Training exercises

GWD11560-13

Training exercises
NMEA Route Simulator

All training exercises require that you run the NMEA Route Simulator java application.

 To change route or exercise: Press the ‘start’

button, so it is not depressed. Now you can
select another exercise and then press ‘start’
again to start the new exercise.

 If sensors disappear in the ECDIS application:

press start twice (restarting the exercise)

 To shift between the simulator and the ECDIS

application: press Alt+TAB

 ‘Time factor’ makes the playing of the exercise

route go faster (1 is normal “life” speed)

Follow the instructions on the following pages to get started with the training exercises.

Each exercise finishes with a set of self-check questions. An answer key to all self-check questions
can be found at the end of this document.

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Exercise 1: Setting basic parameters and the grounding check

Purpose: Gain experience with the chart depth settings and the grounding alarm.

Description: In this exercise, the basic ship parameters will be set up. Inputs from a ship are
simulated on the test base dataset, and alarms etc. compared to settings.

Actions:
1. Pick “Exercise 1 Route” in the NMEA Route Simulator. Change the “Time factor” to 6 or similar
and press ‘Start’.

2. In the ECDIS application change the chart contours settings ‘Main Menu’-‘Settings’-‘Chart’-
‘Portrayal settings’ to Shallow contour 2.0m, Safety contour 5.0m, Deep contour 20m, Safety
depth 5.0m, and set Color mode to 4 colors. Under ‘Menu’-‘Nav data’-‘Chart library’ make sure
the test base dataset (‘ENCTDS_ED31’) ‘display’ is turned on.

3. Under ‘Settings’-‘Vessel’-‘Display settings’ set the velocity vector length to 1 min. Under
o
‘Settings’-‘Alerts’-‘Grounding check’ set ‘Guard Zone shape’ to Sector and ‘Zone angle’ to 45 .
Choose ‘Safety Distance’ instead of ‘Time Prediction’ and set it to 0.5NM. Clear all alarms at the
top right by clicking the alert indicator icon, and then clicking each alert or by clicking ‘Ack’ on
the Alert quick acknowledge panel (note that in some versions and installation you may not be
able to clear “Secondary SOG source lost”). Open the grounding check panel (press next to
the own ship icon ) and set the update rate to 1” (1 second).

Alert quick acknowledge panel

Press Ack to acknowledge an alert

4. Now look at the ship going around (you can change the “Time Factor” in the route simulator to 20
if you like). What are the dangers? Try changing the safety contour to 8.0m. Now, every now and
then, the alarm “Crossing Safety Contour” appears. Why is that?

5. Try zooming out. Does any new alert or permanent message appear?

Extra exercise:
Discuss with your colleagues, what is an appropriate setting of “Velocity vector length” and “Safety
distance” for your ship? What if you change Safety distance to Prediction time instead?

Self-check questions:
1. When the safety contour was set to 5.0m, what alarms, warnings dangers and cautions did your
ship meet?
a. Safety contour crossing alarm

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b. Dredging area (warning), warning – Cross boundary of area with special conditions (the
dredging area) & buoy special purpose (warning, marking the spoiled dumping ground)
c. Traffic separation zone crossing, ferry route crossing and wreck
d. Crossing north of a south cardinal marker
e. No alarms
f. All of the above

2. What happens if you zoom out?

a. Safety contour is not available and chart is overzoomed
b. Safety contour is not available and chart is not for use with position device
c. “Larger scale available. GBX02SE 1:25000” or “No ENC available, refer to paper chart”
d. Overscale alarm and not for position
e. Safety depth is not available and chart is not for official use
f. Only ‘Data not accessed’ appears in the grounding check panel

Fact about the ECDIS: When the ECDIS was made mandatory, a key argument was the ability of the
ECDIS to reduce groundings because the ECDIS was capable of alarming about shallow waters. DNV
1
made a cost-benefit report of this . Therefore, a basic requirement to an ECDIS operator would be that
he or she is able to set meaningful grounding checks.

Exercise 2: AIS targets

Purpose: Gain experience detecting and using AIS targets.

Description: In this exercise, a situation is set up where several AIS targets roam.

Actions:
1. Pick “Exercise 2 Route” in the NMEA Route Simulator. Change the “Time factor” to 5 or similar
and press ‘Start’.

2. In the ECDIS application, make sure the test base dataset (‘ENCTDS_ED31’) ‘display’ is turned
on under ‘Menu’-‘Nav data’-‘Chart library’ and it is in view on the chart.

