ECDIS Flashcards
Who is ECDIS mandatory for?
Passenger vessels over 500GT
Cargo Ships over 3000GT
Hence it is not mandatory on yachts, though most will carry it
What will be connected to the Ecdis
Minimum:
GPS x 2
Gyro
Water log
Power and UPS
Extra:
Radar overlay
AIS overlay
When will UKHO cease production of paper charts, why?
2026, potentially extended to 2030
More users are using digital products
When an ECDIS is being used to satisfy the carriage requirements of SOLAS, what must be present?
- Copy of type approval certificate, and standards applied
- Connection to emergency source of electrical power, gyro compass, speed log and GPS receiver
- Be maintained and up to date with the latest IHO standards (International Hydrographic Organisation)
- A back up arrangement
- When paper charts are the backup, these must also be up to date
What is the S-52 Standard?
What is the S-57 Standard?
What is the S-58 Standard
52 - Specifications for chart content and display aspects of ECDIS
57 - IHO Transfer standard for Digital Hydrographic data
58 - ENC validation checks
How to check the ECDIS software is up to date
All Ecdis must have a function to display the edition number of the IHO presentation library. latest edition is 4.0
Opening fictitious ECDIS Chart 1 dataset will display the latest symbols added in this update, they will only be visable if the software is up to date
Chart 1 can be downloaded from the IHO website
Where do we get digital charts from? in what form
AVCS 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
What is a SENC
A System Electronic Navigation Chart.
Once the ENC has been loaded into the ECDIS manufacturers proprietary format.
How to update ENCs on an ECDIS
A new set of ENC permits will be provided by your admiralty chart agent whenever an ENC has been added or removed from your license
The Admiralty Chart Agent will supply you with weekly AVCS update data
Alternatively you can download updates on the ECDIS directly
New AVCS DVDs are issued every week, and the data is CUMULATIVE. So only the latest one is needed
AVCS DVDs and downloads contain README file which contains important safety information
What do you need to back up an ecdis for a Yacht less than 3000GT?
Either:
1X paper Chart Folio
1X ECDIS and 1X Paper chart Folio
2X ECDIS units, independant of each other, connected to an independant power supply and GNSS Antenna
When in RCDS mode, a up to date folio of paper charts covering the RNC area
Where can we get more guidance on ECDIS in RCDS mode?
MGN 285 - Electronic Charts - Use of risk assessment methodology when operating ECDIS in RCDS Mode
What do vessels over 3000GT require?
1 ECDIS and 1 Paper Chart Folio
or
2 independant ECDIS units. with independant power supply and GNSS inputs
What do we need to do before operating ECDIS in RCDS Mode
Risk assess the dangers of using the mode
Assess the areas to determine if there is suitable ENC coverage, or if a folio of paper charts are needed as back up
RCDS mode may be used as the primary means of navigation where no ENCs exist
Symbol on an ENC:
Purple Circle with a white cross in it
Isolated danger, less depth than user selected safety contour, or of unkown depth
wreck, rock or obstruction, not soundings
Symbol on an ENC:
Depth sounding with a grey circle around it
Sounding of low accuracy
On a paper chart
Sounding in italics vs sounding upright
Italics = regular sounding
upright font = unreliable, may also show ED, SD (existance doubtful)
Symbol on an ENC:
a question mark
Ecdis does not have the info to display the character
Means ECDIS is not up to date, old S-52 data
Symbol on an ENC:
Arrow with half tails on the end
Non-tidal current direction
Symbol on an ENC:
Arrows with full tails or no tail
Full tail = Spring tide Flood
No tail = Spring tide Ebb
Where to look up paper or ENC symbols?
Paper= NP 5011 (Book)
ENC = NP 5012
US Chart 1, free PDF, contains both paper and ENC
Limitations of an ECDIS?
Electronic, requires power, failable, vulnerable
Requires training to use reliably
over-reliance
small screen size
incorrect/faliure of, inputs may not be detected by OOW, eg. GPS
Scamin, info Hidden, or screen clutter
incorrect parameters for safety contour/ XTE
false confidence in precision
Advantages of an ECDIS
OOW workload reduced, plotting fix’s, updates etc
Better situational awareness, more time to look out the window
Better appreciation of ris of collision
Real time position display
default safety depth?
How to calculate the correct safety depth
30m
Safety depth = draught + UKC (including squat and safety margin)
What is the safety contour
A specific depth contour set during passage planning
Demarks safe and shallow water with a bold isoline, and gives and alarm if the ship, or guard zone crosses it
