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ELECTRONIC NAVIGATION (E-NAV) SEANAV

Enabling Objectives:
• INTRODUCE Organizations for regulation of Electronic Navigation (E-NAV).
• DESCRIBE E-Nav.
• INTRODUCE an Electronic Chart System (ECS).
• INTRODUCE an Electronic Chart Display Information System (ECDIS).
• INTRODUCE ECDIS-N.
• DESCRIBE The advantages and disadvantages of ECDIS.
• DESCRIBE Standard Nautical Charts (SNCs) – Paper Charting.
• INTRODUCE What an Electronic Chart is.
• INTRODUCE Raster Nautical Charts (RNCs).
• INTRODUCE Electronic Nautical Charts (ENCs) as Vector Charts.
• INTRODUCE Digital Nautical Charts (DNCs) for the USN.
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INTRODUCTION

Safe, Secure and Efficient Shipping through e-Navigation

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WenDzWY-tXc
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International Regulation
Different organizations produce and regulate Electronic Navigation (E-Nav)
and associated systems just as they do paper charts and other publications

United Nations (UN)

• UN Conventions on Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) – 320 articles
• US has signed but not ratified the agreement.

International Maritime Organization (IMO)

• Responsible for promoting safety and efficient navigation
• SOLAS Articles detail ECDIS requirements in Ships.

International Hydrographic Organization (IHO)

• Coordinates hydrographic efforts to gain uniformity in the format
and content of charts and publications
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US National Regulation
Different organizations produce and regulate Electronic Charts and
associated systems just as they do paper charts and other publications
National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
• Produces nautical charts and related publication for coastal areas of United
States and Great Lakes
• Typically Civilian focused products
• Produce ENCs for US territory for use by civilian / merchant vessels

National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA)

• Produces DNCs for use by Navy and additional information for wider DoD
• Provides access to international publications

US Coast Guard (USCG)

• Provides updates for Navigation Warnings for US districts
• Local Notices to Mariners
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What is Electronic-Navigation (E-Nav)?

E-Nav is described by the International Maritime Organization as:
“the harmonized collection, integration, exchange, presentation and
analysis of marine information on board and ashore by electronic means to
enhance berth to berth navigation and related services for safety and security at
sea and protection of the marine environment.“

In early 1990’s IMO adopted performance standards for Electronic Charting.

In 2000, IMO adopted revised SOLAS Regulation V/19 for carriage for shipborne
navigation systems and Electronic Chart Display Information Systems.
In 2009, IMO amended V/19 to make carriage of ECDIS mandatory in ships and
vessels of certain classes:
All newly built passenger ships over 500 gt.
All newly built cargo ships over 3000gt.
Phased introduction of fitting requirements to existing shipping.
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What is Electronic-Navigation (E-Nav)?

E-Nav is not a static concept. User requirements continue to evolve with technology.
The IMO provides a Strategy Implementation Plan to provide a vision for future E-Nav
requirements including:
Regulation
Equipment and Technology
Training
Charting and Publications
Maritime reporting – Vessel Traffic Services / Global Maritime Distress

IMO future objectives for E-Nav are:

• S1: improved, harmonized and user-friendly bridge design;
• S2: means for standardized and automated reporting;
• S3: improved reliability, resilience and integrity of bridge equipment and navigation
information;
• S4: integration and presentation of available information in graphical displays received
via communication equipment; and
• S5: improved communication of VTS Service Portfolio (not limited to VTS stations).
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Electronic Charting Systems (ECS)

System that displays electronic charts and integrates GPS positional
information.
Basic level of capability that does not meet IMO standards for Navigation.
• Commercially produced for all mariners.
• Typically Pleasure craft / Sailing Vessels / small FVs.
• Used for Situational Awareness – not navigation.
• Equipment does not conform to IMO standards.
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Electronic Chart Display and Information System

(ECDIS)
• Navigation information system which complies with the
defined IMO Performance Standards for:
– Hardware and software requirements.
– Electronic Charting requirements.
• Mandated equipment in vessels of certain types / size.
ECDIS systems are fitted into all new commercial and
military ships as required by IMO.
• Fuses information to improve safety and situational
awareness.
• Integrates broad range of sensors.
• Positional redundancy – not reliant on GPS for
positional information.
- Visual LOPs.
- Radar LOPs.
- Celestial Fixes.
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ECDIS Functional Requirements

• Display
- Present information to IMO approved
standards for color / symbology.
• Customize Display
- Adjust display and safety settings to meet
ship / vessel characteristics.
• Customizable Scale
- Will indicate if zoomed into correct scale (1:1)
• Fused information
- Display Radar and AIS information.
• Adequate redundancy and Back Up
- Must have multiple stations in event of failure.
- Uninterruptable Power Supply (UPS) –
battery back up to Ship’s own generation for
ECDIS.
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ECDIS Functional Requirements

• Route planning
- Informs of navigational hazards along plotted
route.
- Automatic or manual chart updates
• Route monitoring
- Displays Time/Distance labels on track
- Displays a set area for Look Ahead to inform
User of hazards.
• Automatic grounding avoidance
– Alarms for hazards
• Recording: BLACK BOX
– Track and user inputs
• Tests, alarms and indications
– System malfunction
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ECDIS Sensor Inputs

NAV Radar
(GPS, INS, etc.)

