ECDIS Implementation

Since 2002 Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS) fitting has been available for vessels along with relevant backup arrangement as per SOLAS regulation V/19-2.1.4. This option has changed into a mandatory requirement (IMO Maritime Safety Committee in May / June 2009) since further amendments to SOLAS regulation V/19 made the carriage of ECDIS mandatory on vessels engaged in international voyages.

ECDIS requirements are applicable to the following ships engaged on international voyages:

Passenger ships of 500 GT and upwards;
Tankers of 3,000 GT and upwards; and
New building cargo ships other than tanker of 3,000 GT and upward, and existing cargo ships other than tanker of 10,000 GT and upward.

The due dates for ships to be fitted with ECDIS is as follows:

Passenger ship constructed on or after 1 July 2012, not later than the initial safety equipment survey.
Passenger ship constructed before 1 July 2012, not later than the first safety equipment survey on or after 1 July 2014.
Tanker constructed on or after 1 July 2012, not later than the initial safety equipment survey.
Tanker constructed before 1 July 2012, not later than the first safety equipment survey on or after 1 July 2015.
Cargo ship, of 10,000 GT and upwards constructed on or after 1 July 2013, not later than the initial safety equipment survey.
Cargo ship, of 3,000 GT and upward but less than 10,000 GT constructed on or after 1 July 2014, not later than the initial safety equipment survey.
Cargo ship, of 50,000 GT and upward constructed before 1 July 2013, not later than the first safety equipment survey on or after 1 July 2016.
Cargo ship, of 20,000 GT and upward but less than 50,000 GT constructed before 1 July 2013, not later than the first safety equipment survey on or after 1 July 2017.
Cargo ship, of 10,000 GT and upward but less than 20,000 GT constructed before 1 July 2013, not later than the first safety equipment survey on or after 1 July 2018.

Type of ECDIS shall be approved by the Administration or Organizations approved by the Administration. ECDIS installed on or after 1 January 2009 shall comply with the IMO resolution MSC.232(82). ECDIS installed before 1 January 2009 shall comply with the A.817(19) (resolution is in force for equipment installed before 1 January 1999), MSC.64(67) annex 5 and MSC.86(70) annex 4, and provided IHO standards software and is verified to be able to display all information of latest ENC. Moreover, ECDIS should also comply with the following IEC test standards:

IEC Standard 60945 (2002): Maritime navigation and radio communication equipment and systems – General requirements – Methods of testing and required test results.
IEC Standard 61174 (2008): Maritime navigation and radio communication equipment and systems – Electronic chart display and information system (ECDIS), -Operational and performance requirements, methods of testing and required results.
IEC Standard 61162-1 (2007): Maritime navigation and radio communication equipment and systems, – Digital interfaces, Part 1: -Single talker and multiple listeners.
IEC Standard 61162-2 (1998): Maritime navigation and radio communication equipment and systems, – Digital interfaces, Part 2: -Single talker and multiple listeners, highspeed transmission.
IEC Standard 61162-part 3 and higher: -Maritime navigation and radio communication equipment and systems, -Digital interfaces (LAN, CAN).
IEC Standard 62288 (2008): -Maritime navigation and radio communication equipment and systems – Presentation of navigation-related information on shipborne navigational displays – General requirements, methods of testing and required test results.

Finally, during an ECDIS survey the following should be ensured or verified:

Copy of type approval certificate and performance standards applied;
Connection to emergency source of electrical power, gyro compass, speed log and GPS receiver;
Display of latest ECN on the ECDIS and possession of ENC fully provided for intended voyages;
Back-up arrangement complied with the requirement;
When navigation charts are supplied as a backup, the charts should be updated; and (6) Master and deck officer’s Training certificates

Source: NKK