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How to Order Electronic Navigation Charts JOIN OVER 2 MILLION+ MARINERS

and Keep Them Updated On Ships?     

By Paromita Mukherjee | In: Marine Navigation | Last Updated on October 21, 2019

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ECDIS (Electronic Chart Display Information System) for ships has gained popularity over the years and
has become a real necessity for safe navigation at sea. The mandatory carriage of ECDIS has been
implemented on almost all ships depending upon the type and gross tonnage of the vessel. It is widely
believed that ECDIS will be an essential aid for safe navigation.
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Electronic charts are the new generation of navigational charts, with paper charts being relegated to the
background. However this doesn’t hold true in all cases. There are many areas of the world yet to be
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portfolio of up-to-date paper charts should be carried as a back up arrangement .

ENCs automate the process of integrating real time positions with the chart display and enable to
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continuously monitor the position and safety of the vessel. It gives the navigator a complete picture of the 24,000 TEU Giant, ‘HMM Algeciras’ At DSME
Shipyard
instantaneous situation of the vessel and all charted dangers to navigation. To use the ECDIS effectively
it is also important for the navigating officer to know how to order the charts for the intended voyage
and about means and methods available to keep them updated .

The method of procurement of electronic charts is different when compared to paper charts. Unlike paper
charts which are only purchased once, until a new edition is published or a chart is cancelled, electronic
charts are purchased through a license system called “permits”. Permits are used to control the Protect Seafarers, Keep Trade By Sea Flowing; IMO
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permission to use a chart. They prevent unofficial copying and distribution.

In this article I would like to elaborate procedures to order charts and to keep them updated onboard. In
the earlier days, paper charts had to be ordered and corrected to the latest week prior commencement of
a voyage. With Induction of Electronic Charts, this process is much easier and faster. The chart cells for
the forthcoming voyage can be activated almost immediately by purchasing the license to activate them,
usually by sending an email to the chart provider. Once the base DVDs are received, charts can be COVID Crisis: Large Number Of Tanker Vessels Wait
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updated in a very short period of time.

ENCs are issued by or on behalf of a national hydrographic authority and comply with specifications of
the International Hydrographic Organisation (IHO). To use the ENCs ships has to contact an official ENC
distributor.

This article highlights the chart or chart permit procuring procedure through Chart distributor and methods SOPs Issued For Simplifying Sign-On And Sign-Off
Of Indian Seafarers At Ports
for chart correction and updating for FURUNO ECDIS.

Ordering cell permit is a three step process which includes the following:

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Lets suppose, a ship will sail from Singapore to Mumbai.. We can use the Chartco Passage Manager to
get the details of charts for the intended voyage. We promise not to spam you. You can
unsubscribe at any time.

This is how the process in ChatCo Passage Manager looks like.

Step 1 – Main menu has the option ‘Routes & Passages’. TRENDING ON SOCIAL MEDIA

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Step 2 – Automated routing selecting the departure and arrival ports via intended regions can assist
By Pirates On Board Container
navigating officer as he plans route for the voyage. It will then show the route from departure port to Ship In Gulf Of Guinea
destination port. Here is an example of a route from Singapore to Mumbai, India. This is a preliminary
passage planning for finding out charts for the intended route. Several other factors like weather
Seafarers Continue To
condition, No Go areas to be avoided due to navigational hazards especially for long voyages. This is a Highlight Their Worries And
short route and hence uses rhumb line courses as default; however, For long ocean voyages, for E.g. Concerns To Human Rights At
from Yokohama, Japan to Mexico the route also shows GC track options. Sea
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ROUTE SHOWING SINGAPORE TO MUMBAI Crew Member Of Container

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ROUTE SHOWING YOKOHAMA TO MEXICO

The right hand column under the ENC/AVCS displays all the charts and user can select the charts as
required from each category. There are 6 different categories of ENCs as follows:

1. Overview
2. General
3. Coastal
4. Approach
5. Harbour
6. Berthing

The charts can be selected by clicking on the chart area in the map. The selected chart will have yellow
lines and will display cell name.

As mentioned earlier it is also important to take weather conditions into account while selecting charts.
The route from EDCIS can be exported and analyzed using MetManager which is a weather monitoring
software Map. Also during passage planning the waypoints can be adjusted accordingly. An example of
MetManager is shown below:

Step 3 – Once all the required charts are selected we need to send a request to the Chart Distributor.
This is done by selecting the option –‘Add selected products to basket’ at the right hand bottom corner. A
Shopping Basket icon at the bottom indicates that there are items within the basket.

