0PERATIONAL USE OF ECDIS

IMO MODEL COURSE 1.27

SET-1
1.How many types of electronic charts are available and
what are they?
Ans: there are 3 types of electronic chart.
a. ENC
b. RNC
c. Unofficial chart

2.How ENCs and RNCs are kept up to date?

Ans:ENCs and RNCs are normally kept up to date by applying regular
update information to the chart via a digital data file like CD-
ROM,wireless transmission or on a suitable media.In these cases update
is done automatically by ECDIS.Another function of ECDIS is the
capability of update manually.This manual update is done when digital
update is not available or hydrographic office publishes the update in
non-digital form.

3.What is the back up requirements for ECDIS?

Ans: A second ECDIS with independent power supply and separate GPS
input or a set of up to date paper chart for that intended voyage.

4.What to do in the in the areas without ENC?

Ans: Raster nautical Charts can be used by vessel with the approval of
Flag State of the vessel where there is no ENC available. If ENCs and
RNCs both are not available vessel must carry up to date paper chart for
that intended voyage.

5.What are the measures taken onboard a ship to avoid

over reliance on ECDIS?
Ans: Following measures should be taken to avoid over reliance on
ECDIS ;
A. Cross checking of display information by all available means.
B. Visual observation and comparison from bridge window.
C. Radar observation.
D. Following bridge procedure properly.
E. Adequate ENC training to avoid adverse result.

6.Why vector charts are called intelligent chart?

Ans: Vector charts are called intelligent chart because they can show
multilayer of information and allow to reduce clutter or add more detail
to the chart.

7.What are the major qualities/attribute of an official

ENC?
Ans: An official ENC have the following quality;
A. ENC data is based on source data or official charts of the responsible
Hydrographic Office.
B. ENCs are compiled and coded according to international standards.
C. ENCs are referred to World Geodetic System 1984(WGS-84)
D. ENC content is the responsibility of the issuing Hydrographic Office.
E. ENCs are issued only by the responsible Hydrographic Office.
F. ENCs are regularly updated with official update information
distributed digitally.

8.What is Duel Fuel mode?

Ans: Some ECDIS equipment may operate in the Raster Chart Display
System. This concept of using both data formats together in one system
is called duel fuel mode.
 SET-2

1.According to IMO Resolution MSC.232(82),what do

you understand by ECDIS?
Ans: Electronic Chart Display and Information System means a
navigation system which with adequate back up arrangements,can be
accepted as complying with the up to date chart required by regulation
V/19 and V/27 of the 1974 SOLAS Convention as amended.
It means those navigational chart systems,that have been
tested ,approved and certified as complying with IMO ECDIS
Performance standard and other relevant performance standard and
thus compliant with the ECDIS chart carriage requirements contained in
SOLAS chapter V.

2. What is the difference between ENC and SENC?

Ans: Electronic Navigation Chart is the database issued by Hydrographic
office that contains all chart information needed for safe navigation and
may contain supplement information.
System Electronic Navigation Chart is the database transformed by
ECDIS,equivalent to up-to-date paper chart,may contain info from other
sources .

3. What do you understand by ECS?

Ans: ECS is a navigation information system that electronically displays
vessel position and relevant nautical chart data and information from an
ECS database on a display screen ,but does not meet all the IMO
requirements for ECDIS and is not intended to satisfy the SOLAS chapter
v as to carry a navigational chart.

4. What are the major types of chart system?

Ans:There are three types of chart display system
A. ECDIS(Electronic Chart Display and Information System)
B. RCDS(Raster Chart Display System)
C. ECS(Electronic Chart System)
5. What do you understand by SENC and SENC delivery?
Ans:
SENC: System Electronic Navigational Chart is the database transformed
by ECDIS,equivalent to up-to-date paper chart, may contain information
from other sources.
In order to take advantage of efficiencies of ENC ,IHO has authorised an
optional distribution system called SENC delivery. This is in addition to
standard distribution of S-57 format . In this case a RENC delivers S-57
based ENCs to an authorised chart distributor who then converts the
ENC to SENC and delivers the resultant SENC to end user.

6. For ECDIS to become a legal equivalent of the chart

which criteria must be fulfilled?
Ans: For ECDIS to become a legal equivalent of the paper chart the
following criteria must be fulfilled:
1. the system must be type approved(complying with IMO performance
standard).
2. The system must have a type approved equivalent back up
arrangement. This can be done by a fully compliant second ECDIS or a
full set of up-to-date paper chart.
3. The system must use official ENCs issued by government hydrographic
office (complying with IMO/IHO S-52,S-57,S-63 and IEC61174)
4. ENCs are updated.

