Document ID: P021

ECDIS 3 May 2022

Index

1. Roles and responsibilities

2. Scope

3. Charts and data exchange

4. Certification and onboard training

5. Operation

6. Documentation

7. Breakdown or Malfunction

8. Ship specific Risk Assessment for ECDIS failure

9. References

1. Roles and responsibilities

1.1 The Masters

The Master is responsible for:

• Ensuring on-signing navigating officers hold a Type Specific ECDIS Training

(TST) Certificate applicable to the ECDIS equipment on-board
• Reporting any malfunctions to the Fleet Group and MLFMTELENAV

1.2 The Officer on Watch

The Officer on watch (OOW) is responsible for:

• Operation and management of ECDIS during their watch

• Conducting a thorough handover of the variable ECDIS settings before leaving
the bridge

2. Scope
This procedure applies to all vessels where the Cargo Ship Safety Equipment
Certificate, FORM E section 3.2.1 mentions ECDIS as "PROVIDED".

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3. Charts and data exchange

Always update the ECDIS with the latest received corrections. Verify all ECDIS
stations are correctly updated. Keep the licensed number of electronic charts
adequate to cover the vessel's deployment.

Where ENCs are not available at all or are not of an appropriate scale for the planning
and display of the ship's voyage plan, Raster Navigational Charts (RNC) and
appropriate folio of up to date paper charts should be carried.

For ECDIS compliant vessels, combination of RNC and paper charts are to be used
only upon approval from MLFMTMAR.

Plot recent Navtex messages on the ECDIS, if Navtex is not connected to ECDIS. The
Officer on Watch shall be able to display automatic chart corrections and know how
to apply manual updates (i.e. plot EGC / Navtex messages).

A dedicated ECDIS USB stick shall be available onboard. Only use this for transferring
data to and from the ECDIS.

For vessels that are fully ECDIS compliant, it is necessary to maintain the
equipment (i.e. parallel ruler, divider, etc.) onboard to plan & safely conduct
navigation with paper charts, in case of ECDIS breakdown or malfunction.

4. Certification and onboard training

If a navigating officer does not hold the correct TST certificate, Crewing must be
contacted immediately. In such a case, the navigating officer can perform bridge
watch duties onboard only when supervised by a senior officer until the TST training
has been passed onboard.

Following ECDIS TST training can be requested for activation in Seagull:

• Transas Navi-Sailor 4000

• SAM EP Platinum/Basic MP Platinum

• SAM ChartPilot 1100/9330 or MultiPilot 1000/1100

• JRC JAN-9201/7201

• JRC JAN-701/901/2000

If the crew cannot complete the ECDIS TST in Seagull, the crew is not allowed to take

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ECDIS 3 May 2022

over the watch and must be relieved at the first available opportunity.

When joining a vessel, familiarization training is to be carried out as per “ECDIS

Familiarization Checklist”.

5. Operation
Safety settings

* The lowest forecasted tide for the transit in confined areas

Safety settings trigger indication/alarm before vessel enters waters with

insufficient depth. It also presents depth information in a manner where it is
easier to visualise ‘safe waters’ to navigate in.

• For arrival/departure with tidal restriction, establish minimum depth in the

window period, where the vessel can navigate safely over the shallow contour
area.
• Availability and interval of depth contours vary across ENC units and hence
the settings may have to be adjusted accordingly.
• Above are recommended safety settings. If a better safeguard and optimal
ECDIS display can be obtained, change the settings.
• Supplement optimal safety settings with marking of No-Go areas to ensure
utilisation of ECDIS as an effective Anti-grounding tool.

Shallow Contour

Shallow contour assists in better visualization of the seabed gradient.

Keep shallow Contour value as “Deepest draft”.

Safety Contour

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Safety Contour is the most important contour, where ECDIS would trigger an alarm if
the ship, within a specified time set by the user, crosses the safety contour.

Confined waters

Safety Contour = Deepest Draft + Squat + UKC – Tide

For arrival/departure where tidal restriction persists, a window period shall be

ascertained, if the vessel has to navigate in waters lesser than safety contour
depth.

Where the vessel must navigate in areas below the safety contour, keep in mind
that ECDIS will not generate an alarm, if the vessel runs into unsafe waters. Mark
all unsafe depths close to vessel’s intended track as ‘No Go area’.

When assessing UKC, take into account factors including and not limited to:

• Increase in draft due to heel

• Vessel’s movement in seaway
• Reduced depth over pipelines

For more details on factors that could affect vessel’s UKC, refer to GLSM P033 Under
Keel Clearance & Squat.

Deep Sea waters

Safety Contour = Deepest Draft + Squat + UKC

CATZOC

In open and confined waters, vessel shall ensure that CATZOC corrections are
factored in the UKC calculations. (Refer P021a Use of CATZOC)

Safety Depth

Depths lower than Safety Depth are highlighted in bold/black on the ENC.

ECDIS is to be set with same value for Safety Depth and Safety Contour.

Deep Contour

This can be set as to what is believed to be deep waters. This could be highlighting
of depth for choosing an anchorage location or 200m for ballast water exchange
requirement.

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ECDIS 3 May 2022

For Confined waters: Deep Contour = Twice the deepest draft

For Deep sea waters: Deep contour = 100 M

6. Documentation
Maker's certificate for the system and a diagram showing the setup of ECDIS
systems shall be available on the bridge.

7. Breakdown or Malfunction
Report ECDIS malfunctions immediately to MLFMTELENAV, with the Fleet Group in cc.
If a solution cannot be solved remotely, service shall be arranged in first available
port. Report malfunctions to Port Authorities before arrival using form I-090.

Obtain dispensation from Class/Flag State before departing from port with
malfunctioning ECDIS.

In case of complete breakdown of both ECDIS stations, contact MLFMTMAR

immediately for additional support.

In liaison with MLFMTELENAV check if ECDIS or related item(s) can be transferred

from master’s Office to the bridge.

8. Ship specific Risk Assessment for ECDIS failure

All vessels shall create a ship specific risk assessment for ECDIS failure, including
control measures to mitigate the hazards. Below are examples of hazards to include
in the risk assessment:

• Vessel's power failure

• Computer virus or other infection
• ECDIS software partial or total failure
• Input sensor failure
• Software update failure
• Chart database installation and/or update failure
• Synchronising of ECDIS data across multiple systems failure
• Route checking errors
• Incorrect or inappropriate use of safety settings

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• ECDIS user's lack of appreciation of approaching navigational hazards

• Obscured navigation information
• Misunderstood navigation information
• Information overload
• Alarm management
• Over-reliance on ECDIS

9. References
• Instruments (Doc ID: P231)
• Passage Planning (Doc ID: P019)
• Preparations for Sea (Doc ID: P022)
• Sea Watches - Change of Watch (Doc ID: P146)
• Charts & Publications
• Port State Control USCG Inspections and Custom Inspections
• 096 Checklist - Before Departure
• 090 - Pre-arrival Equipment Failure Deficiency Report
• ECDIS Safety Settings – Quick Reference Guide (Doc ID: A021)
• Use of CATZOC (Doc ID: P021a)

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