Resolution
MSC.232(82)
ADOPTION OF THE REVISED PERFORMANCE STANDARDS FOR ELECTRONIC CHART DISPLAY AND
INFORMATION SYSTEMS (ECDIS)
(adopted on 5 December 2006)
THE
MARITIME SAFETY COMMITTEE,
RECALLING
Article 28(b) of the Convention on the International Maritime Organization
concerning the functions of the Committee,
RECALLING
ALSO resolution A.886(21), by which the Assembly resolved that the function of
adopting performance standards and technical specifications, as well as
amendments thereto shall be performed by the Maritime Safety Committee and/or
the Marine Environment Protection Committee, as appropriate, on behalf of the
Organization,
RECALLING
ALSO regulations V/19 and V/27 of the International Convention for the Safety
of Life at Sea (SOLAS), 1974, which requires all ships to carry adequate and
up-to-date charts, sailing directions, lists of lights, notices to mariners,
tide tables and all other nautical publications necessary for the intended
voyage,
NOTING
that the up-to-date charts required by SOLAS regulations V/19 and V/27 can be
provided and displayed electronically on board ships by electronic chart
display and information systems (ECDIS), and that the other nautical
publications required by regulation V/27 may also be so provided and displayed,
RECOGNIZING
the need to improve the previously adopted, by resolution A.817(19), as
amended, performance standards for ECDIS in order to ensure the operational
reliability of such equipment and taking into account the technological
progress and experience gained,
HAVING
CONSIDERED the recommendation made by the Sub-Committee on Safety of
Navigation, at its fifty-second session,
1.
ADOPTS the Revised performance standards for electronic chart display and
information systems (ECDIS), set out in the Annex to the present resolution;
2.
RECOMMENDS Governments ensure that ECDIS equipment:
(a) if installed
on or after 1 January 2009, conform to performance standards not inferior to
those specified in the Annex to the present resolution; and
(b) if installed
on or after 1 January 1996 but before 1 January 2009, conform to performance
standards not inferior to those specified in the Annex to resolution A.817(19),
as amended by resolutions MSC.64(67)
and MSC.86(70).
Annex.
REVISED PERFORMANCE STANDARDS FOR ELECTRONIC CHART DISPLAY AND INFORMATION
SYSTEMS (ECDIS)
1.1
The primary function of the ECDIS is to contribute to safe navigation.
1.2
ECDIS with adequate back-up arrangements may be accepted as complying with the
up-to-date charts required by regulations V/19 and V/27 of the 1974 SOLAS
Convention, as amended.
1.3
ECDIS should be capable of displaying all chart information necessary for safe
and efficient navigation originated by, and distributed on the authority of,
government authorized hydrographic offices.
1.4
ECDIS should facilitate simple and reliable updating of the electronic
navigational chart.
1.5
ECDIS should reduce the navigational workload compared to using the paper
chart. It should enable the mariner to execute in a convenient and timely
manner all route planning, route monitoring and positioning currently performed
on paper charts. It should be capable of continuously plotting the ship’s
position.
1.6
The ECDIS display may also be used for the display of radar, radar tracked
target information, AIS and other appropriate data layers to assist in route
monitoring.
1.7
ECDIS should have at least the same reliability and availability of
presentation as the paper chart published by government authorized hydrographic
offices.
1.8
ECDIS should provide appropriate alarms or indications with respect to the
information displayed or malfunction of the equipment (see appendix 5).
1.9
When the relevant chart information is not available in the appropriate form
(see section 4), some ECDIS equipment may operate in the Raster Chart Display
System (RCDS) mode as defined in appendix 7. RCDS mode of operation should
conform to performance standards not inferior to those set out in appendix 7.
2. APPLICATION OF
THESE STANDARDS
2.1
These performance standards should apply to all ECDIS equipment carried on all
ships, as follows:
- dedicated
standalone workstation.
- a
multifunction workstation as part of an INS.
