Equipment specific ECDIS training

Status indicators and alarms

Status indicators and alarms

Introduction

The basic intention behind ECDIS was to create a

system with an automatic anti-grounding
warning function.
Modern ECDIS systems are capable of
supporting the mariner in a number of ways,
also giving a number of different alarms.
If your alarm and warning settings are not
managed well, they might be perceived as too
frequent and too annoying.
In order to use the full benefits of an automatic
alarm generation, you have to set appropriate
values within the system.
Status indicators and alarms

Training Chapter Objective

To get knowledge and understanding of the

essential functionality and meaning of indicators
and alarms used in ECDIS:
• The meaning of Indicators and alarms

• Differences between indicators and alarms

• How indicators and alarms are displayed

• How to manage alarms settings

Status indicators and alarms

Alarm principles

An ECDIS is basically a computer, connected to sensors and other computers. It may

therefore conduct several “computer checks” very accurately.
• Self-test of own computer
• Software and hardware parts communicate properly

• Function of other connected sensors and computers

• Sensors sends the expected messages at expected intervals

• Other computers in the network communicate properly and

exchange the expected information

• User behavior
• How the ECDIS is used and how information is displayed
Status indicators and alarms

Alarm principles

Several navigation alarms may be triggered by the ECDIS, but these will need data from multiple
sources.
• From basic settings - Ship main dimensions, speed, stopping and turning characteristics
• From the user - current draught, intended navigational activity and allowed navigational
activity
• Data from the best available ENC charts
• Target data from AIS and ARPA

This means that the most important safety

feature of an ECDIS is still based on
your own input!
Status indicators and alarms

Navigational alarms

Having received all neccesary data, the ECDIS may automatically trigger navigational
warnings and alarms in the following areas:
• Safety frame

• Route checking

• Route monitoring

• Collision warnings
Status indicators and alarms

Safety frame

The safety frame is comparing ship’s position, course and speed with the best available
ENC chart data. If the safety frame finds that the ship is about to pass over a navigational
object or zone that is not allowed, it will trigger a warning or an alarm
• The safety frame is using the best avaiable ENC chart, even if you are looking at another
chart on the screen
• The user needs to activate the safety frame, select the size of it, and choose which actions
are allowed and which should trigger the alarm
Status indicators and alarms

Route checking

Route planning is slightly different in an ECDIS compared to a paper chart.

Since you may plan your route over large ocean areas with just a few clicks of the mouse,
there is a possibility that the route is passing over unsafe areas.
The Route checking tool will compare every meter of a planned route with safety depth,
safety contour and forbidden actions, using the best available charts. Any violation of the
given alarm limits will trigger a warning which is both displayed in text and on the location
of the danger. If route parameters such as XTD are not set properly, there may be quite a
large volume of alarms.
Status indicators and alarms

Route monitoring

Route monitoring considers ships current position, course and speed and compares
this with the boundaries of the active route

• A route first has to be created, checked and then activated

• Only one route can be monitored at any given time
• XTD distances of the route must be relevant for the individual legs

• Alarms will be triggered for selected events, such as

XTD distance, WP arrival, wheel over points , etc

• This function is closely related to Track steering

Status indicators and alarms

Collision alarms

Your ECDIS is capable of

monitoring CPA and TCPA of
incoming targets from
ARPA/AIS and trigger collision
alarms.
• Your company navigation policy
should determine if collision
warnings should be handled in
the radar or the ECDIS
• Collision warnings both in the
radar and in the ECDIS for the
same target should be avoided
Status indicators and alarms (IMO MC 1.27 C13)

User behavior alarms

Your ECDIS is required to warn the

user for illegal or inappropriate
actions. Such actions might
include:
• Using non-official charts
• Using small scale charts when
there are large scale charts
available
• Over-zooming
Status indicators and alarms

Summary of required ECDIS alarms and indicators

Largest scale for alarm A or I Information overscale I

Exceeding off-track limits A Larger scale ENC available I
Crossing safety contour A Difference reference system I
Area with special conditions A or I Route planning across safety contour I
Deviation from route A Route planning across specified area I
Approach of a critical point A Positioning system failure I
Different geodetic datum A System test failure I
Malfunction of ECDIS A or I

A = audible I = indication
Status indicators and alarms

Meaning of indicators and alarms

• Indicators give a visual indication of

information concerning the condition or status
of a system or equipment

• An alarm announces by audible means, or

audible and visual means, a condition
requiring attention
Status indicators and alarms

Demo task
Status indicators and alarms

Alarm management

The ECDIS is a powerful tool, but it is still depending on user input. The user is still required to
manage his entire bridge and the system to receive the full benefit.
• Safety levels and alarm levels should be established in the company navigation procedures
and should be different depending on navigational activity, conditions and bridge manning,
such as
• Open waters
• Coastal waters
• Confined waters – pilotage
• There should be a policy on how to handle different navigational duties, for example:
• Primary position fixing in ECDIS No 1 + sight and hearing
• Collision avoidance (ARPA + AIS) in the radar + sight and hearing
• Situational awareness – look ahead in ECDIS no 2+ sight and hearing
• Alarm management should be applied to support these duties, without unduly disturbance
to the same.
Status indicators and alarms

Alarm management – practical advice

• Use different safety settings depending

on activity and bridge manning
• XTD, safety depth and safety contour
might have the biggest influence

• Check-adjust your safety settings as part

of watch handover
• Follow your navigation policy
• If your AIS is connected to your ARPA-
Radar and monitors CPA-TCPA there is no
need to duplicate these alarms in your
ECDIS