7. What SENC information are displayed in display base

mode?
Ans:display base mode consist of
1. Coastline(High water)
2. Own ship safety contour.
3. Indication of isolated under water danger of depth less than safety
contour in safe water defined by safety contour.
4. Indication of isolated danger which lie within safe water defined by
safety contour such as bridge,overhead wires etc and buoys & beacons
whether or not they are being used as aid to navigation.
5. Display mode.
6. Scale, range and North arrow.
7. Unit of depth and height.

8. Is there any mandatory requirement to carry ECDIS?

Ans: Mandatory requirement to carry ECDIS:
After July,2012- New built passenger ship of 500GT and above.
New built tanker ship of 3000 GT and above.
After July,2013- New built cargo ship other than tanker 10000GT and
above.
After July,2014-New built cargo ship other than tanker 3000GT and
above.
Existing passenger ship of 500GT and above.
After July,2015-Existing tanker ship of 3000GT and above.
After July,2016-Existing cargo ship of 50000GT and above.
After July,2017-Existing cargo ship of 20000GT and above.
After July,2018-Existing cargo ship of 10000GT and above.
Existing vessel of less than 10000Gt are not required to carry ECDIS but
may do so. And other vessel are those going to finish
their life time within two years are exempted from
carrying ECDIS requirement.

SET-3
1. What is SENC?
Ans: System Electronic Navigational Chart is the database transformed
by ECDIS,equivalent to up-to-date paper chart,may contain information
from other sources. Most ECDIS convert ENC dataset from S-57 format
into an machine language format. Each ECDIS manufacturers has their
own SENC format therefore SENC format may differ between
manufacturers.

2. How is an ECDIS approved and by whom?

Ans: To meet SOLAS requirement an ECDIS must be certified to show
that it conforms to IMO performance standard for ECDIS. This is
achieved trough the type approval and certification process organized by
relevant flag state.
Type approval testing is conducted using test standard and procedure
developed by International Electro-technical Commission(IEC). These are
based on IMO performance standard for ECDIS and other supportive IHO
standard(S-52,S-57,S-63). The IEC testing standard for ECDIS is IEC61174.

3. What is the difference between standard display and

base display?
Ans:
Base display: Base display is the level of information that can not be
removed from display screen,required at all times, is not for safe
navigation.
Standard display: Level of SENC information shown when switching on
ECDIS and safe for navigation. Mariners can add more detail to the
chart .

4. In the route planning mode what are the ways to

adjust the a planned route ?
Ans: Following are the primary ways to adjust a planned route:
A. Adding waypoints.
B. Deleting waypoints.
C. Changing the position of waypoint.

5. What is meant by “ship safety contour”?

Ans: Safety contour is a bold black line which divide safe and unsafe
water for ship. The value of safety contour depends on ships safety
depth. Safety contour is equal or greater than ships safety depth. The
default safety contour is 30m or next bigger. Indication provided when
planning route and alarm given when approaching approaching within a
specific time period.

6. What are the two types of symbology that ENC

supports?
Ans: There are two types of symbology supported by ENC
1. Traditional:Traditional symbologies look same as paper chart.
2. Simplified:Simplified symbologies appears on vector charts and were
invented along with ECDIS standard. Technically they are described as S-
52 standard.

7.With regards to ECDIS what is True motion and

Relative motion?
Ans: Normally ECDIS are provided with two mode of display,
A. True motion: In true motion of display own ship,other ship and other
moving objects moves along their course while other charted
information remain stationary.
B. Relative motion: In relative motion of display own ship remain
stationary while other charted information,other ship and moving
objects moves relatively to own ship position.

8. What can be done to overcome the limitations of

ECDIS?
Ans: Navigator must check the following to overcome the limitation of
ECDIS;
A. Reference system is common.
B. Charts in use are updated.
C. Appropriate chart scale in use.
D. Right sensor input(by verifying accuracy)
E. Appropriate display category(what is required to be displayed as per
user choice)
F. Cross check of vessel position by other means.

SET-4
OTHER QUESTIONS ARE ALREADY DESCRIBED IN SET-
1,2,3 ONLY THE NEW QUESTIONS ARE DESCRIBED
BELOW.

1. Is there any need to keep the ECDIS software

updated?
Ans: The ECDIS software must be kept updated to read the updated
chart and latest version of S-52 format. Failure to update may unable the
system to read the latest charts and latest version of S-52.ECDIS users
should ensure that their ECDIS software always conforms to the latest
IHO standard.

SET-5
OTHER QUESTIONS ARE ALREADY DESCRIBED IN SET-
1,2,3 ONLY THE NEW QUESTIONS ARE DESCRIBED
BELOW.

