UKHO calls for awareness to avoid ECDIS related detentions
The United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO) has called upon vessel owners, operators and managers to exercise alertness in order to block the rise in ECDIS (Electronic Chart Display and Information System) related confinements and threats to safety at sea.
Majority of fleets have switched over to digital navigation which complies with rules put forth by the IMO (International Maritime Organization), but increasing number of ECDIS related issues are on the rise during inspections and audits. Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has reported that a significant number of ships have been detained due to ECDIS shortcomings. The AMSA also highlighted the consequences of ECDIS shortcomings when a ship was detained in Brisbane as it passed through the Great Barrier Reef. The ship’s crew was found to be unfamiliar and lacked in the training of the ECDIS system on board the ship. This resulted in an ECDIS trainer to be flown in from Singapore to train the crew and upon successful completion of the training; the ship was released.
According to the excerpt by speaker Thomas Mellor, Head of OEM Technical Support and Digital Standards at UKHO emphasized that ECDIS is necessary for safe and efficient navigation. Vessel owners, operators, and managers must fulfill their tasks for compliance and regulatory measures which include updating bridge procedures, up-gradation of ECDIS software to latest standards by IHO ENC and provide training and certification to crew members about ECDIS software. He also stated “A number of non-compliance issues have been on the rise recently ranging from the inadequate detail in the ship’s Safety Management System (SMS), a failure to use the latest Electronic Navigational Charts (ENCs) for the voyage plan, or a bridge team unfamiliar with the use of ECDIS”. He also stated that PCS inspectors are carrying out inspections on ships using ECDIS and severe penalties are being enforced if any vessel is found not complying with the orders issued by UKHO. Furthermore, ADMIRALTY has developed ADMIRALTY ENC Maintenance Record (NP133C) to manage, inspect and audit the official digital chart information easier.
According to the data provided by UKHO, an important landmark was reached earlier in 2016 with 51% of all ships which comply with Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) regulations were found to be ECDIS ready, which marks the first time majority of the ships in the SOLAS fleet are ECDIS ready. Moreover, out of 42,000 worldwide trading ships, an estimated 59% are currently ECDIS ready. The UKHO has been consistently providing support to vessel owners during all stages of ECDIS transition, with emphasis on owners dealing with challenges managing the ECDIS on board. UKHO conducted three seminars earlier this year, with nearly 85 delegates in attendance. Vessel owners can find an array of free resources in the website managed by ADMIRALTY and its respective YouTube channel.
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Source: Marine Link