Gyrocompass AIS

Fathometer Current, Tides info, etc.

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Surface Ship Navigation Department Organization and

Regulations Manual (NAVDORM)
• Details US Navy Type Commander policies, procedures and organizational
standards for use and operation of an ECDIS-N, including VMS.

• NAVDORM policy specifies:

– A loss of GPS is not considered a loss of ECDIS.

– At no time will control stations (Bridge/CIC) revert to paper charts as the

primary means of navigation.

– In the case of loss of all ECDIS nodes on the bridge, the Ship is
authorized to utilize the Emergency Navigation Laptop (ENL) as primary
plot.
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NAVDORM (Cont’d)
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ECDIS-N
• CNO directive (Mar ’98) established minimum
ECDIS standards (ECDIS-N) for the Navy and
called for a transition of the Fleet from Paper to
Electronic charts.
• ECDIS-N: an ECDIS system for the USN that fulfills
additional requirements specifically,
– Display radar, visual, and celestial navigation fix
information.
– System-to-system interoperability including
integration with Ship Command Systems.
– Read and display Digital Nautical Charts (DNC)
produced for DoD by NGA.
• VMS, ECPINS and NAVSSI are the only software
that conform to ECDIS-N requirements.
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ECDIS-N
• Navigation is critical to
warfighting and operations.
• Cannot be reliant on GPS
as the only means of
navigation as the system is
vulnerable.
• USN continues to seek
ways to integrate and fuse
information, supporting
Situational Awareness and
combat operations between
Sea, Air and Land and in
the future – Space.
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Examples of
ECDIS-N Features
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RADAR Image Overlay (RIO)

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LOP Plotting to Prove Position / Navigation

Visual
Radar LOPs
LOPs used
used to
to prove
prove
navigational
navigational and
and GPS
GPS
accuracy.
accuracy.

Can be combined with

Visual fixing to get a
composite fix.
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Piloting Guidance
• Automatically calculates:
– Cross-track error

– Provides recommended course to steer

accounting for set/drift

– Monitors / alarms on nearest hazard

– Will calculate and monitor Turn Bearings

/ Ranges from navigation aids

– Integrates depth through the fathometer

– Calculates distance and time to turn

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Piloting Guidance – Turn Bearings

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Tide and Current Information

…and graphically in
pop-up windows.
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Collision Avoidance
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Future Position Estimate

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Advantages of ECDIS
• Real time position positioning
presented visually to User.
• Automated plotting (DR / EP)
including when GPS not available.
• Reduced Manning
• Improved Safety
• Enhanced Command and Control
• Increased awareness in Reduced
Visibility
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Disadvantages and Risks of ECDIS

• ECDIS/ECDIS-N is only one of the tools
that helps a mariner navigate a ship.

• One of the biggest risks is an over

reliance on the information provided.
USS PORT ROYAL

USS ARLEIGH BURKE USS GUARDIAN

Examples: USS ARLEIGH BURKE (2007),

USS PORT ROYAL (2009), USS GUARDIAN (2013)
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Disadvantages and Risks of ECDIS

• Poor GPS performance including Spoofing /
Jamming will impact positional accuracy if
not checked.

• ECDIS/ECDIS-N malfunction – Windows

based system. It will crash!

• Installation/setup errors

• ENC compilation errors (e.g. Datums)

• Chart (errors, omissions, out-dated)

• Human error - the computer is only as good

as the inputs
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Standard Nautical Charts (SNCs)

• Standard Nautical Charts are hard copy, paper
charts.

• Typically used by older vessels / craft that are

not currently mandated to carry IMO accredited
E-Navigation systems or have not been
upgraded.

• Once printed, SNCs must be manually updated

on periodic basis to remain current using the
Notice to Mariners (NTMs) process.
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Standard Nautical Charts (SNCs)

• SNCs are produced by organizations such as
NOAA and internationally, the United Kingdom
Hydrography Office.

• In 2019, NOAA announced cancellation of

traditional paper charts, with individual publication
of charts being cancelled from 2021.

• NOAA’s resources are being focused on

development of Electronic Navigational Charts
(ENCs).

• NOAA will introduce new, customizable formats for

paper charts based on ENC formats.

• Other countries, including UK, continue to produce https://nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/charts/

SNCs. future-noaa-charts.html
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What are Electronic Charts?

• Electronic charts are representations of Navigational data encoded in a
computer-usable format.
• Computer-generated display provides accurate pictorial presentation of
information.
• Real time information can be presented on top of the chart, including GPS,
Radar and AIS positional information.
• Electronic Charting is used by both ECS and ECDIS systems.
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Raster Nautical Charts (RNCs)

• RNCs are the electronic representation of SNCs
(paper charts). They are effectively an image and
use the same formats and symbology making
them IMO approved.

