ECDIS: Implementation Challenges

Capt. Tarun K. Mathur, TRANSAS

ECDIS: Implementation Challenges

ECDIS Implementation – When?

ECDIS Training

Paperless Navigation
Why to take ECDIS onboard?

As identified by customers, the

main reasons for their switching
onto ECDIS include:
Reduced risk of accidents
Lowering ship’s running costs
Automation of routine
navigation tasks
Access to additional
information resources
New technology on the ship’s
bridge
Path to future upgrades and
paperless navigation
 ECDIS Implementation – When?

The main reasons to switch onto ECDIS:

Besides that it might be a legal enforcement

1. Enhanced Safety: Ship and

environment.

2. Enhanced Earnings: Lowering

ship’s running costs.

3. Enhanced efficiency.
Enhanced Safety -
Ship and Environment

Reduced risk of accidents DNV Report

2007-0304
Previous FSA studies on ECDIS reported to
IMO
ECDIS is a cost effective risk control
option for large passenger ships, with a
significant potential to save lives by
reducing the frequency of collision and
grounding.
ECDIS is a cost effective risk control
option for all other vessel types
engaged in international trade, with
the exception of the smallest vessels.
The potential for saving lives is small
for cargo ships, but ECDIS represents a
net economic benefit in itself.
Enhanced Safety -
Ship and Environment

Case Study: MT Exxon Valdez - Grounding

On March 23, 1989, at 9:12 pm the oil tanker
Exxon Valdez left the Alyeska Pipeline to cross
Prince William Sound carrying approximately
53 million gallons of crude oil. The tanker was
headed for Long Beach, California. Three hours
later, just after midnight on March 24th, the
Exxon Valdez ran into Bligh Reef, spilling 10.8
million gallons of oil into the sound.
Estimated loss: 4.3 billion USD
Enhances Ships and Environment Safety

If Exxon Valdez had ECDIS onboard at least FIVE warning alarms would have
indicated that the vessel was in danger of grounding:

1. Leaving the outbound lane and crossing the separation zone of a traffic
separation scheme.

2. Crossing into the inbound lane.

3. Leaving a traffic separation scheme.

4. Crossing a safety depth counter.

5. Crossing a individual spot sounding.

 Enhanced earnings: Lowering ship’s running costs

During one year of operation, the

fuel consumed on MV Chastine
Maersk was by US$126,630 less
than the average between the
other Maersk ships on same route
but without Transas ECDIS systems.
 Lowering ship’s running costs

Case study: Tarntank Ship Management

Comparision Paperless vs. Non Paperless on vessel Tärndal from Tärntank Ship
Management.

After becoming a paperless vessel the Shipping company has decreased their
costs for charts and publications by approximately 40 % per year.
 Enhanced efficiency
Traditional Bridge Routine:

 Saves time on routines

 Eliminates errors in routines
 Provide better means for cognitive situation assessment
 Automation of routine navigation tasks
 Automation of Chart correction, route and user database.
 Navigator-friendly environment for One Man Bridge operation
reduces workload and stress.
 ECDIS Implementation – When?

So, when should we:

 Enhance Safety : Ship and environment

 Enhance Earnings: Lower ship’s running costs.

 Enhance efficiency.
ECDIS Training
Understanding the complexities of the transition to digital navigation is significant.
 Can ECDIS prevent incidents and casualties

The vessels….
Cosco Busan, LT Cortesia, Pride of Canterbury, CFL Performer, Federal Kivalina, Maersk Kendal,
Sichem Osprey, Beluga Revolution
…had something in common.

ISM systems and certificates were in place

They were using ECDIS
They were all involved in incidents which could (and should) have been avoided if the ECDIS
had been properly used
6 of the vessels ran aground
1 collided with the base of a suspension bridge tower
1 struck a dangerous submerged wreck

……..even though they ended up in an incident or accident,

Question is Why?

ECDIS The Project

 ECDIS not managed and operated in a proper way

Causal factors includes:

Unauthorised use of ECDIS for primary navigation

Inadequate ECDIS training and familiarisation

Inadequate route planning and monitoring

Failure to activate safety settings

Over-reliance on ECDIS

Deficiencies in the standard of bridge watch-keeping and bridge resource management

…how to prevent when implementing ECDIS?

ECDIS The Project

 Implementation of ECDIS
From another perspective

Requirement found in SIRE/ OCIMF*

“4.23 If the vessel is provided solely with paper

charts, does the operator have procedures in place
to prepare for the mandatory introduction of
ECDIS?”