1. Hoe do you recognize ENC?

Ans: An ECDIS distinguishes ENC data from unofficial data. When
unofficial data is used ECDIS provides warning to mariners that
“unofficial data refer to official data or up-to-date paper chart.”
If unofficial data is displayed on ECDIS it’s boundaries are identified by
special line of marking of diagonal stroke.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS

1. The primary function of ECDIS is to:
A.Eliminate the need to use paper charts.
B.Reduce the number person in bridge.
C.Contribute to safe navigation.
D.Computerise shipboard navigation.
Ans: C

2. Which of the following is mandatory equipment that must be

connected with ECDIS?
A. Radar/Arpa.
B. Positional navigation sensor.
C. Track control(autopilot).
D. AIS.
Ans: B

3. An important benefit of ECDIS is:

A. Simple and reliable updating of ENC.
B. Reducing navigational workload.
C. Providing appropriate alarms and indications.
D. All of the above.
Ans: D

4. Which of the following data layer categories is not displayed on

ECDIS?
A. Notices to mariners information.
B. ECDIS warnings and messages.
C. Ship’s hydrodynamic information.
D. Hydrographic Office Data.
Ans: C

5. The database information that should be shown when a chart is first

displayed on ECDIS is the :
A. Display Base information.
B. Standard Display information.
C. System Electronic Nautical Chart.
D. Chart Display information.
Ans: B
6. ECDIS must give an alarm for which following cases?
A. When the specified limit of deviation from the planned route.
B. If the ship,within a specified time set by the watch officer, is going to
cross safety contour.
C. If the ship within a specified time set by the watch officer ,is going to
cross the boundary of a prohibited area.
D. All of the above.
Ans: D

7. Which data must ECDIS be able to record at one minute interval?

A. Position .
B. Electronic navigation chart source.
C. Course made good history.
D. All of the above.
Ans: D

8. Which of the following must an ECDIS system be able to perform?

A. Conversion of “ graphical coordinates” to display coordinates.
B. Transformation of local datum to WGS-84 datum.
C. Calculation of true azimuth and distance between two geographical
points.
D. All of the above.
Ans: D

9. Identify the orientation and mode of display required by

performance standard.
A. Ship’s draft plus UKC.
B. North Up orientation and True motion display.
C. Overwriting of the track file every 24 hours.
D. Any orientation in either true or relative.
Ans: B

10. If the ECDIS monitor’s resolution is poor or improperly set, what

may be affected on ECDIS?
A. Chart scale may be misrepresented
B. Chart features may not be shown in the intended colour
C. Fineness of details may be lost
D. All of the above
Ans: D
11. Which of the following reference system affect the information on
ECDIS?
A. Draft of the vessel entered into sounder that is connected to ECDIS.
B. Physical location of scanner for ARPA connected to ECDIS.
C. Geodetic system used in creation of the chart data.
D. All of the above.
Ans: D

12. With radar overlay on ECDIS,what can be the cause(s) of radar

echos not matching the charted position of fixed object?
A. Incorrect input of ship’s position fixing device(GPS).
B. Improper coordinate settings of radar antenna,conning station or
ship’s dimension.
C. Either the chart display category is in base display or the scale is so
small that it is showing layer lost.
D. All of the above.
Ans: D

13. It is thought or known that floating aids to navigation (buoys) have

shifted ,how should this be interpreted on ECDIS?
A. Charted buoy informations are more reliable than own ships GPS
position information.
B. ECDIS always shows the exact position of buoys.
C. ….………………………………………………………………………………………………….
D. Buoy position changes are never included in ENC updates.
Ans: C

14. What error may occur in the ECDIS if hydrographic or chart survey
data is inaccurate?
A. The vessels geographic position may not match the charted display.
B. Own ship may not be navigating in safe water ,despite the information
on the ECDIS display.
C. Radar overlay and chart data may be mismatched.
D. All of the above.
Ans: D

15. Which of the following statements best describes manual chart

corrections for ECDIS?
A. Manual correction constitute outer information layer, added by the
mariner, with no automatic record of installation.
B. Manual corrections are included in the CD that vessels receive
periodically from NGA(formerly NIMA).
C. When US notices to mariner is downloaded from NGA website ,
the .pdf and .jpg files are automatically installed into the ECDIS chart.
D. All of the above.
Ans: A

16. Ships carrying type approved ECDIS must have an equivalent type
approved backup system that must enable a safe takeover of
navigation and continue safe passage if the ECDIS fails
A. This backup arrangements may be with a full set of paper charts or
fully compliant ECDIS.
B. This backup arrangements may be with a full set of paper charts only.
C. This backup arrangements may be with a fully compliant ECDIS only.
D. None of the above.
Ans: A

17. Raster chart data is :

A. A digitalized “picture” of a chart comprised of millions of “ picture
elements” or “pixels”.
B. A photo/scan copy of paper chart.
C. A modern and advanced method of chart system launched by USA .
D. Old fathom chart.
Ans: B

18. The symbols for ECDIS are based on:

A. Completely new design elements introduced by IMO .
B. The familiar paper chart symbols,with some optional extras such as
simplified buoy symbols that show up better at night.
C. The familiar paper chart symbols , with no extra symbols whatsoever.
D. None of the above.
Ans: B

TRUE OR FALSE STATEMENT

1. A Faulty GPS presents no risk to navigation by ECDIS.
Ans: False.

2. RCDS is a mode of operation using raster data,whereas the ECDIS uses

official vector data.
Ans: True.

