Chairman's Summary of 1st ECDIS Revolution Conference

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by Mike Pearsall, Business Development Manager, ECDIS Ltd

Below is a summary of points made by the chairman, Philip Wake, at the end of the 1st ECDIS Revolution Conference (24-25th November 2010).  Every effort has been made to quote the speaker accurately and amplifying remarks by this author are included in brackets.

Conclusions

  • Generic training is clearly essential; of course it is mandatory now anyway.  General agreement is training should be conducted as soon as possible prior to joining a fitted ship (to avoid skill fade).
  • Type-specific training is also essential.  The debate is who should provide it – manufacturers or onboard?
  • Commonality across presenters is that it takes some months of operating with ECDIS onboard before a ship or operators are comfortable enough to go digital.  Forcing the pace of this is undesirable.
  • The safety and efficiency benefits of going digital came through strongly.  The risks of ECDIS are obvious; operators and the industry must guard against over-reliance.  ECDIS is a navigation aid, “not the be-all and end-all”.
  • There have got to be good procedures in place to standardise operating ECDIS onboard.  (For example, check-off cards)
  • Bearing in mind all of the aforementioned, all available means must be used (reference to IRPCS Rule 7) to maintain safe navigation.  We must avoid “deluge of data” (resulting from too many overlays or inputs).

Questions Raised

  • Is more standardisation necessary across the industry?
  • How will the training requirement be met in time, given the number of mariners to be trained?
  • Are trainers good enough?  Who is training the trainers?
  • What is the electronic backup?  Are visual bearings sufficient?  Is eLORAN or multiple GNSS an option?
  • Do we need an “S(tandard) Mode” button/key to return an ECDIS to default display
  • What are the best means for delivering training and where should it be conducted?  Onboard, i.e. CBT?  Maritime colleges?  Companies?
  • Is CBT (for generic or type-specific training) effective?  How would it be audited?
  • Retention of paper charts: Some say get rid completely, while others say keep in case.  The jury is still out.
  • Alarm management: How do we avoid overloading the watchkeeper?
  • Security issues: How do we guard against viruses, loss of data, etc?
  • Covered over-reliance on ECDIS/GPS, but what about over-reliance on technology and specifically, charts?  In some cases, ENCs are used with the same “ancient” data employed in paper charts.  Navigators need to keep in mind that it is harder to check source data on electronic systems, where they were used to doing so on paper.
  • Pilot’s carry-on systems: Issue of compliance and integration with bridge sensors.  Future conference subject?

ECDIS Ltd’s Foray into Warfare ECDIS Training Heralds New Website

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Global ECDIS training and solutions provider, ECDIS Ltd (www.ecdis.org), have today announced that they are diversifying into the Warfare ECDIS (WECDIS) market, following a number of high-profile contracts with international naval forces in the past twelve months.

The DMOP table and OSI WECDIS suite in the e-Navigation centre

Mike Pearsall, ECDIS Ltd’s Business Development Manager says,

“The move into the WECDIS market is a natural and logical step for ECDIS Ltd. We have already provided our services to military nations and coupled with the fact that two of our directors served in the British Royal Navy, we are perfectly placed to give sound purchasing advice and specialist training that is tailored to the considerably enhanced offerings of a WECDIS system“.

The news is accompanied by the launch of a new mini-site www.wecdis.com, which gives an insight into the history and potential offerings of a WECDIS system, alongside testimonials and an explanation of the ECDIS Ltd military pedigree.

At their headquarters in Southampton, home of ECDIS Ltd’s e-Navigation Centre, a number of ECDIS and WECDIS terminals from different manufacturers are on permanent display for visitors and students alike. An example of the warfare-specific hardware on show is a Digital Maritime Operations Plot (DMOP), manufactured and distributed by Offshore Systems (OSI), which when located on the bridge or in the Operations Room of a warship can be used by the command team for tactical/operational planning and wider situational awareness.

Peter Thornton, Director of Development at ECDIS Ltd added,

“We very much hope that other military organisations will follow in the pioneering footsteps of the Brazilian, Singapore and South African navies, who have utilised ECDIS Ltd’s WECDIS knowledge“.

Ends

ECDIS Ltd
ECDIS Ltd provide navigation training, purchasing, charting and consultation in Electronic Chart Display and Information Systems (ECDIS) and the military equivalent (WECDIS, ECDIS-N). They specialise in providing Flag State approved IMO model ECDIS courses to be taught on any IMO accredited ECDIS. Static training is delivered in their Southampton Training Centre and portable training can be conducted in a location of the customer’s choosing, even onboard if facilities can support it. ECDIS Ltd trainers are highly experienced in the practical use of ECDIS, and combined have taught over 1000 mariners. Their static ECDIS training is endorsed and accredited by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, whilst their portable training solution is approved by Det Norske Veritas.

For further information:
Malcolm Instone
Director of Operations & Standards
ECDIS Ltd
First Floor
Forum 3 Parkway
Solent Business Park
Whiteley
Fareham
PO15 7FH
United Kingdom

Tel: +44 (0) 1489 559677

Email: instone@ecdis.org
Web: www.ecdis.org
www.wecdis.com

ECDIS Ltd’s e-Navigation Centre Gets 6 New ECDIS Systems

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ECDIS Ltd have taken delivery of six ECPINS® terminals, which have been installed in their e-Navigation Centre. The WECDIS systems are made by Offshore Systems Ltd. (OSL), an OSI Geospatial Company, and will be used to deliver both generic IMO 1.27 ECDIS training and ECDIS Ltd’s 5 day WECDIS course.

Mark Broster, Managing Director of ECDIS Ltd says, “The OSL ECPINS product is regarded by many as being at the forefront of commercial and military ECDIS performance. The ECPINS system provides a comprehensive and capable navigation aid that can really add safety to a vessel if used correctly. We are therefore very excited to be able to showcase their product in our e-Navigation centre in Southampton. It will not sit idle however, as we will utilise the systems to deliver generic IMO 1.27 model ECDIS and bespoke WECDIS courses to a growing military market, therefore adding another string to our bow.”

Bryan Price, OSL’s Customer Support Manager, adds, “We have been utilising ECDIS Ltd’s expertise for some time now to deliver our WECDIS training solution to military customers worldwide. In addition to their Royal Navy specialist navigator background, the advantages of ECDIS Ltd are their flexibility in course delivery and an ability to bespoke courses to suit a military audience. In essence, we can now combine a world leading WECDIS product with world leading training to provide the ultimate solution.”

Ends

ECDIS Ltd

ECDIS Ltd provide navigation training, purchasing, charting and consultation in Electronic Chart Display and Information Systems (ECDIS) and the military equivalent (WECDIS, ECDIS-N). They specialise in providing Flag State approved IMO model ECDIS courses to be taught on any IMO accredited ECDIS. Static training is delivered in their Southampton Training Centre and portable training can be conducted in a location of the customer’s choosing, even onboard if facilities can support it. ECDIS Ltd trainers are highly experienced in the practical use of ECDIS, and combined have taught over 1000 mariners. Their static ECDIS training is endorsed and accredited by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, whilst their portable training solution is approved by Det Norske Veritas.

For further information:

Malcolm Instone
Director of Operations & Standards
ECDIS Ltd
First Floor
Forum 3 Parkway
Solent Business Park
Whiteley
Fareham
PO15 7FH
United Kingdom

Tel: +44 (0) 1489 559677
Email: instone@ecdis.org.uk
Web: www.ecdis.org