• Real time information, including GPS position,

can be displayed on RNCs. However no further
information is available beyond what is displayed.

• RNCs are effectively an electronic, non-

interactive SNC that can only be used for
Navigation where standardized Electronic
Nautical Charts are not available.

• RNCs do not meet USCG chart carriage requirements for commercial vessels.
Therefore, if ENCs are not available, properly corrected SNCs (paper charts) must
be carried.
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Raster Nautical Charts NOAA RNC Viewer

• Advantages
– Based on paper chart formats.
– Readily available.
• Disadvantages
– Zooming degrades quality.
– Non-interactive – cannot interrogate
objects or gain any information
beyond what is displayed.
– Where objects are not interactive,
ECDIS cannot identify hazards. Users can view chart detail and
check SNC Chart Numbers and
– Chart corrections have to be applied Updates / Notice to Mariners at:
manually on chart or electronic https://www.charts.noaa.gov/
replacement of whole chart. InteractiveCatalog/
– Not to be used for navigation unless nrnc.shtml#mapTabs-1
ENC unavailable.
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RNC – Raster (Not used for Digital Navigation)

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Electronic Nautical Charts (ENCs).

• ENCs or vector charts are a visual representation of a database
and hold more information than an RNC with a slightly different look
than a paper chart.

• Different objects on an ENC have attributes; by clicking on a vessel

or lighthouse, for example, more information about the object will
become available than it would on an RNC.

• Data for vector charts is collected and organized according to the

S-57 data standard. A second data authentication and protection
standard S-63 details security schemes.

• Data is produced by governmental bodies such as NOAA, following

International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) ENC product
specifications.

• Updates to ENCs can be easily applied with update files either

provided by CD-ROM or downloaded over the internet making them
easily accessible.
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Electronic Nautical Charts (ENCs).

• Vector charts allow users much greater utility. There may be
instances where a certain feature is of interest and other nearby
features are cluttering the view. The user may turn off the features
that are cluttering the view. Text may also be turned off.

• Vector chart are a graphic representation of a database and have

fewer limits. It is possible to zoom in on an area and gain more
detail. It is also possible to zoom out, especially to get a look
ahead. Vector charts allow users to view the oncoming path with
much greater ease.

• Because of the increased amount of data available, ENCs are

suited for use with alarms and warnings to alert crews of danger in
the ship's path. Positions of features on vector charts use the
World Geodetic System 1984 Datum (WGS84). This system is
global navigation satellite system (GNSS) position compatible.

• Individual ENCs are called Cells and

are named based on country of origin
and scale.
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ENCs (Vector Charts)

• Advantages
– More detailed information.
– Allows the User to customize the display
for the mission. System will identify
hazards.
– Zooming reveals details.
– Chart corrections easily applied.
• Disadvantages
– Complex, expensive and time-consuming
to produce.
– Need more powerful hardware to run
multiple charts.
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Digital Nautical Charts

• DNCs are produced by the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency (NGA)
for US DoD.

• Charts are Vector Charts, built to IMO / IHO standards therefore able to be
used for navigation.

• Additional military information, such as more detailed bathymetry for SM

navigation or military operating areas are provided making them not for
Civilian use.

• In some cases, DNCs may have a Security Classification.

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Digital Nautical Charts

• DNCs have global coverage.

• DNC cells are divided into four categories based on chart scale (the amount of area
the chart covers).

– General (smallest scale, largest area) – open ocean

– Coastal – East / West coast. Limited topographical / physical features.
– Approach – more coastal detail and affiliated to specific harbors
– Harbor (largest scale, smallest area) - Affiliated with specific harbors

• Small scale charts cover a large area, but do not contain a great amount of detail –
General / Coastal charts.

• Large scale charts cover a small area, but have the most amount of details –
Approach / Harbor charts.
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Digital Nautical Charts – Region Coverage

• 29 regions: Global coverage between 84oN and 81oS
• Every CD-ROM contains one geographical region
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DNC Standard Display with Depth Contours

The user defines what features are necessary!!!

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DNC Standard Display with Spot Soundings

The user defines what features are necessary!!!

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DNC Night Standard Display with Depth Contours

The user defines what features are necessary!!!

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Enabling Objectives:
• INTRODUCE Organizations for regulation of Electronic Navigation (E-NAV).
• DESCRIBE E-Nav.
• INTRODUCE an Electronic Chart System (ECS).
• INTRODUCE an Electronic Chart Display Information System (ECDIS).
• INTRODUCE ECDIS-N.
• DESCRIBE The advantages and disadvantages of ECDIS.
• DESCRIBE Standard Nautical Charts (SNCs) – Paper Charting.
• INTRODUCE What an Electronic Chart is.
• INTRODUCE Raster Nautical Charts (RNCs).
• INTRODUCE Electronic Nautical Charts (ENCs) as Vector Charts.
• INTRODUCE Digital Nautical Charts (DNCs) for the USN.

References: Dutton’s Nautical Navigation, Chapter 4

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Questions ?