning
Enhanced Tracking in Congested Areas
AlS allows the identification of vessels without needing to contact them over VHF, streamlining communication in busy areas
Reduction of Radio Communication
Interfacing ECDIS with equipment like the gyrocompass, speed log, and autopilot enables the system to provide accurate, real-time updates on heading, speed, and position, reducing human error and enhancing the overall safety of naviaation
Integrated Navigation Data
The integration of the echo sounder and environmental sensors into ECDIS can provide real-time dept and weather data, helping to avoid underwater hazards and make better navigational decisions.
Enhanced Decision-Making
Systems like GPS/GNSS provide continuous position updates to ECDIS, improving positional accuracy and reducing manual plotting errors
Automatic Updates
RADAR can be affected by sea clutter, rain, and other interferences that make distinguishing between real targets and noise difficult
Clutter & Interference
RADAR is subject to shadow zones caused by ship structures or environmental features, which could potentially hide smaller targets
Blind Spots
Operators must be well-trained to interpret RADAR images correctly, especially in distinguishing between false echoes and actual targets
Skill-Dependent Interpretation
In poor weather or rough seas, ARPA systems may lose targets or create false targets, leading to inaccurate data
Risk of False Targets
Slight delays in processing target information may occur, especially when there is a high number of tracked targets.
Latency
Mariners may become overly dependent on ARPA/MARPA to provide all the information needed without cross-referencing with visual observation or manual plotting
Over-Reliance on Automation
AlS is dependent on data input from vessels themselves, which could be inaccurate, outdated, or deliberately incorrect (AIS spoofing). This can pose risks when making navigational decisions
Inaccuracy & Spoofing
Not all vessels, especially smaller crafts and fishing boats, are required to carry AIS equipment, so these vessels may not appear on ECDIS AIS overlays
Lack of Small Vessel Data
Over-reliance on AIS for vessel identification without cross-checking with RADAR or visual observations can lead to complacency
Over-Reliance on AIS Data
If any of these interfaced systems fail (e.g., GPS loss or gyrocompass error), the accuracy of the ECDIS can be compromised. leading to potential navigational risks
System Failure Dependency
The more equipment is interfaced, the more complex the system becomes, increasing the chances of system overload software bugs, or human error in managing the settings
Complexity
If there are inconsistencies between data provided by different interfaced equipment (e.g., GPS position vs. RADAR position), it may cause confusion or errors in navigation
Data Discrepancies
