Educate yourself on ECDIS
The Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS) has been steadily creeping into the yachting industry over a number of years and here's why…
The Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS) has been steadily creeping into the yachting industry over a number of years. Many see ECDIS as a system that originated in commercial vessels and is occasionally imposed on the largest of superyachts, butt it is a tool that can help run a superyacht of lesser length more efficiently. This was the crux of the ‘ECDIS 101 – The Journey To Smart Bridges’ workshop co-hosted by Telemar Yachting and Bluewater Books & Charts at the 2012 American Superyacht Forum (https://www.superyachtevents.com/asf/asf2012/).
The bridge suite available to superyacht captains and crew has grown more sophisticated and integrated as technology has advanced. Mark Theissen of Telemar Yachting commented, however, that on average only five in 10 operators have a basic knowledge or understanding of ECDIS. Although non-mandatory, ECDIS has tangible advantages in terms of efficiency and related savings, and is growing in popularity for these reasons.
Not all electronic charting systems (ECSs) are classed as ECDIS. “An ECDIS system, the legal equivalent of paper charts, must conform to a number of standards not required of the more basic ECS”, said Justin Mann of Bluewater Books and Charts. These include auto-positioning updates, built-in redundancy, installation by a trained technician, featuring risk assessment and its own GPS and heading input, and working off its own uninterruptible power supply (UPS). A vessel primarily navigating by ECDIS must have certification of hardware, installation and training of its operators.
There are a number of factors that determine whether ECDIS is required on a vessel, and most yachts over 30m do not fall into the category unless they are over 3,000GT or are operating as a commercial vessel rather than a yacht. However, there are a several reasons why a superyacht not within these categories might want to install ECDIS.
“I like to think of ECDIS as an autopilot; it’s not essential but it can help your operations a lot. Not only can it improve efficiency in terms of fuel consumption but it will reduce the folio carried on board,” said Theissen.
Both Telemar Yachting and Bluewater have seen a growing level of interest from captains for non-essential ECDIS installation. The cost of installation is an added factor, as well as the hardware, data updates and maintenance as well as training. Theissen says that he has seen the system pay for itself on commercial vessels, and this could apply to yachts. ECDIS costs need to be weighed out against the costs of maintaining ECS or paper navigation on board, including electronic chart updates for the former, on board and out-of-season chart correction services, regular updates to new editions of the charts carried on board, shipping and storage.
The IMO have recognised that the system will revolutionise navigation. Most vessels including nearly all new constructions will have ECDIS in the future. Two kinds of ECDIS training are required of officers, both for the standardised IMO 'Model Training Course on the Operational Use of ECDIS' and for type-specific learning for the particular brand installed.
The cut-off for training is 1 January 2017, but Beavers warned against waiting until the last minute to take courses, as there will most likely be a bottleneck and it may be difficult to find an available spot. If a vessel is currently using ECDIS as its primary navigation and is approved to operate without paper charts as a back-up, all the officers need to be trained immediately if they have not already.
Beavers also recommended that, considering the proliferation of ECDIS is likely to grow over the coming years, even if an officer does not currently work on an ECDIS-operating vessel it would be wise to take the course in order not to restrict future job searches.
Although ECDIS has seemed somewhat peripheral to the navigation superyachts in the past, their financial and operational benefits are increasing their popularity in this sector, and many working in this field expect there to be a steady increase in the sector in coming years. It would be wise for deck officers of superyachts - according to Theissen, Mann and Beavers – to become more familiarised with the applications and benefits of ECDIS navigation through training.
The bridge suite available to superyacht captains and crew has grown more sophisticated and integrated as technology has advanced. Mark Theissen of Telemar Yachting commented, however, that on average only five in 10 operators have a basic knowledge or understanding of ECDIS. Although non-mandatory, ECDIS has tangible advantages in terms of efficiency and related savings, and is growing in popularity for these reasons.
Not all electronic charting systems (ECSs) are classed as ECDIS. “An ECDIS system, the legal equivalent of paper charts, must conform to a number of standards not required of the more basic ECS”, said Justin Mann of Bluewater Books and Charts. These include auto-positioning updates, built-in redundancy, installation by a trained technician, featuring risk assessment and its own GPS and heading input, and working off its own uninterruptible power supply (UPS). A vessel primarily navigating by ECDIS must have certification of hardware, installation and training of its operators.
There are a number of factors that determine whether ECDIS is required on a vessel, and most yachts over 30m do not fall into the category unless they are over 3,000GT or are operating as a commercial vessel rather than a yacht. However, there are a several reasons why a superyacht not within these categories might want to install ECDIS.
“I like to think of ECDIS as an autopilot; it’s not essential but it can help your operations a lot. Not only can it improve efficiency in terms of fuel consumption but it will reduce the folio carried on board,” said Theissen.
Both Telemar Yachting and Bluewater have seen a growing level of interest from captains for non-essential ECDIS installation. The cost of installation is an added factor, as well as the hardware, data updates and maintenance as well as training. Theissen says that he has seen the system pay for itself on commercial vessels, and this could apply to yachts. ECDIS costs need to be weighed out against the costs of maintaining ECS or paper navigation on board, including electronic chart updates for the former, on board and out-of-season chart correction services, regular updates to new editions of the charts carried on board, shipping and storage.
Most vessels including nearly all new constructions will have ECDIS in the future
The IMO have recognised that the system will revolutionise navigation. Most vessels including nearly all new constructions will have ECDIS in the future. Two kinds of ECDIS training are required of officers, both for the standardised IMO 'Model Training Course on the Operational Use of ECDIS' and for type-specific learning for the particular brand installed.
The cut-off for training is 1 January 2017, but Beavers warned against waiting until the last minute to take courses, as there will most likely be a bottleneck and it may be difficult to find an available spot. If a vessel is currently using ECDIS as its primary navigation and is approved to operate without paper charts as a back-up, all the officers need to be trained immediately if they have not already.
Beavers also recommended that, considering the proliferation of ECDIS is likely to grow over the coming years, even if an officer does not currently work on an ECDIS-operating vessel it would be wise to take the course in order not to restrict future job searches.
Although ECDIS has seemed somewhat peripheral to the navigation superyachts in the past, their financial and operational benefits are increasing their popularity in this sector, and many working in this field expect there to be a steady increase in the sector in coming years. It would be wise for deck officers of superyachts - according to Theissen, Mann and Beavers – to become more familiarised with the applications and benefits of ECDIS navigation through training.
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