* Oil Companies International Marine Forum

ECDIS The Project

 Implementation of ECDIS
from another perspective

From the notes to 4.23 you can read……

Operators must be aware of the

fundamental changes in navigation that take
place with the use of ECDIS and a program
should be in place to ensure that the
transition is smooth, equipment installed
and masters and all bridge watch keepers
properly trained.

 Fundamental changes in navigation

 Smooth transition
 Equipment installed
 Crew Trained

Is this all? How do I get there?

ECDIS The Project

ECDIS Training

An estimated 500,000 Mariners will

require ECDIS training in the future.

Two types of training mandatory:

Generic – IMO Model 1.27
Type Specific – Only guidelines exist

Training should be part of a company

program including risk assessment,
model course training and ship specific
training.
ECDIS Training – Requirements
STCW.7/Circ.18

The Sub-Committee on Standards of Training and Watch keeping, at its forty-third session (30
April to 4 May 2012), considered the need for guidance on ECDIS training.

The transitional provisions of the 2010 Manila Amendments which require seafarers to be
trained according to the new competence standards before 1 January 2017.

Masters and officers certificated under chapter II of the STCW Convention serving on board
ships fitted with ECDIS are to be familiarized (in accordance with STCW regulation I/14) with
the ship's equipment including ECDIS;

ECDIS manufacturers are encouraged to provide resources, such as type-specific materials,

which could be provided on a CD or DVD. These resources may form part of the ECDIS
familiarization training.
ECDIS Training – Requirements
STCW.7/Circ.18

After 1 January 2017, all masters and officers serving on ships fitted with ECDIS certificated
under chapter II of the STCW Convention shall have undertaken appropriate generic ECDIS
training.

Regulation I/14, paragraph 1.5 of the STCW Convention, as well as sections 6.3 and 6.5 of the
International Safety Management (ISM) Code, requires companies to ensure seafarers are
provided with familiarization training. A ship safety management system should include
familiarization with the ECDIS equipment fitted, including its backup arrangements, sensors
and related peripherals.

Administrations should inform their port State control officers of the requirements for ECDIS
training as detailed in paragraph 9 above. A certificate of competency issued in accordance2
with the 2010 Manila Amendments would be prima facie evidence of generic ECDIS training;
however, a record of the ship specific familiarization of the ECDIS should be provided
 ECDIS Training – Requirements

Generic ECDIS Training (IMO Model Course 1.27)

Provides a basic understanding of functions and limitations
of ECDIS
All officers serving on ECDIS-fitted vessels are affected
Fully compliant with STCW 2010

Type-Specific Familiarisation Training

Provides familiarization with on-board equipment
All officers serving on ECDIS-fitted vessels are affected
Training has to comply with ISM an Flag State regulations

ISM Code section 6.3 and 6.5 requires officers to be familiar

with the specific ECDIS model installed on-board.

Besides ISM requirements every Flag administration or third

party, like vetting, charterers or insurers might commend
additional training needs necessary for compliance with their
own systems or processes.
Paperless Navigation

Are you ready for Paperless Navigation?

Do you know what it takes?

Is Dual ECDIS with official charts enough?

Paperless – what it takes

All papers and procedures needs

to be streamlined to enhance
safety of navigation
Find a partner to guide you
through the process!
Requirements – how should
we comply

The system’s installation should be

accepted – safety equipment
certificate
We need to get procedures/routines
how to use the old methods in our
new tool – the ECDIS
We need to get all officers on-board
trained
We need to optimize the use of the
system: benefits form advantages
Transas guide you through the
process!
The Task

Internal procedures and documents:

ISM Manual / Bridge procedures
Officer training
Optimize use of ECDIS

You will meet external requirements from:

Customers (Charterer/Vetting/CDI)
Port state
Flag state
Class
ISM Manual

Following procedures to be adjusted:

Voyage planning
Pre departure
Watch keeping
Voyage and Monitoring
Pre arrival
Emergency
Maintenance of charts and
publications
Service and support procedures
Training

Basic
IMO Model Course 1.27 (1 week)
Theory , Hands On, Simulator
practice
Hands on training on the installed
equipment (1-2 days)

Onboard – tailor made for ship and crew

Hands on
Chart handling
Voyage planning
Procedures
External verification

Are we ready for vetting, Ports state

control, Flag state and Class inspection?

Yes ! Crew has the knowledge and the

ECDIS got the tools and data to prove
and verify procedures.

Electronic Log book

Streamlined reports, Chart status,
system status, Alarms
Play back
Data storage, tracks and user charts
Thank You.