Electronic ECDIS

Chart
Display and
Information
System
 ECDIS
 The IMO's ECDIS performance standards define ECDIS equipment as
follows:
 [An] electronic chart display and information system (ECDIS) means a
navigation information system which, with adequate back-up
arrangements, can be accepted as complying with the up-to-date chart
required by regulation V/20 of the 1974 SOLAS Convention, by displaying
selected information from a system electronic navigational chart (SENC)
with positional information from navigation sensors to assist the mariner
in route planning and route monitoring, and by displaying additional
navigation-related information if required.
 Another class of navigational electronic chart systems exists, and is
simply referred to as the electronic chart system (ECS). Such systems do
not meet the SOLAS chart carriage requirements.
 Hence, the use of ENCs in a tested, approved and certified ECDIS (with
appropriate back-up arrangements) is the only alternative to paper charts
for vessel navigation. Appropriate back-up systems may take the form of
either paper charts or an independent, separate ECDIS.
 WHAT IS AN OFFICIAL ENC?
 ENC means the database, standardized as to content,
structure and format, issued for use with ECDIS on the
authority of Government-authorized Hydrographic
Offices.
 The ENC contains all the chart information useful for safe
navigation, and may contain supplementary information in
addition to that contained in the paper, which may be
considered necessary for safe navigation.
 Official ENCs are vector charts compiled from a database of
individual geo-referenced objects from Hydrographic
Office’s archives including existing paper charts.
 ENCs
 Apart from the electronic navigational chart (ENC), which is compiled
using raw data, vector data may also be produced by scanning a paper
chart.
 However, the raster image is then vectorized by digitally encoding
individual charted objects and their attributes (structured encoding)
and storing such data, together with the object’s geographical location,
in a database.
 The ENC is the designated chart for the ECDIS system and is discussed
in the next section. Chart features may be grouped together and stored
in thematic layers that individually categorize each group.
 For example, the coastline could form one layer while depth contours
are found on another layer etc.
 The system operator can thus optimize the display to show only that
data of interest and avoid the display becoming cluttered with
unwanted data. The vector chart is intelligent in that it can provide
information that allows a warning of impending dangers to be
 ENCs
 Official ENCs have the following attributes:
 ENC content is based on source data or official charts of
the responsible Hydrographic Office;
 ENCs are compiled and coded according to International
standards;
 ENCs are referred to World Geodetic System 1984
Datum (WGS84);
 ENC content is the responsibility of the issuing
Hydrographic Office;
 ENCs are issued only by the responsible Hydrographic
Office; and
 ENCs are regularly updated with official update
information distributed digitally.
 Regulations
The IHO Special Publication S-57 “IHO Transfer Standard for
Digital Hydrographic Data” describes the standards to be used
for the exchange of digital hydrographic data between national
Hydrographic Offices and for the distribution
The presentation of official ENCs on the screen is specified in
another IHO standard, the ”Colours and Symbols Specifications
for ECDIS IHO S-52”
ECDIS equipment is specified in the IMO ECDIS Performance
Standards (IMO Resolution A.817 (19).
To ensure that ECDIS equipment intended for onboard use is
seaworthy, it must pass type approval and test procedures
developed by the International Electro-technical Commission
(IEC) based on the ECDIS Performance Standards of IMO and
applying the IHO requirements, S-52 and S-57 in particular.
 Type Approval
 Type approval is normally conducted by recognized
organisations or by marine classification societies
nominated by Flag States.
 Some maritime nations also have type approval programs
within their maritime safety administration or
Department of Marine Transportation.
What about areas without official ENC coverage?

