Archive for year: 2012

UK based ECDIS training and consultancy company ECDIS Ltd are pleased to announce their unveiling of a VSTEP NAUTIS full mission bridge simulator with a 315° viewing capability. It is to primarily be used for Bridge Team training but has been fitted with 4 different ECDIS systems all integrated with the NAUTIS software. The Simulator was opened last month by MP George Hollingbery in Southampton.
The Bridge Simulator is to accompany the 6 smaller NAUTIS simulators already used for visual channels during the IMO 1.27 Model ECDIS Course. VSTEP are world renowned for their simulator software and have the capability of integrating their system with most ECDIS manufactures using standard NMEA strings as found onboard any vessel.

The Bridge Simulator has been setup with 2 RADARs and 4 ECDIS systems including OSI, Kelvin Hughes, JRC and Transas which are all full integrated. However it can also be integrated with other ECDIS manufacturers as required by clients. The system is capable of displaying RADAR, AIS and ARPA overlays onto the ECDIS giving an extremely realistic experience for the mariner.
Mark Broster, Managing Director of ECDIS Ltd, says: “It represents another milestone in our company that we have partnered with such a large, well respected and global simulator manufacturer. However, our aim remains the same, to provide excellent quality training at affordable prices to the mariner. Expanding our portfolio with the Enav Centre is providing exactly that. Due to the success of this project, it is likely that we will select the VSTEP simulation solution for all our future facilities and procurements abroad.”
Malcolm Instone, Director of Operations & Standards, adds: “Considerable time and effort goes into the development of our ECDIS courses to ensure that they are of the highest quality, and the new Bridge Team Management, Bridge Resource Management and Bridge Procedures courses are no different. ECDIS Ltd and the Enav Centre’s comprehensive course content is delivered by consummate professionals with extensive knowledge and experience of navigating. The result is the very best training available anywhere in the world.”
Natalie Robson, an instructor at ECDIS Ltd, says: “The VSTEP software has proven very easy to use, flexibility, ability to integrate with multiple ECDIS and multiple devices, wide variety of ship models, it is a likely candidate for future equipment requirements in line with company expansion. It has now come on line as our training solution for compliance with the 2012 edition of the IMO 1.27 Model ECDIS Course. I am glad it is being used in the full-mission bridge simulator as it is so capable.”
Pjotr van Schothorst, Technical Director at VSTEP: “We are happy to be selected by ECDIS Ltd as the simulator of choice for their Full Mission Bridge Simulator. ECDIS Ltd were able to install and set up the simulator with minimal assistance, which proves the ease of use of our software. ECDIS Ltd is definitely on the right track to grow globally as high quality multi-vendor ECDIS training provider, and we are delighted to be part of their plan.”
The official opening of the Bridge Simulator took place on Friday the 26th of October, 2012.

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). A forward thinking company, they have pioneered the embodiment of ECDIS in SMS procedures with the ECDIS Procedures Guide and have paved the way for a better understanding of ECDIS with the ECDIS Manual. ECDIS Ltd specialise in providing Flag State approved IMO model ECDIS courses and Equipment Specific training on an extensive number of systems.  Static training is delivered in their state of the art Training Centre near Southampton (UK) 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 2000 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. Equipment Specific training is accredited by the Nautical Institute.

About NAUTIS
The NAUTIS range of advanced DNV certified maritime training simulators offers an affordable and effective alternative for training maritime professionals, officers and crews. With a full range of simulators, from desktop trainer to full mission bridge simulator, VSTEP has a cost-effective training solution fulfilling the training requirements of both the civilian and military maritime industry, including nautical colleges, naval academies, maritime training centres and individual ship owners in compliance to the latest STCW requirements. For more information visit www.nautissim.com

About VSTEP
VSTEP is a leading European developer of simulators and virtual training software. Using interactive 3D technology, VSTEP creates awardwinning training applications that allow people to build their skills in a practical and cost effective way.  Since its founding in 2002, VSTEP has delivered numerous simulator solutions for leading industry clients and governmental organisations worldwide. As one of the industry leaders, VSTEP continues to innovate the virtual training world with professional, accurate and groundbreaking new simulation technology for both the maritime and  incident management response sector. A winner of multiple innovation prizes and awards, VSTEP sets the standard for virtual training and simulation and advocates more effective training through enhanced virtual reality. www.vstepsimulation.com

For further information:

 