3. The settings of contours should be as in exercise 1. In ‘Main Menu’ – ‘Settings’ – ‘Alarms’, turn on
‘Lost AIS target alarm’. Under ‘Menu’ – ‘Settings’ – ‘AIS’ – ‘Configuration’, settings are as follows:

1
http://research.dnv.com/skj/FSA-ENC/ECDIS-ENC-08-report.pdf
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4. Set the AIS lost target alarm to 3.00NM:

5. Look at the display of AIS targets and alarms.

AIS Target lost: If the “Time factor” in the route simulator is set to 1 when the ship reaches the
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55m depth indication at 32 29.8’S, 61 06.6’E, the AIS ship coming from North will generate an
AIS target lost alarm shortly after (note that if the “Time factor” is too fast, no alarm is generated).
AIS dangerous range: Try other distance values for dangerous and activation to reduce the
number of dangerous alarms.
AIS Information: Go to the AIS monitor at ‘Main Menu’ – ‘Layers’ – ‘AIS’. How many ships are
seen? Try to change manual update every 30 seconds. Try turning the AIS overlay on or off in
‘Menu’ – ‘Layers’ – ‘Chart overlay’.

6. There is also an AIS SART transponder shown. Can you find it?

Extra exercise:
Discuss with your colleagues, what is an appropriate setting of dangerous/activation for your ship?

Self-check questions:
1. One AIS ship experiences an AIS target loss, as described. What is the name of this ship?
a. STEAMER2
b. LOSTATSEA
c. STEAMER1
d. STEAMERAHEAD
e. STEAMER3

2. What is the difference between ‘activation’ and ‘dangerous’?

a. If within activation range, it is displayed. If within dangerous range, it turns red.
b. If within activation range of speed, it gets activated. If within dangerous range, it becomes
dangerous.
c. Activation depends on the activity of the ship. Dangerous depends on the goods carried.
d. For activation the AIS target’s name is displayed and it gets a heading line. When in
dangerous range, the AIS target turns red in addition.
e. All of the above.

3. There is an active AIS SART transponder displayed. Find it on the chart. What is displayed next
to it?
a. “SART”.

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b. The MMSI number (970014006) and a blue round circle with a cross inside.
c. It is a blinking red dot with “AIS” next to it.

History about the AIS SART and the ECDIS: The AIS SART is only a location device (e.g. to locate
a life raft) and not a distress beacon (like the EPIRB). It has been sold as an “emergency beacon” by
some leisure ship manufacturers, and used as e.g. a MOB device for leisure, in addition to its original
use. Some ECDIS will display the AIS SART, others will not. However, for the new ECDIS standard
(IEC 61174 Ed.4 (2015)) it will be ensured, that all ECDIS with AIS capability will show the AIS SART.

Exercise 3: Following a route

Purpose: Gain experience defining, checking and sailing after a route.

Description: A pre-defined route is loaded. This route is checked and any error is corrected. The
ships shall sail after this route.

Actions:
1. Pick “Exercise 3 Route” in the NMEA Route Simulator. Change the “Time factor” to 5 or similar
and press ‘Start’. Once started press the ‘Pause’ button, so the ship does not move until we have
set up our route.

2. Clear or acknowledge any alerts in the ECDIS application.

3. In the ECDIS application change the chart contours settings ‘Main Menu’ – ‘Settings’ – ‘Chart’ –
‘Portrayal settings’ to Shallow contour 2.0m, Safety contour 5.0m, Deep contour 20m, Safety
depth 5.0m. Under ‘Settings’-‘Vessel’-‘Display settings’ set the velocity vector length to 1 min.
Under ‘Settings’-‘Alerts’-‘Grounding check’ set ‘Guard Zone shape’ to Sector and ‘Zone angle’ to
o
45 . Choose ‘Safety Distance’ instead of ‘Time Prediction’ and set it to 0.5NM. Under ‘Menu’-‘Nav
data’-‘Chart library’ make sure that the test base dataset (‘ENCTDS_ED31’) ‘display’ is turned on.

4. Under ‘Menu’-‘Routes’ you should have a route called ‘Exercise 3 user route’. Open this route
and make a copy. Save the route as ‘Exercise 3 abc’ where abc is your initials. Next, go back to
‘Routes’ and select the new saved route. Make a grounding check. Are any legs not approved
(i.e. on too shallow water or dangers)? Are there any cautions for the route?

5. Change the waypoint that is into too shallow water so it is between the two last markers of the
channel. Save the route.

