ecdis Navigators are consulted about


Enhanced ecdis and ENC features aim to reduce workload, increase safety and deliver better fuel economy


by Alan Welcome A


familiar complaint from masters and mates is that the bridge equipment and systems they have to work with


are not very user friendly. Part of the blame is placed on the belief that serving, hands-on sailors are not consulted about what they want and what will work best. So it is good to see an opportunity for mariners to have their say on a particular aspect of their experience with ENCs and heartening to be able to report an enthusiastic response. In its Questionnaire about the Depiction of the Quality of the Data in Nautical Charts, the data quality working group (DQWG) of the International Hydrographic Organisation (IHO) encourages mariners to contribute to the debate about how best to indicate the quality of the data used in chart production. Sam Harper, senior bathymetric officer


appraisal for the United Kingdom


Hydrographic Office (UKHO) says: “Among the international hydrographic community there is a concern that current methods of representing the quality of the bathymetric data used to compile navigational


charts


fail to provide mariners with an easy to understand, standardised means of deciding where they can safely navigate. Instead, these products rely heavily on the mariner’s understanding of the relevance of either data quality indicators such as ‘survey date’ and ‘acquisition method’ or composite quality classifications like CATZOC (category of zone of confidence). It is hoped that the results of this questionnaire will help us qualify this hypothesis.”


Mr Harper has the task of analysing the results and this work will also feed into his MSC thesis. He notes that paper charts and ENCs indicate the quality of their data in many different and sometimes subtle ways. The


questionnaire probes mariners’


understanding of, and response to, these indicators. He says the intention is to identify which of the existing chart data quality identifiers


are not used or are not well


understood and to use this information to design a better method of depicting quality.


Marine Electronics & Communications


Raytheon Anschütz ecdis showing navtex message with affected area highlighted and is


He has already received over 600 responses currently collating information in


preparation for the DQWG meeting in Monaco in November. There are sections covering paper charts and, perhaps more importantly, given the imminent mandatory ecdis carriage roll-out, ENCs. Respondents are also asked to comment


on possible developments in the field of chart data quality representation, including a


yes/no indicator showing whether the


information provided meets the minimum standards for safe navigation, based on survey age, accuracy and seabed mobility. There is a suggestion for a no-go-area


overlay, based the same information but also including vessel parameters, which would have to be entered into the vessel’s ecdis. Another overlay possibility features a dynamic, colour ‘traffic light’ arrangement. Red could indicate no-go, amber – beware, and green – safe to go. Again, the colour displayed would be based on the ship’s parameters, charted depth, estimated uncertainty of the charted depth, and possibly other factors. Mr Harper says that while he has had to close the initial response window in order to collate his findings for DQWG, the survey remains open and he will be delighted to receive further input, though he cannot say at this point exactly how it will be used. The survey form can be found on the IHO website by clicking news links and Chart Data Quality Survey. There is no requirement to provide personal or contact details. Chart overlays are, of course, used for


a variety of purposes. Paul Elgar, original equipment manufacturer client manager for


commercial navigation at


highlights the company’s Worldwide Temporary & Preliminary Notices to Mariners service. He says updated Notice to Mariners and


Temporary and Preliminary (T&P) messages, which include new hydrographic information and reported navigational hazards not yet fully charted, are crucial for navigational safety. “By indicating T&P changes route,


that may influence a ship’s the T&P service


makes voyage planning simpler and more efficient. And, as it gives mariners this essential information in an intelligent and easy-to-use format, it helps them to make better decisions and navigate safely. “The Jeppesen T&P service is displayed as an


overlay on ecdis chart data and can be switched on/off without changing the underlying charts. The overlay features geo-located symbols with attached information and graphics. Jeppesen will provide the T&P service free to all its electronic chart customers.”


JRC says it has a unique remote maintenance system which connects bridge equipment to a maintenance server so it can be monitored from land. As a result, it has the ability to accurately determine the operating status of all ecdis systems while at sea, significantly reducing downtime and maintenance costs.


The company notes that it has been involved with ecdis development for 20 years and by having its ecdis designed and manufactured in house it can maximise


www.marinemec.com


Jeppesen,


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