2.2
These performance standards apply to ECDIS mode of operation, ECDIS in RCDS
mode of operation as specified in appendix 7 and ECDIS backup arrangements as
specified in appendix 6.
2.3
Requirements for structure and format of the chart data, encryption of chart
data as well as the presentation of chart data are within the scope of relevant
IHO standards, including those listed in appendix 1.
2.4
In addition to the general requirements set out in resolution A.694(17)*, the
presentation requirements set out in resolution MSC.191(79), ECDIS equipment should meet the
requirements of these standards and follow the relevant guidelines on ergonomic
principles adopted by the Organization1.
______________
* Refer to Publication IEC 60945.
1 MSC/Circ.982.
For
the purpose of these performance standards:
3.1
Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS) means a navigation
information system which with adequate back-up arrangements can be accepted as
complying with the up-to-date chart required by regulations V/19 and V/27 of
the 1974 SOLAS Convention, as amended, by displaying selected information from
a system electronic navigational chart (SENC) with positional information from
navigation sensors to assist the mariner in route planning and route
monitoring, and if required display additional navigation-related information.
3.2
Electronic Navigational Chart (ENC) means the database, standardized as to
content, structure and format, issued for use with ECDIS by or on the authority
of a Government, authorized Hydrographic Office or other relevant government
institution, and conform to IHO standards. The ENC contains all the chart
information necessary for safe navigation and may contain supplementary
information in addition to that contained in the paper chart (e.g. sailing
directions) which may be considered necessary for safe navigation.
3.3
System Electronic Navigational Chart (SENC) means a database, in the
manufacturer’s internal ECDIS format, resulting from the lossless
transformation of the entire ENC contents and its updates. It is this database
that is accessed by ECDIS for the display generation and other navigational
functions, and is equivalent to an up-to-date paper chart. The SENC may also
contain information added by the mariner and information from other sources.
3.4
Standard Display is the display mode intended to be used as a minimum during
route planning and route monitoring. The chart content is listed in appendix 2.
3.5
Display Base means the chart content as listed in appendix 2 and which cannot
be removed from the display. It is not intended to be sufficient for safe
navigation.
3.6
Further information on ECDIS definitions may be found in IHO Hydrographic
Dictionary Special Publication S-32 (see appendix 1).
4. PROVISION AND
UPDATING OF CHART INFORMATION
4.1
The chart information to be used in ECDIS should be the latest edition, as
corrected by official updates, of that issued by or on the authority of a
Government, government-authorized Hydrographic Office or other relevant
government institution, and conform to IHO standards2.
________________
2 IHO Special Publication S-52
and S-57 (see appendix 1).
4.2
The contents of the SENC should be adequate and up-to-date for the intended
voyage to comply with regulation V/27 of the 1974 SOLAS Convention as amended.
4.3
It should not be possible to alter the contents of the ENC or SENC information
transformed from the ENC.
4.4
Updates should be stored separately from the ENC.
4.5
ECDIS should be capable of accepting official updates to the ENC data provided
in conformity with IHO standards. These updates should be automatically applied
to the SENC. By whatever means updates are received, the implementation
procedure should not interfere with the display in use.
4.6
ECDIS should also be capable of accepting updates to the ENC data entered
manually with simple means for verification prior to the final acceptance of
the data. They should be distinguishable on the display from ENC information
and its official updates and not affect display legibility.
4.7
ECDIS should keep and display on demand a record of updates including time of
application to the SENC. This record should include updates for each ENC until
it is superseded by a new edition.
4.8
ECDIS should allow the mariner to display updates in order to review their
contents and to ascertain that they have been included in the SENC.
4.9
ECDIS should be capable of accepting both non-encrypted ENCs and ENCs encrypted
in accordance with the IHO Data Protection Scheme3.
__________
3 IHO Special Publication S-63
(see appendix 1).