6. Now go to ‘Main Menu’ – ‘Voyage’ and double click on the new route and click ‘Start’. Also make
sure that “Exercise 3 Route” in the NMEA Route Simulator is resumed. Notice the route warnings
(DWOL, DTA, etc.) and the route monitoring panel.

7. To start over, you can end the voyage, change to the simulator and click the ‘Start’ button twice,
and then ‘Start voyage’ again.

Extra exercise:
Some other alerts appear if the alert settings from the previous exercises are used (e.g. ‘Safety
contour crossed’), taking away attention from the route. Discuss or explore how you could change
settings to avoid these non-important alerts.
Discuss with your colleagues, which route pre-turn warning and acknowledge time are a good choice.

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Self-check questions:
1. What was the number of the waypoint that you changed?
a. WP7
b. WP3
c. WP13
d. Waypoint A
e. Leg 4

2. What is the different between “Route” and “Voyage”?

a. Route: create and edit waypoints; Voyage: create and edit route.
b. Route: monitoring a voyage of a route; Voyage: create and edit routes for a voyage.
c. Route: import and export route; Voyage: create and edit route.
d. Route: create and edit routes for a voyage; Voyage: monitoring a voyage of a route

3. What do DTA, TTG and TTA stand for?

a. Distance To Arrival (to end of waypoint), Time To Go (to waypoint), Time To Arrival from
current position to end route.
b. Date To Arrival (to end of route), Time To Go (to last waypoint), Time To Arrival (to end of
route)
c. Distance To Arrival (next waypoint), Time To Gateway, Time To Arrival

4. Which cautions did the route planning check give?

5. (besides “Territorial sea area” for some ECDIS versions)

a. Fairway
b. Fishing cage
c. Prohibited area
d. None of the above

Does the date and time set in the ECDIS matter for route planning? Think about it? How could it
possibly matter? Well, some things can be time-coded into the charts, for instance the change or
appearance of a Traffic Separation System, periodic markings, anchor numbering, new quays or
bridges under construction. The use varies from one Hydrographic Office to another.

Exercise 4: Using the anchor watch

Purpose: Gain experience using the anchor watch.

Description: An anchor simulation is run. The anchor watch is set. The conditions will change and the
anchor will unset and an alert should be set.

Actions:
1. Pick “Exercise 4 Anchor” in the NMEA Route Simulator. Change the “Time Factor” to 5 or similar
and press ‘Start’. Once started press the ‘Pause’ button, so the ship does not move until we have
set up our parameters.

2. Clear and acknowledge any alerts in the ECDIS application.

3. In the ECDIS application change or verify the anchor settings under ‘Settings’-‘Vessel’-‘Vessel
particulars’-‘Vessel dimensions and performance characteristics’. Then press the ‘Vessel device

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settings’ and choose ‘anchor 1’. X should be 5m and Y should be 10m. Swing circle (the default)
should be 200m. The master password default is ‘0000’.

4. Now change to the NMEA Route Simulator and click pause to exit pause mode. Now the ship
should be moving towards an anchor area. When the ship speed over ground changes to 0.1kn

(or crosses the 30m depth contour), press the anchor watch indicator . We expect an anchor
line just short of 1 cable length (185m) plus the length of the ship (20m), so the swing circle can be
set to 210m.
Note: If the own ship parameters have been changed or the swing circle has been narrower last time, some versions of the
ECDIS will give the “Outside the anchor watch swing” immediately. It can be cleared by pressing “Ack”.

5. The simulator will proceed to simulate the ship being anchored in West-going current and Eastern
wind. The anchor watch alarm should not get activated.

6. To start over, you can end the anchor watch by clicking the anchor watch indicator , and then
stop and start the NMEA Route simulator.

Extra exercise:
If the length of the ship was 200m, and the distance from the anchor point to the anchor was 185m,
then what would be the minimum possible swing circle?

Self-check questions:
1. Where approximately did the ship release the anchor?
a. At position 32°30.60S 061°03.92E (approximately)
b. At position 32°34.33S 061°04.03E (approximately)
c. At position 32°23.23S 061°12.19E (approximately)

2. When do you set the anchor watch?

a. At any time on anchor
b. When the anchor is released and hits the bottom, or over the position where the anchor is set
c. When the ship is set with the anchor and the anchor line is taught (e.g. while reversing)

3. What happens after the anchor watch is set, and the prevailing wind and current change?
a. The wind and current changes to Western wind and East-going current
b. The ship loses the hold and drifts off
c. The ship swings around the anchor to the right/Eastern side of the anchor circle
d. All of the above

Exercise 5: Maintaining the ECDIS

Purpose: Understand the basic ways to maintain the ECDIS software itself and how to get support for
any issue.