Natalie Robson

ECDIS Ltd

Ground Floor

Atlantic 3600 Building Parkway

Solent Business Park

Whiteley

Fareham

PO15 7AN

United Kingdom

 

Tel: +44 (0) 1489 559677

Email: Robson@ecdis.org

Web: www.ecdis.org

UK based ECDIS training and consultancy company ECDIS Ltd have signed a new agreement with Kelvin Hughes to take ECDIS Ltd MantaDigital training worldwide. The new agreement now provides access for Kelvin Hughes distributers worldwide to book Generic and Type Specific ECDIS courses directly with ECDIS Ltd for training on Kelvin Hughes MantaDigital™ software. The streamlined course booking process will ensure a more efficient training service for Kelvin Hughes customers.

Kelvin Hughes is a world leader in the design and supply of marine navigation systems with over two and a half centuries of experience and knowledge. With a history that dates back to the 1800’s, they have a highly innovative product range, which is designed to provide mariners with the most advanced navigation solutions and services available.

 

ECDIS Ltd provide training of Kelvin Hughes Manta Digital ECDIS onboard or at their facility.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Malcolm Instone, Director of Operations & Standards of ECDIS Ltd, says,

“It is a pleasure to be working with such a well established company that has been servicing the industry for over 250 years. We are delighted to be their worldwide independent training provider. MantaDigital ECDIS is constantly improving and evolving, and as such we will ensure that the training content is kept up to date so that it complies with certification requirements and policy.”

Natalie Robson, an instructor at ECDIS Ltd, adds,

“We have already been providing both 5 day 1.27 Generic and Type Specific courses on MantaDigital worldwide. Considerable time and effort has gone into the development of our Kelvin Hughes ECDIS courses to ensure that they are of the highest quality, and to fully prepare the instructors for all possible questions about the system. This is vitally important as students wish to explore specific aspects and functions in great depth, or any particular issues they have faced in the past. Getting an answer to a system specific question from a knowledgeable instructor that does not appear in the user guide is an obvious advantage over Computer Based Training (CBT).”

Barry Jones, Sales Manager at Kelvin Hughes, adds,

“Training is the key to safe and effective introduction of ECDIS for primary navigation and we are delighted that ECDIS Ltd are providing generic and type specific training on our multi-function MantaDigital ECDIS. With staff that is well known for its experience and capability we believe that ECDIS Ltd deliver some of the best ECDIS training available anywhere in the world to our customers.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

PRESS RELEASE

16 May 2012

ECDIS ‘Top Guns’ Announced

UK based ECDIS training and consultancy company ECDIS Ltd are celebrating over two years award of the Honourable Company of Master Mariners (HCMM) sponsored ECDIS prize.  The prize is awarded to the best ECDIS student of the month and is eligible to all those undertaking a generic IMO 1.27 ECDIS training course with ECDIS Ltd.  In recognition of their success, the worthy recipient receives an elegant gift and a plaque with the student’s name on it adorns the ‘Ship’s Wheel’ at ECDIS Ltd’s facility.  A list of past winners can be found at the following link www.ecdis.org/training/awards.

 The origin of the Honourable Company may be traced to the Annual Shipmasters’ Dinner held in Liverpool on 2nd March 1921.  Sir Burton-Chadwick suggested that the profession was entitled to form, and was capable of forming, a Guild or Company very much on the lines of the old City of London Livery Companies.  His vision was realised on 25th June 1926 with the formation of the Company of Master Mariners.  Her Majesty the Queen became the Honourable Company’s Patron in 1952.  His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh was Master from 1954 to 1957, and then became Admiral of the Company – a post he holds to this day.  His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales was Master from 1988 to 1990.

Malcolm Instone, Director of Operations & Standards at ECDIS Ltd, says,

“All at ECDIS Ltd are immensely proud of the company’s link with the HCMM and are extremely honoured that they are sponsoring one of our prizes.  By doing so they are actively encouraging mariners not to simply meet the mandated minimum requirement of certification, but to strive to constantly improve and better themselves in the field of navigation and ECDIS in particular.  Professional development is the application of the will of the individual to build upon knowledge acquired through education, training and experience; something which lies at the heart of ECDIS Ltd and the HCMM.”

The citation reads: “The HCMM prize for the best student of the ECDIS Ltd training course in the safe use and management of Electronic Chart Display and Information Systems.”