MODULE B –
OPERATIONAL AND FUNCTIONAL REQUIREMENTS
5. DISPLAY OF SENC
INFORMATION
5.1
ECDIS should be capable of displaying all SENC information. An ECDIS should be
capable of accepting and converting an ENC and its updates into a SENC. The
ECDIS may also be capable of accepting a SENC resulting from conversion of ENC
to SENC ashore, in accordance with IHO TR 3.114. This method of ENC supply
is known as SENC delivery.
__________
4 IHO Miscellaneous
Publication M-3.
5.2
SENC information available for display during route planning and route
monitoring should be subdivided into the following three categories, Display
Base, Standard Display and All Other Information (see appendix 2).
5.3
ECDIS should present the Standard Display at any time by a single operator
action.
5.4
When an ECDIS is switched on following a switch off or power failure, it should
return to the most recent manually selected settings for display.
5.5
It should be easy to add or remove information from the ECDIS display. It
should not be possible to remove information contained in the Display Base.
5.6
For any operator identified geographical position (e.g. by cursor picking)
ECDIS should display on demand the information about the chart objects
associated with such a position.
5.7
It should be possible to change the display scale by appropriate steps e.g. by
means of either chart scale values or ranges in nautical miles.
5.8
It should be possible for the mariner to select a safety contour from the depth
contours provided by the SENC. ECDIS should emphasize the safety contour over
other contours on the display, however:
.1 if the
mariner does not specify a safety contour, this should default to 30m. If the
safety contour specified by the mariner or the default 30 m contour is not in
the displayed SENC, the safety contour shown should default to the next deeper
contour;
.2 if the safety
contour in use becomes unavailable due to a change in source data, the safety
contour should default to the next deeper contour; and
.3 in each of
the above cases, an indication should be provided.
5.9
It should be possible for the mariner to select a safety depth. ECDIS should
emphasize soundings equal to or less than the safety depth whenever spot
soundings are selected for display.
5.10
The ENC and all updates to it should be displayed without any degradation of
their information content.
5.11
ECDIS should provide a means to ensure that the ENC and all updates to it have
been correctly loaded into the SENC.
5.12
The ENC data and updates to it should be clearly distinguishable from other
displayed information, including those listed in appendix 3.
6.1
ECDIS should provide an indication if:
.1 the information
is displayed at a larger scale than that contained in the ENC; or
.2 own ship’s
position is covered by an ENC at a larger scale than that provided by the
display.
7. DISPLAY OF OTHER
NAVIGATIONAL INFORMATION
7.1
Radar information and/or AIS information may be transferred from systems
compliant with the relevant standards of the Organization. Other navigational
information may be added to the ECDIS display. However, it should not degrade
the displayed SENC information and it should be clearly distinguishable from
the SENC information.
7.2
It should be possible to remove the radar information, AIS information and
other navigational information by single operator action.
7.3
ECDIS and added navigational information should use a common reference system.
If this is not the case, an indication should be provided.
7.4
Radar
7.4.1
Transferred radar information may contain a radar image and/or tracked target
information.
7.4.2
If the radar image is added to the ECDIS display, the chart and the radar image
should match in scale, projection and in orientation.
7.4.3
The radar image and the position from the position sensor should both be
adjusted automatically for antenna offset from the conning position.
8. DISPLAY MODE AND
GENERATION OF THE NEIGHBOURING AREA
8.1
It should always be possible to display the SENC information in a
"north-up" orientation. Other orientations are permitted. When such
orientations are displayed, the orientation should be altered in steps large
enough to avoid unstable display of the chart information.
8.2
ECDIS should provide for true motion mode. Other modes are permitted.
8.3
When true motion mode is in use, reset and generation of the chart display of
the neighbouring area should take place automatically at own ship's distance
from the edge of the display as determined by the mariner.
8.4
It should be possible to manually change the displayed chart area and the
position of own ship relative to the edge of the display.
8.5
If the area covered by the ECDIS display includes waters for which no ENC at a
scale appropriate for navigation is available, the areas representing those
waters should carry an indication (see appendix 5) to the mariner to refer to
the paper chart or to the RCDS mode of operation (see appendix 7).
