More than 3,800 vessels face the risk of being detained after it was found that the vessels were not ECDIS compliant.
Non-compliant with ECDIS:
Around 28 per cent of ships of more than 20,000gt are yet to use ECDIS for safe navigation. They have until their first survey to fit ECDIS and train crew or otherwise risk detention.
ECDIS compliant:
72 per cent of vessels have found to be ECDIS ready and compliant with IMO safety rules by the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO).
SOLAS amendment:
There are around 9,680 cargo ships over 20,000gt that have ECDIS and are using an electronic navigational chart (ENC) service, according to UKHO. The vessels are compliant with the Solas-mandated ECDIS deadline of 1 July 2017.
An amendment to Solas requires ships engaged on international voyages to be fitted with an ECDIS no later than the first survey.
Phased deadline:
The deadline was introduced in a phased way with all passenger ships of more than 500gt and tankers of more than 3,000gt needing to be carrying and using ECDIS as a primary means of navigation by now.
The deadline for dry cargo ships of more than 50,000gt was 1 July 2016.
The deadline for dry cargo ships of more than 20,000gt was 1 July 2017.
The dry cargo ships of between 10,000gt and 20,000gt have until the first survey after 1 July 2018 to fit ECDIS.
Chair’s concern:
Chair of the International Hydrographic Organization’s ENC Working Group and head of manufacturer technical support and digital standards at the UKHO, Thomas Mellor, expressed concern, “It is important to be aware of the implications for the several thousand cargo ships and any others whose ECDIS deadline has passed without having adopted ECDIS.”
He continued: “For example, if a ship is detained by Australian Port State Control for non-compliance, the only way of lifting that detention is to first become compliant. While ships have until the first survey after their deadline, in some cases this may mean fitting an ECDIS and training crew at considerable cost and delay.”
On a lighter note, Mr Mellor was pleased to see that the majority of cargo ships over 50,000gt are close to being the first to complete the transition to ECDIS.
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Source: Marine Electronics & Communications