 The process of producing vector charts is time consuming

and expensive while verification of chart data is
complicated.
 In 1998 the IMO recognized that it would take some years
to complete the world’s coverage of ENCs.
 Introduced a new optional mode of operation of ECDIS,
the Raster Chart Display System (RCDS)*
 official ENCs where they were available and official
RNCs to fill in the gaps.
 RNCs
 Raster data is produced by scanning a paper chart.
 This process produces an image that is an exact replica of
the paper chart and which comprises a number of lines that
are composed of a large number of coloured dots, or pixels.
 This technique does not recognize individual objects, such
as a sounding, which limits its ability to conform to certain
international guidelines.
 However, the use of what is termed a vector overlay, which
can display specified user data such as waypoints and
system data such as radar overlays etc., can overcome this
deficiency.
 Advantages of ENCs
 The advantages of vector charts can be summarized as follows.
 Chart information is in layers which allows selective display of data.
 The display may be customized to suit the user.
 Chart data is seamless.
 It is possible to zoom-in without distorting the displayed data.
 Charted objects may be interrogated to give information to the
user.
 Indications and alarms can be given when a hazardous situation,
such as crossing a safety contour, occurs.
 Objects may be shown using different symbols to those used on
paper or raster charts.
 Chart data may be shared with other equipment such as radar and
ARPA.
 Unless data content is the same, less memory is required to store
data compared to a raster chart.
 Advantages of RNCs
 The advantages of raster charts can be summarized as follows.
 User familiarity since they use the same symbols and
colours as paper charts.
 They are exact copies of the paper charts with the same
reliability and integrity.
 The user cannot inadvertently omit any navigational
information from the display.
 Cost of production is less than their vector counterpart.
 Wide availability of official raster charts. ARCS charts, for
example, have near worldwide coverage.
 By using vector overlays together with appropriate
software, raster charts can be used for all standard
navigational tasks normally undertaken using paper
charts. They can also emulate some of the functions of
 Disadvantages of RNCs
 Disadvantages of raster charts can be summarized as
follows.
 The user cannot customize the display.
 When using vector overlays the display may appear
cluttered.
 They cannot be interrogated without an additional
database with a common reference system.
 They cannot, directly, provide indications or alarms to
indicate a warning to the user.
 Unless data content is the same, more memory is
required to store data compared to a vector chart.
Disadvantages of ENCs
 Disadvantages of the vector chart can be summarized as
follows.
 They are technically far more complex than raster charts.
 They are more costly and take longer to produce.
 Worldwide coverage is unlikely to be achieved for many
years, if ever.
 It is more difficult to ensure the quality and integrity of
the displayed vector data.
 Training in the use of vector charts is likely to be more
time consuming and costly compared to that needed for
raster charts.
 Route planning
 A route can be created two ways:
 Modify an existing route to create a new route or
 create a new route from scratch.
 A route consists of the following:
 Position of each waypoint
 Safe water calculation based on safety limits
 Turning instructions for each waypoint
 Required steering accuracy for individual legs
 Safety limits between waypoints (channel limits)
 Speed restrictions for legs
 Information notebook:
 Information pages to alert the operator to a given waypoint or a
selected area.
 Automatic and/or manual notebook function to tell operator
 Route calculation
 Route calculation for voyage planning includes the following:
 Route profile calculation:
 Distance between consecutive waypoints • Total distance
 Course between waypoints
 Estimated time for voyage
 Calculation of wheel over point

 Route check:
 Grounding alert based on available depth information in digital chart database.
 Voyage optimization:
 Timetable optimization
 Optimization based on economical factors

 The ECDIS processor calculates optimum speed and course between each waypoint,
ETA, and fuel consumption, based on the defined data. There are four calculation
strategies: Max. Speed, Timetable, Lowest Cost and Best Profit.
 In case of Great Circle sailing between two waypoints, the ECDIS calculates minimum
and maximum latitudes, and if needed adds an extra waypoint(s) so as not to exceed
 Chart planning
 Chart planning consists of the following steps:
 Load new S57 and ARCS charts.
 Update existing S57 and ARCS charts.
 Manage chart permits.
 Manually/ Automatically update charts.
 User chart planning
User chart planning consists of the following steps:
 Create operator navigation charts.
 Process chart alerts based on symbols, lines and
areas of user chart.
 Positioning
Direct positioning sensors
 Satellite navigation systems:
 GPS navigator
 GPS navigator with a differential correction, DGPS
 Local position-fixing systems

Dead reckoning equipment

 Ship’s heading measurement devices:
 Gyrocompass
 Magnetic compass
 Satellite navigation equipment

 Speed measuring devices:

 Single-axis speed logs
 Dual-axis speed logs
 Satellite navigation equipment
 Positioning
Positioning means using all available methods available to
calculate and keep ship’s position up-to-date during a voyage.
The calculation of ship’s position is based on available
navigation sensors. The system integrates valid information
from different sensors and uses the Kalman filter technology
for final position calculation.
 Monitoring Display of electronic sea chart
 The following information is available on the electronic sea chart:
 Own ship position
 Chart alerts
 Planned track
 Tracked Targets
 AIS targets
 Planned safety lines
 Chart information
Alerts
The following alerts are incorporated:
 Route monitoring alerts
 Alerts for sensor failure
 Position calculation alerts
 Alerts for system failure
 Position monitoring alerts
 Alerts for incorrect operator action
 Waypoint approach alerts
 Monitoring
Man overboard
 Built-in man over board function records position at the
time of man overboard, in one-touch operation.
Data logging
 The following information may be logged:
 Past track history
 Dangerous targets
 Events
 Voyage recording
Data distribution
Data is distributed via the ECDIS’s computer system.