3. When zooming out(under scaling) on an ECDIS using vector chart

data , all information layers remain on the display.
Ans: False.

4. ENC data and official updates are transformed into SENC database.
Ans: True.

5. Except for display base , the operator selects chart data for display
that is relevant to the current passage.
Ans: True.

6. GPS position information is not correlated to any particular geodetic

datum.
Ans: False

7. The position of own ship on ECDIS is unreliable if the position sensor

and the display chart information have different geodetic coordinate
system.
Ans: True.

8. Vector chart data is organized according to points, lines and polygons

that are geo-referenced and have coded attributes.
Ans: True.

9. Automatic updates are transformed into the SENC in a manner

invisible to user.
Ans: True.

10. Zooming in very close on an ECDIS is called “overscaling”.

Ans: True.
11. When zooming in very close on an ECDIS displaying a vector chart ,
some chart objects may be dropped from the display layers.
Ans: True.

12. ENC updates may be viewed on the ECDIS display.

Ans: True.

13. Manual corrections are transformed into the SENC as user added
information layer .
Ans: True.

14. The users can not alter the contents of manual corrections.
Ans: False.

15. Vessels subject to SOLAS requirements must carry charts for the
intended voyage ,issued by an official hydrographic office and that are
up-to-date.
Ans: True.

16. Chart data used by an ECDIS meeting SOLAS requirements is

produced according to IHO S-57 edition & specifications.
Ans: True

SOME DEFINITIONS TO KNOW

Dead reckoning: A method of estimating ships position by applying

distance and direction travelled to a known position . It excludes the
effect of tide and wind.

Estimated position: An estimate position of the ship at a certain time is

worked by adding the estimated effect of tide and wind to dead
reckoning.

Safety depth: Safety depth is the depth safe for vessels navigation, which
includes ships draft ,UKC , squat,Catzoc.
Safety depth= ships draft + company UKC policy + squat
effect(static/dynamic) + CatZoc.
Contour: A bold black line which lies between safe and unsafe water.
Ships safety contour is always equal or greater than safety depth.

Shallow contour: Shallow contour is the line in unsafe water beyond

which the ship is assumed to be aground. Shallow contour is equal to
ships draft + squat.

Deep contour: Deep contour is double of ships draft .

Safe water: The water area between safety contour and deep contour.

Scamin: Scale minimum of object is the scale below which the object and
its information may not be visible.

Cell: ENC charts are called cell. Cell number consist of 8 digit alpha
numerical number.
1st two digit- Country code which the chart belongs to
3rd digit - Type of chart
Last 5 digit - chart number.

Types of chart:
1- Overview
2- General
3- Coastal
4- Approach
5- Harbour
6- Berthing

Follow the ship:

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PRACTICAL KNOWLEDGE TO KNOW
PLANNING MODE TWO SHADE CHART LOADING
MONITORING MODE FOUR SHADE UPDATE
OPTIONS RADAR OVERLAY INSTALL CHART
CONSOLE EVENT USER PERMIT
TOOL BAR EVENT LOG TEST CHART
TIME LOG BOOK ADMIRALTY CHART
ROUTE AUTO CENTERING CATALOGUE
PROFILE CENTERING C-MAP CHART
DR-SIMULATION FOLLOW THE SHIP CATALOGUEPOSITION
TRACK AUTO LOADING FIXING BY LOP
ALARMS PROPERTIES POSITION FIXING BY
CHART SETINGS BEARING AND RADAR
STANDARD DISPLAY DISTANCE FROM POINT CHART NOT MATCHING
BASE DISPLAY TO SHIP WITH RADAR
EXTENDED DISPLAY AND POINT TO POINT PICTURES/OFFSET
SENSORS LOOK AHEAD FEATURES ROUTE PLANNING
NORTH UP & TRUE PREDICTOR CREATE ROUTE
MOTION TARGET PREDICTOR EDIT ROUTE
TECHNICAL TARGET LIST APPEND WAYPOINT
SAFETY DEPTH VECTOR ROUTE ALARMS
SAFETY CONTOUR NAVIGATORS EDITOR ADJUST ROUTE
SHALLOW CONTOUR OBJECT EDITOR CHECK ROUTE
DEEP CONTOUR USER CHART ROUTE MONITOR