Published on 21/04/2017
Most mariners would agree that Electronic Chart Display and Information Systems (ECDIS) have revolutionised navigation at sea and both the commercial and safety benefits of installing the technology are now widely known within the shipping industry. When it comes to the supply, upkeep and readiness of maritime industry navigational charts, ECDIS is unbeaten and what was once a time-consuming and tedious process, is now an automated and pain-free job for a ships crew.
ECDIS: the key to first rate safety and outstanding productivity on ships
The transition to ECDIS has not been without its challenges for some, but now, thanks to advances in technology and changes to ECDIS regulation, the latest systems are offering first rate safety and outstanding productivity for ships and their crew across the globe. If you’re yet to install ECDIS, we’re about to give you all the information you need to make an informed buying decision. In our 2-part blog, we take a look at the hassle-free management of navigational charts using ECDIS and further key benefits offered by the systems. Next week, in part-2, we identify the main challenges encountered with early systems and explain how the latest ECDIS models have addressed these.
Goodbye manual chart corrections! Up to date global folios thanks to quick and easy updates
So, what are the main pros of ECDIS? Firstly, manual chart corrections which used to be the bane of all Navigation Officers are no more. Keeping a global chart folio fully updated used to take a great level of skill and experience and Temporary and Preliminary (T&P) Notices supplied without tracings added to the workload. In contrast, ECDIS from leading suppliers allow quick and easy updates, making the upkeep of navigational charts a breeze!
No more chart fines thanks to iECDIS
Take iECDIS from maritime technology experts, Martek Marine. iECDIS takes care of the supply of charts for you and ensures the necessary ones are readily available for your next voyage. It’s possible to pre-load an entire database onto the system, so you only need to unlock new charts by DVD, email, or online when required. This is perfect for those occasions when you require new passage plans on short notice and not only eliminates the time-consuming task of manually making chart corrections, but also means that charts are never out of date, thus offering optimum navigational safety.
Quick and accurate: ECDIS enables stress-free and safer navigation
Perhaps the most obvious benefit to ECDIS is that it’s quick and accurate. Using ECDIS as the primary source of navigation, a Navigating Officer can plan the voyage much quicker in comparison to using paper charts alone. Once on route, the system supplies highly accurate vessel positioning data and real-time position plotting, as well as route and waypoint management. Exporting report data such as the average voyage speed, can be done within a matter of seconds too.
Accurate and fail-safe vessel positioning…in real-time!
Being able to view the exact position of a vessel in real time is a further great advantage to ECDIS. Partnering with a vessel’s independent GPS transceivers, using Radar Overlay and Echo Referencing, ARPA Echo Referencing, as well as Radar Range and Bearings, means vessel positioning is accurate and fail-safe, even when GPS is down.
An indispensable tool on the bridge: a safer voyage and less paperwork
Highly sophisticated anti-grounding and anti-collision alarms and settings make ECDIS an indispensable safety tool on the bridge too, particularly when combined with weather, forecast and ice data, also available in the system. In addition, electronic log keeping reduces paperwork and ensures safekeeping of the data.
Ensuring ECDIS compliance: don’t miss the August 2017 deadline
For those yet to take the ECDIS plunge, it’s important to know that the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and the IMO’s sweeping changes to ECDIS Standards, mean that ship owners must have ECDIS installed before August 2017. In the event of non-compliance, the implications are serious. A flag state inspection could lead to heavy fines, or even detention.
Want ECDIS installed in just 2 days?
The great news is that now is a great time to buy ECDIS. Highly sophisticated technology is readily available and reputable ECDIS suppliers will guarantee to get you up and running before the deadline. Market leading iECDIS from Martek Marine can be installed in just 2 days! Contact us today to get the ball rolling.
Coming next week…
Don’t forget to catch the final instalment of our 2-part blog next week, where we discuss some of the main challenges encountered with early ECDIS systems and how the latest ECDIS models have addressed these. If that’s not soon enough for you, why not take a look at our range of ECDIS online today? Give us a call if you’re after some advice.