9.1
IHO recommended colours and symbols should be used to represent SENC
information5.
______________
5 Special Publication S-52,
Appendix 2 (see appendix 1)
9.2
The colours and symbols other than those mentioned in 9.1 should comply with
the applicable requirements contained in the IMO standards for navigational
symbols6.
______________
6 Resolution MSC.191(79)
9.3
SENC information displayed at the scale specified in the ENC should use the
specified size of symbols, figures and letters5.
9.4
ECDIS should allow the mariner to select whether own ship is displayed in true
scale or as a symbol.
10.1
ECDIS should be capable of displaying information for:
.1 route
planning and supplementary navigation tasks; and
.2 route
monitoring.
10.2
The effective size of the chart presentation for route monitoring should be at
least 270 mm x 270 mm.
10.3
The display should be capable of meeting colour and resolution recommendations
of IHO5.
______________
5 Special Publication S-52,
Appendix 2 (see appendix 1)
10.4
The method of presentation should ensure that the displayed information is
clearly visible to more than one observer in the conditions of light normally
experienced on the bridge of the ship by day and by night.
10.5
If information categories included in the Standard Display (See appendix 2) are
removed to customize the display, this should be permanently indicated.
Identification of categories which are removed from the Standard Display should
be shown on demand.
11. ROUTE PLANNING,
MONITORING AND VOYAGE RECORDING
11.1
It should be possible to carry out route planning and route monitoring in a
simple and reliable manner.
11.2
The largest scale data available in the SENC for the area given should always
be used by the ECDIS for all alarms or indications of crossing the ship's
safety contour and of entering a prohibited area, and for alarms and
indications according to appendix 5.
11.3
Route Planning
11.3.1
It should be possible to carry out route planning including both straight and
curved segments.
11.3.2
It should be possible to adjust a planned route alphanumerically and
graphically including:
.1 adding
waypoints to a route;
.2 deleting
waypoints from a route; and
.3 changing the
position of a waypoint.
11.3.3
It should be possible to plan one or more alternative routes in addition to the
selected route. The selected route should be clearly distinguishable from the
other routes.
11.3.4
An indication is required if the mariner plans a route across an own ship's
safety contour.
11.3.5
An indication should be given if the mariner plans a route closer than a
user-specified distance from the boundary of a prohibited area or a geographic
area for which special conditions exist (see appendix 4).An indication should
also be given if the mariner plans a route closer than a user-specified
distance from a point object, such as a fixed or floating aid to navigation or
isolated danger.
11.3.6
It should be possible for the mariner to specify a cross track limit of
deviation from the planned route at which an automatic off-track alarm should
be activated.
11.4
Route monitoring
11.4.1
For route monitoring the selected route and own ship's position should appear
whenever the display covers that area.
11.4.2
It should be possible to display a sea area that does not have the ship on the
display (e.g. for look ahead, route planning), while route monitoring. If this
is done on the display used for route monitoring, the automatic route monitoring
functions (e.g. updating ship’s position, and providing alarms and indications)
should be continuous. It should be possible to return to the route monitoring
display covering own ship's position immediately by single operator action.
11.4.3
ECDIS should give an alarm if, within a specified time set by the mariner, own
ship will cross the safety contour.
11.4.4
ECDIS should give an alarm or indication, as selected by the mariner, if,
within a specified time set by the mariner, own ship will cross the boundary of
a prohibited area or of a geographical area for which special conditions exist
(see appendix 4).
11.4.5
An alarm should be given when the specified cross track limit for deviation
from the planned route is exceeded.
11.4.6
An indication should be given to the mariner if, continuing on its present
course and speed, over a specified time or distance set by the mariner, own
ship will pass closer than a user-specified distance from a danger (e.g.
obstruction, wreck, rock) that is shallower than the mariner's safety contour
or an aid to navigation.
11.4.7
The ship’s position should be derived from a continuous positioning system of
an accuracy consistent with the requirements