Relevant documents and M-notices: SOLAS, The Merchant Shipping (Safety of Navigation) Regulations 2020, MGN 610, MSC 530, MGN 285, MGN 379, IHO website, MSC Circular 1503,
The six year roll-out of ECDIS is now complete. Be glad; it’d be a harsh examiner who would ask you a question about a roll-out now that’s finished. With that said, it’s a relatively recent and major change, so expect questions about ECDIS especially at OOW level. An ECDIS is a fantastic tool for navigation, reducing the burden (when paperless) of updating paper charts and simplifying the process of passage planning.
This is a big article, because there’s a lot to know about the ECDIS; it’s probably best to read it in chunks, making notes along the way than to try and remember it all at once.
Who has to carry an ECDIS?
Under SOLAS Chapter V Reg. 19 Section 2.1:
Ships engaged on international voyages shall be fitted with an Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS) as follows (here there is a list of ship sizes and types; this is summarised below)
This is made into UK law under the Merchant Shipping (Safety of Navigation) Regulations 2020.
Here is a summarised version of the ECDIS carriage requirements. This is an excellent answer to the question ‘Which types and sizes of vessels require ECDIS?’ as of 2024. Note that these ships all all engaged in international voyages except the high speed craft:
All passenger vessels over 500GT engaged in international voyages
All tankers over 3000GT engaged in international voyages
Cargo vessels over 3000GT engaged in international voyages constructed after July 2014
Cargo vessels other than tankers over 10,000GT engaged in international voyages (cargo ships other than tankers built before July 2013 do not need ECDIS)
High Speed Craft (as per HSC code 13.14.2) regardless of their area of voyage
If the examiner starts pushing you, state where you’d find this information if you were unsure or wanted to check. If you’re asked what counts as an international voyage, here’s the definition from SOLAS Chapter I:
International voyage means a voyage from a country to which the present Convention applies to a port outside such country, or conversely.
ECDIS to meet paper chart requirements
The requirements for nautical charts and publications are from SOLAS V Reg. 27:
Nautical charts and nautical publications, such as sailing directions, lists of lights, notices to mariners, tide tables and all other nautical publications necessary for the intended voyage, shall be adequate and up to date.
So far, so good. This is why ships carry paper charts and nautical publications to cover their voyage and area of operations, and keep them updated; failure to do so is an offence by the owner and master under the MS (Safety of Navigation) Regulations 2020, section 11. But what about ECDISs meeting the requirement for paper charts?
SOLAS V Reg. 18 Paragraph 4:
…for an electronic chart display and information system (ECDIS) to be accepted as satisfying the chart carriage requirement of regulation 19.2.1.4, that system shall conform to the relevant performance standards not inferior to those adopted by the Organization in effect on the date of installation.
The requirements of regulation 19.2.1.4 are:
All ships irrespective of size shall have…nautical charts and nautical publications to plan and display the ship's route for the intended voyage and to plot and monitor positions throughout the voyage. An electronic chart display and information system (ECDIS) is also accepted as meeting the chart carriage requirements of this subparagraph
provided there are also;
back-up arrangements to meet the functional requirements of subparagraph .4, if this function is partly or fully fulfilled by electronic means
What makes an ECDIS an ECDIS?
There’s a quote from earlier in this article, from SOLAS V Reg. 18:
that system shall conform to the relevant performance standards not inferior to those adopted by the Organization in effect on the date of installation.
What are these standards?
For a deep-dive into the performance standards for ECDIS, see MSC. 232. For a good overview, see below.
Type-approved. It will carry either the SOLAS wheel mark or the Red Ensign mark. The type approval certificate should be kept onboard.
Fully updated to latest version of manufacturers software
All ENCs must be updated to the latest version
Adequate, independent back-up arrangements in place
Able to operate for 45 seconds on its own internal power supply
Fully updated to latest IHO (International Hydrographic Organisation) standards.
S-57, transfer standards
S-52, standards for chart content and display and the presentation library
S-63, the encryption standards