Electronic Chart Display and Information Systems (ECDIS) contribute significantly to navigational safety and efficiency. However, they are only an aid to navigation and much depends on the capability of the operator. This manual sets out essential skills and knowledge that are required to produce a safe passage plan and put it into practice.
The four key stages of appraisal, planning, execution and monitoring are supplemented with sections on analysis, pre-sailing checklists and common ECDIS problems and their solutions. The manual is illustrated throughout with full-colour ECDIS screenshots. Text boxes are used to highlight safety features and essential information.
SECTION 1 ECDIS Passage Planning
1 Introduction
1.1 ECDIS Requirements
1.2 Effective Planning on ECDIS
1.3 The Four Stages of Planning
1.4 Key to Symbols
2 Appraisal
Introduction
2.1 Preliminary Research
2.1.1 Destination
2.1.2 Weather and Environment
2.1.3 Chart Installation, Update and Review
2.1.4 Other Considerations
2.2 Feasibility Brief
3 Planning
Introduction
3.1 Display Configuration
3.2 Route Creation
3.2.1 New Route
3.2.2 Adding Waypoints
3.2.3 Adjusting Waypoints
3.2.4 Multiple Routes
3.2.5 Route Table
3.3 Supplementary Information
3.4 Manual Updates
3.5 Route Check
3.5.1 Configuration
3.5.2 Conducting the Route Check
3.5.3 Visual Check
3.6 Detailed Briefing
SECTION 2 ECDIS Watchkeeping
4 Introduction
5 Pre-sailing Configuration
5.1 Configuration of ECDIS Sensors
5.1.1 Antenna, Offsets and Ship Data
5.1.2 Checks and Settings
5.2 Configuration of Safety Parameters
5.2.1 Safety Contour
5.2.2 Navigational Hazards
5.2.3 Areas for which Special Conditions Exist
5.2.4 Detection Area
5.3 Display Parameters
5.3.1 Checks to Software and Chart Subscriptions in the Event of a Delayed Departure
5.3.2 System Units
5.3.3 Chart Loading Options
5.3.4 Display Category
5.3.5 Palette
5.3.6 Chart Options
5.4 Vessel Display Parameters
5.5 Route Display Parameters
5.5.1 Route Alarms
5.5.2 Other Display Options
5.6 Considerations
6 Execution
6.1 ECDIS Handover
6.2 Route Data
6.3 Pick Reports
6.4 Chart Legend
6.5 Environmental Data
6.6 Almanac Data
6.7 Mariners’ Navigational Objects
6.8 Symbols
6.9 Raster Chart Display System Mode (RCDS)
6.10 Course Alterations
6.11 Safety Considerations
7 Monitoring
7.1 Position Monitoring
7.1.1 Fixing Frequency
7.2 Managing the ETA
7.3 Radar and AIS Overlay
7.3.1 Radar Information
7.3.2 AIS Information
7.3.3 AIS Aids to Navigation
7.4 Anchor Watch Monitoring
7.4.1 Effective Planning
7.5 Diversion
7.6 ECDIS Additional Functionality
7.6.1 Search and Rescue (SAR)
7.6.2 MOB
7.7 Logbook
7.8 Sensor Monitoring
7.8.1 Gyro and Log Failure
7.8.2 GNSS Failure
7.9 ECDIS Failure
7.10 Monitoring Considerations
SECTION 3 ECDIS Problems and Solutions
8 Introduction
8.1 Effective Use of ECDIS
9 User Error
9.1 Planning Errors
9.1.1 Unofficial Chart Data
9.1.2 Chart Installation
9.1.3 ENC Access at Short Notice
9.1.4 RCDS Mode
9.1.5 Chart Updating
9.1.6 Chart Subscription Expiry
9.1.7 Chart Installation and Update Speeds
9.1.8 Transferring Information
9.1.9 Safety Contour
9.1.10 Isolated Dangers
9.1.11 Datums
9.1.12 Unofficial Tidal Data
9.1.13 Automatic Route Check
9.2 Execution and Monitoring Errors
9.2.1 Configuration Errors
9.3 Misinterpretation of Data
9.3.1 Chart Symbols
9.3.2 Pick Reports
9.3.3 Use of ECDIS at Night
9.3.4 Route Data
9.4 Planning while Monitoring on ECDIS
9.5 Cross-Checking the GNSS Position
9.6 Cause, Prevention and Mitigation
9.6.1 ECDIS Training
10 Hydrographic Issues
10.1 Chart Inaccuracies
10.1.1 Survey Errors
10.1.2 Source Data
10.1.3 Accuracy
10.1.4 Horizontal Datum
10.1.5 Temporary and Preliminary Notices to Mariners (Ts + Ps)
10.2 ENC Coverage
10.3 ENC Issues
10.3.1 Overlapping Data
10.3.2 Different Usage Bands
10.3.3 SCAMIN
10.3.4 Gaps in Data
10.3.5 ENC Text
10.3.6 National Language
11 System Issues
Introduction
11.1 Indication of Sensor Failure
11.2 GNSS Failure
11.3 ECDIS Voyage Recording
11.4 ECDIS Failure
11.4.1 Software and Hardware Failure
11.5 Factors Affecting ECDIS Performance
11.5.1 Over-reliance on ECDIS
11.5.2 Alarm Management
11.6 Cause, Prevention and Mitigation
ANNEXES
Annex A – ECDIS Configuration Pre-sailing Checklist
Annex B – Detection of Areas for which Special Conditions Exist
Annex C – Additional Areas
Annex D – Independent Mariner Selectors
Annex E – Abbreviations
Annex F – S-63 Error Codes and Explanations
Annex G – Objects Associated with the Question Mark Symbol
Annex H – Display Priority
Annex I – ECDIS Governance
Annex J – MSC.1/Circ.1503, 24th July 2015. Updated to: MSC.1/Circ.1503, 21st September 2016
References
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