Once that’s done another option of ‘Create Order’ will pop up at the bottom. ‘Order Address Information’
window pops up where order information has to be filled for e.g. name and email address. Once the order
is created successfully an Order Output Summary is generated where the order files need to be sent to
the nominated chart agent. It also prompts you to print the order for reference. On clicking Yes, it
generates a PDF order form for your records. The orders are then sent to an ‘OUTPUT folder’. You can
then open the folder and attach the order files to an email and finally send to the nominated admiralty
chart agent.

The AVCS ENC Permits will then be supplied to your vessel by your admiralty chart agent in a zipped file.
The contents should be extracted to a media, for example USB flash drive or floppy disk that can be read
by the system. The permits are normally purchased for a period of 3, 6, 9 or 12 months. On receiving the
permits it is put into the ECDIS and this will allow it to display the chart as a SENC (System Electronic
Navigational Chart) and receive updates which will be discuss later.

Importing the Permits:

To load the permits do the following:

Step 1: choose ‘Chart Permits’ from the Chart Menu.

Step 2: Click the ‘Load File’ button. The Load File button is used to initiate the ENC permit installation to
the ECDIS. When selected a Permit Load window will be displayed. In this window the user will have to
identify the source, folder or external drive where the ENC permits are stored.

Step 3: Choose the correct drive from the look in list box, drive ‘E’ for USB memory device or ‘A’ for
floppy disc.

Step 4: Permits are available in two formats: one in PMT format and the other in TXT format. The user
must highlight the ‘PERMIT.TXT’ file and then click open to install the ENC Permits. After importing the
cell permits successfully, the ENCs of the desired voyage will be available in the ECDIS. A backup of the
permits can also be created by using the ‘Backup’ button in the selected drive. The format is always PMT.

The officer in charge must note that the expiry date of a permit controls the loading of Base charts and
their updates to the ECDIS. If a permit has expired, it is not possible to load a chart or its updates which
was issued after the expiration date of the permit. The user can view the chart forever however it will not
complete the requirements for having up-to-date charts.

A graphical coverage of all the charts loaded in the hard disc can be viewed in the Chart Catalogue. The
catalogue can be viewed from the Chart Menu. The ‘View Filter’ section can be used to display charts for
which permits are available. The charts appear colour coded. The easiest method to check if charts are
up-to-date is to view the catalogue and check that the names of all required charts appear in green. The
names of charts which are not up-to-date appear in orange.

Chart Correction On ECDIS:

Charts on ECDIS need to be updated and corrected on a regular basis. Unlike paper charts where the
procedure involves manual insertion of the corrections, correction to ENCs are made automatically.
ECDIS allows updating the existing charts and installing new charts too. Admiralty Vector Charts data is
delivered on a series of CDs labeled Base and Update or DVDs. New ENCs can be loaded with an ENC
Base CD/DVD. This base CD is issued every 6 to 8 weeks. The name of the countries included on the
Base CD/DVD is written on top of the cover. Only those ENC Base CDs/DVDs are needed to be loaded
for which permits are available. The Base disc label contains the date and week of issue. After all the
relevant Base discs have been installed, the ECDIS can now be updated. However now a days
information is collated into a single base DVD. There is no different DVD for base cells. When using the
AVCS DVD service only one disc needs to be installed because it contains the entire base ENCs and
Updates up to the date of its issue.

Charts are updated on a weekly basis and the ENC Update CD/DVD is issued every week. The only
exception to this is in a week when AVCs Base discs are re-issued. In this instance a AVCs Update CD
will not be issued. The Update CD contains all new ENCs, new edition of ENCs and ENC updates issued
since the last set of Base discs were issued. The ENC Update CD is cumulative; so in case you receive
more than one CD, just load the latest CD received. In the case of DVDs you would most likely to have
two DVDs. DVD contains base and update data for the complete week.

The procedure for loading the ‘ENC Bases’ or ‘Update CDs’ is identical. This can be done from “Load and
Update Charts” located in the Chart Menu.

1. Insert CD in ECDIS CD-ROM

2. Select ‘’Chart Menu’’

3. Choose ‘’Load And Update Charts’’

4. Choose ‘’From CDROM’’ from the sub menu.

5. Define the location of the CD Rom and select the ‘Load ’ button.

The charts will then start to load into the ECDIS.

Manual updating: Manual updating allows the navigating officers to apply their own navigational
information to supplement the existing ENC data. This information remains separate from the contents of
the ENC data already installed in the ECDIS, however can be displayed together with the ENC data.
Manual updating should normally be used when the same information cannot be added via the automatic
updating in a timely manner. For example the latest radio navigational warnings issued through Navtex
or SAT C such as urgent exclusive zones in the event of maritime accidents. Manual corrections can be
deleted when they are no longer required. The method varies significantly between different ECDIS
Types and hence the Operator Manual should be consulted for further guidance.