The HCMM added,

“The Honourable Company has as its core purpose the maintenance of standards and professionalism of Deck Officers of the Merchant Service and the continuing need to incorporate modern technologies in the operation of and management of command facilities at sea and particularly in the area of navigational safety.  The Master Mariners are proud to support the work of ECDIS Ltd in this field.”

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 and Equipment Specific training on an extensive number of systems.  Static training is delivered in their state of the art Training Centre near Southampton (UK) 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 1500 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. Equipment Specific training is accredited by the Nautical Institute.

For further information:

Malcolm Instone

Director of Operations & Standards

ECDIS Ltd

Ground Floor

Atlantic 3600 Building Parkway

Solent Business Park

Whiteley

Fareham

PO15 7AN

United Kingdom

 

Tel: +44 (0) 1489 559677

Email: instone@ecdis.org 

Web: www.ecdis.org

 

 

 

 

The procedures contained in the ‘ECDIS Procedures Guide’ are recommendations, designed to accompany a ship’s safety management system (SMS), regarding the use of ECDIS for navigation for voyage planning and while at sea.

Regulations require navigating officers to adopt and adhere to new watchkeeping routines and practices to support the use of ECDIS. The ‘ECDIS Procedures Guide’ contains a practical and concise framework, with supporting information and checklists, to help companies implement best practice in the use of ECDIS.

The ‘ECDIS Procedures Guide’ contains information on:

• Policy
• training
• use of ECDIS for navigation
• use of ECDIS on Passage
• route planning
• chart updating
• administration and records.

Examples include type-specific course content and log examples for manual corrections, spot checks and chart updates.

When asked how the Guide came to be written, Mal Instone, Director at ECDIS Ltd and author of the ‘ECDIS Procedures Guide’ explained that:

“Many of the ship owners who were early adopters of ECDIS approached ECDIS Ltd directly, requesting our assistance to help them develop and implement robust operating procedures for use onboard their ships and appropriate to the make of ECDIS in use”.

Mark Broster, Managing Director of ECDIS Ltd, went on to explain that

“we all realised that the natural next step was to develop a generic set of procedures that could be used by all merchant vessels and we identified Witherbys as the most appropriate publisher to help us with the project.”

The ‘ECDIS Procedures Guide’ is available from Witherby Seamanship at www.witherbyseamanship.com and at all good maritime chart and book stockists.

Written by:        ECDIS Ltd
Published by:    Witherby Seamanship International Ltd
Book £75          ISBN 978-1-85609-535-8
eBook £75         eISBN                                                   (eBook excludes any applicable taxes)

ECDIS entry in to force requirements:
The regulations concerning the fitting of ECDIS onboard ship commences its entry in to force phase from
1 July 2012, where a ship may navigate with an approved ECDIS as the primary means of navigation if:

• Sufficient official data, adequate for the intended passage, is installed (ENC and RNC)
• the installed ECDIS is type-approved
• a second type-approved ECDIS is installed as a backup (or there is a full paper chart back-up)
• adequate generic and type-specific training has taken place
• any additional requirements laid down the by flag State are fulfilled.

About Witherbys:

Witherby Seamanship is an independent publisher of regulatory and technical books for the marine industry, publishing for bodies such as OCIMF, SIGTTO and ITOPF as well as suite of its own titles for both deck and engineering operations.

Witherby Seamanship has also been involved in producing, protecting and publishing eBooks for more than 10 years, and it is calculated that there are over 250,000 Witherby Seamanship eBooks in use today.

In 2011, Witherby Seamanship was appointed as digital publisher of the official electronic versions of Codes and Conventions for IMO.

About ECDIS Ltd:

The team at ECDIS Ltd are widely considered to rank amongst the world experts in ECDIS, providing subject matter expertise to manufacturers, organisations and technical publishers. They are fully conversant with both traditional and digital navigation and specialise in providing Flag State approved IMO model ECDIS courses and accredited Equipment Specific training on an extensive number of systems, delivering static training in their state of the art Training Centre near Southampton (UK) and portable training at a location of the customer’s choosing.

For further information contact:

Witherby Publishing Group   Clare Barron Sales & Marketing Witherby Publishing Group Tel:   +44 (0)1506 463 227 clare@emailws.com

ECDIS Ltd Amy Shelton Marketing Manager ECDIS Ltd  Tel: +44 (0)1489 559 677 shelton@ecdis.org