Description: Learn about how to identify the ECDIS system version, how to use ‘Dump for Support’
and for what.

Actions:
1. First find the current software version of your ECDIS. Go to System information under settings.
Note down the version number.

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2. Since IHO (International Hydrographic Office) from time to time introduces new symbols or finds
issues related to navigation with ECDIS (such as the so-called “ECDIS anomalies”), it should be
possible to update the ECDIS software. Check with www.danelec-marine.com (search
‘compliance’) to see whether the software is up to date.

3. If a software update is available it can be installed by the crew under ‘Management menu’.

4. ‘Dump for support’ can be used to save information used for off-ship analysis of the ECDIS setup
in case of any technical issues. Find the ‘Dump for support’ menu on the ECDIS.

Extra exercise:
What happens if the ECDIS hardware itself must be replaced? Watch the Danelec SWAP video at
www.danelec-marine.com.

Self-check questions:
1. What is the version number of the ECDIS application software you are running?
a. Danelec Marine ECDIS 3.01 or similar
b. Version ECDIS.1 or later
c. Version 2.10 or similar
d. Danelec Marine ECDIS Version 1.4.a or later (at least one letter)

2. How can you make a ‘Dump for support’ file?

a. Go to System menu in Log panel and save the log entries to a removable device by clicking
the printer icon and then selecting the Save as PDF option.
b. Go to Management menu in System under Settings panel and click Dump for support to save
the Dump for support file to a USB stick (requires master password).
c. Select the Dump for support option in System under Settings panel where you can save the
Dump for support file to a USB stick.

3. If there is a new software version for the ECDIS, containing fixes and functionality improvements,
how can you update your ECDIS to the new software version?
a. You have to wait for a service technician to attend the vessel and update the software.
b. Go to Backup and restore user setting in System under Settings panel and select the Software
update option at the end of the process.
c. Go to Management menu in System under Settings panel and select the Software update
option (requires master password).
d. The software will be automatically updated once a USB stick containing the newest software
version is connected to the system.

The ECDIS and service: The organizations BIMCO (shipowners), CIRM (equipment manufacturers)
and IEC (standardization of marine equipment) have all launched initiatives as of December 2015 to
improve the service and update of navigation equipment. One of the initial ideas is to clearly divide the
responsibilities into 3 parts: shipowner, service technician and manufacturer.

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Answer key to self-check questions

Exercise 1: Setting basic parameters and the grounding check

Question 1:
b. Dredging area (warning), warning – Cross boundary of area with special conditions (the dredging area) & buoy
special purpose (warning, marking the spoiled dumping ground)
(Comment: “territorial sea area” is also marked as a caution in some ECDIS versions.)

Question 2:
c.“Larger scale available. GBX02SE 1:25000” or “No ENC available, refer to paper chart”

Exercise 2: AIS targets

Question 1:
c. STEAMER1
(LostAtSea also disappears, but is never near own ship, and therefore should not give a “target lost” alert.)

Question 2:
d. For activation the AIS target’s name is displayed and it gets a heading line. When in dangerous range, the AIS
target turns red in addition.

Question 3:
b. The MMSI number (970014006) and a blue round circle with a cross inside.

Exercise 3: Following a route

Question 1:
a. WP7

Question 2:
d. Route: create and edit routes for a voyage; Voyage: monitoring a voyage of a route

Question 3:
a. Distance To Arrival (to end of waypoint), Time To Go (to waypoint), Time To Arrival from current position to end
route.

Question 4:
d. None of the above

Exercise 4: Using the anchor watch

Question 1:
b. At position 32°34.33S 061°04.03E (approximately)

Question 2:
b. When the anchor is released and hits the bottom, or over the position where the anchor is set

Question 3:
d. All of the above

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Exercise 5: Maintaining the ECDIS

Question 1:
a. Version 3.01 or similar

Question 2:
b. Go to Management menu in System under Settings panel and click Dump for support to save the Dump for
support file to a USB stick (requires master password).
c. Select the Dump for support option in System under Settings panel where you can save the Dump for support
file to a USB stick.
(both are possible)

Question 3:
c. Go to Management menu in System under Settings panel and select the Software update option (requires
master password)

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