Manual updating in the Furuno ecdis can be done as follows:

1. Under the Chart Menu, select Manual Updates. Select Planning within the Manual Update dialog box.

2. Select “New” and next select the type of object that is to be added, e.g.: a buoy and select Accept New
Object.

3. In the next step the properties can be edited such as editing the position where the object has to be
applied and then finally select “accept the manual update as permanent.”

Admiralty Information Overlay (AIO):

It contains all Admiralty Temporary and Preliminary NMs in force worldwide including those that have
been incorporated on paper charts but have not yet been included in the ENCs. AIO makes passage
planning simpler and safer by showing where important T&P changes may impact a voyage. AIO can be
used if the ECDIS is compatible to show AIO. Some countries still do not issue ENC T&Ps in AIO.
Temporary and preliminary notices have not yet been fully integrated into ENC data by all National
Hydrographic Offices. Depending on vessel’s route and ENCs used, it should be confirmed whether
onboard ENCs include T&P NTM or not. If onboard ENCs do NOT include T&P NTM, manual means for
correction of T&P NTM should be done through relevant NTM.

AIO can be enabled in ECDIS compatible to show AIO.

ECDIS showing AIO

As the traditional method of navigation using paper charts is now changing to electronic charts,
navigating officers need to have considerable knowledge in order to embrace it and use it to its fullest
extent. Keeping the ECDIS fully up to date should be a high priority for the bridge team to ensure safe
navigation and should be treated as equally important as normal paper chart corrections. Once the latest
update CD is received on board, transferring and updating procedure should be carried out. It is
important that the responsible navigating officer checks the expiry date of all permits/licenses and to
record them, to avoid unplanned and dangerous situations such as losing the chart’s display. ECDIS is
capable of alerting well before the expiry of permits. Permits should be renewed in time.

Navigation Charts #navigation #chartwork #shipchart

Disclaimer: The authors’ views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of Marine
Insight. Data and charts, if used, in the article have been sourced from available information and have not
been authenticated by any statutory authority. The author and Marine Insight do not claim it to be
accurate nor accept any responsibility for the same. The views constitute only the opinions and do not
constitute any guidelines or recommendation on any course of action to be followed by the reader.

The article or images cannot be reproduced, copied, shared or used in any form without the permission of
the author and Marine Insight

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About Paromita Mukherjee

Paromita has completed graduation in Nautical Science and is presently preparing for
2nd mate exams. Besides sailing, she love to read books and to travel. She has also
won many awards in music.

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Comments

ahmed says
OCTOBER 14, 2016 AT 9:55 PM

Please guide me that first we will install base cd or required chart permits.
your prompt reply will be appreciated.

paromita mukherjee says

OCTOBER 17, 2016 AT 4:02 PM

you can update the charts for which you have permits. if you do not have a permit for a chart
you need to use and update, get the permit first.

Ahmed Moh. Moh. Ibrahim says

MARCH 26, 2017 AT 9:10 PM

Dear Sir, Can I Install Electronic Chart EGYPT Coasts to my Laptop as Reference ECDIS

arvind kumar soorada says

SEPTEMBER 20, 2017 AT 6:01 PM

Yes . You cant !

Kanishka Ananda says

FEBRUARY 12, 2019 AT 8:11 AM

Very brifed, good article, thanks, keep up the good job

Anish says
FEBRUARY 12, 2019 AT 12:47 PM

@Kanishka: Glad the article came handy to you.

ashok talap says

FEBRUARY 16, 2019 AT 3:41 PM

sir, please explain passage planning in ecdis also.

thanks in advance.

Anish says
FEBRUARY 17, 2019 AT 10:41 PM

@Ashok: Please check this article for more info- https://www.marineinsight.com/marine-

navigation/understanding-the-principles-of-passage-planning/
and – https://www.marineinsight.com/marine-navigation/proper-use-of-ecdis-safety-settings/

Mar says
JULY 7, 2019 AT 7:37 AM

Sir,
I have updated my enc on a weekly basis via email, if i received avcs base and update dvd for
example week 20/19 and may latest update to enc via email is wk 25/19 do i still need to
update may ecdis using dvd? And do i need to install avcs base and update dvd everytime i
received them on board?

Joe says
JULY 14, 2019 AT 10:56 AM

I deleted expired enc which is not up to date. For me it is good to view on ecdis update status
without out not updated chart. But, is it really good for other opinion. Anyway I never been
question by inspector once they look the enc status, all up to date.

KARAMJEET SINGH says

AUGUST 14, 2019 AT 8:31 AM

Well explained articles it work likes as a manual …. thank u very much sir….

Amit says
DECEMBER 2, 2019 AT 5:49 AM

How do I know my ecdis is updated ?

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