IMO 1.

27 ECDIS
ECDIS is stand for Electronic chart display
& Information system

Question No 1. What are the mandatory and optional sensors of ECDIS?

Ans.
ECDIS has following mandatory and optional sensors.
3 Mandatory Sensors
The sensor which must be connected to ECDIS are
(i) EPFS: Electronic position Fixing System.(For ship constant Position) e.g GPS (US),
GLONASS (Russian), GALILEO (EUROPIAN), Compass (Chinese) etc.
(ii) Gyro: For ships heading.
(iii) Doppler Log: for ships of the speed
Optional sensors
The sensor which can also be connected to ECDIS are:
Radar / ARPA, AIS, Echo Sounder,
Ships clock, anemometer,
temp sensors, any other sensor
which are Ship type specific.

Question NO 2
What are advantage and disadvantage of Raster chart.
Ans.
Raster charts are image or scanned chart
Advantage:
(i) Inexpensive to produce
(ii) Similar to paper chart.
Disadvantage
(i) Dead chart, no alarms
(ii) Limited zoom option.
(iii) Require large memory capacity.
(iv) Expensive to correct (a new chart)
(v) Only easy to read in north up orientation.

Question 3
What are advantages and disadvantages of vector chart.
Ans.
Vector Charts Vector charts are digital, computer-generated databases of
navigational information used by modern ships to plan routes and navigate safely.
Advantages
(i) Automatic alarm generation.
(ii) Optional information.
(iii) Zoomable
(iv) Easy to correct.
(v) Require little memory capacity.
(vi) Information can be added.
(vii) Readable in all presentation (Head up, North up, Course up)
(viii) Presentation according to safety Parameters of the own ship.

Disadvantage
(i) Expensive and time demanding production
(ii) Layout can be different from paper chart
(iii) Coding errors even in official ENCs.

Question No 4
How are ARPA and AIS targets visually distinguished and displayed on anECDIS
There are two types of targets ARPA and AIS target
ARPA targets are shown on ECDIS as a small yellow circle with a vector and an
identification number.

AIS targets can be seen on ECDIS by small green triangle.

Question No 5

What are the three standards to ENC (electronic Navigation chart).

i) Standard 52 (S-52) DQM, buoy, light house

These are regulation which control the standard of colour and symbol on ENC. It also
controls certain computer application such as pixel, chart area, chart opening speed

(ii) Standard 57 (S-57) (Black) Data Size/Black colour.

These are regulation which control the standard of hydrographic data on ENC

(iii) Standard 63 (S-63) These are the regulations which control the standard of
computer encryption of ENC.

Question No 6
What is Difference b/w SENC and ENC?

ENCs are received on board in coded form. They do not open or encrypt on ECDIS.

SENC

In order to encrypt the ENC on ECDIS the ENC's Can be ordered in SENC format.
SENC is system electric navigation chart which automatical open on ecdis. SENC is
equal to an up to date paper nautical chart.

Light blue : Depth less

White colour: Navigable water.
Question No 7
How many types of ECDIS display?
Ans.
There are 4 types of ECDIS display.
1) Base display: (Just for outline)
This shows the adjacent line b/w land and sea area within chart frame. This display
cannot be used for navigation.
2) Standard display
This shows minimum charted Navigation information which is required for safe
navigation. (Such as route planning)
3) All layers display
This shows each and every Charted navigation information which is required for route
planning and monitoring. This display is equivalent to an up to date paper nautical chart
of same area.
4) Custom display
This value shows charted navigation object/layers, which are selected by mariner in
accordance with present draught and safety value.

Question No 8
What do you understand by the term overreliance on ECDIS?
Ans.
Implies Over reliance on ECDIS means not to check and verify ship position shown on
ECDIS. Also not verifying the performance and errors of the sensors connected to
ECDIS. In order to avoid over reliance on ECDIS. OOW must perform following three
duties at all times.

(i) To varrify ship’s position at all time by using all available means
(ii) To check performance of all connected sensors. Specially mandatory sensors at all
times
(iii) To check errors of connected sensors especially the mandatory sensors.

Resolution define standard is A = 817 (19)

Performance standard of ECDIS is WGS 1984
lowest low water chart Datum
Horizontal datum used in ECDIS for position.

Question No 9
What are the three Safety values?
Ans.
These are the most important values which are required for safe monitoring of vessel at
various stages of the voyage. These are also required for route planing in shallow
waters and deep sea route. These values should be clearly mentioned to the bridge
team for safe navigation throughout. Values are as under:

1) Safety Contour
This value is selected as per company safety navigation policy. Usually Safety contour
value is equal to the ships present/prevailing maximum draught. (aft draught). Safety
Contour value differentiates b/w navigable and non navigable water on SENC. It selects
the nearest available contour line according to ship prevailing max draught. It also
indicates shallow areas within navigable water as isolated dangers or shallow patches

2) Safety depth.
This value generates navigation alarm. It is consist of following four parameters:
1- Ships current max draught +
usually safety depth value is approximately 25-30% more than ships current draught.
2- UKC required as per company navigation policy. +
3- SQUAT EFFECT ( shallow water or deep water) +
SQUAT : Change in increase in dynamic draught due to speed and external effect.
4- Masters own safety margin

3) Safety frame.
There might be instances where officer of water needs to leave the monitored route due
to unforeseen events (to avoid a collision or to assist a vessel in distress). The safety
frame feature allow automatic monitoring and warning generation and work
independently of the route. It is not intended to replace the through process of full
voyage planning.

Question No 10
What is primary function of ECDIS?
Ans.
The primary function of ECDIS is to enhances the overall safety of Navigation and
vessel at all times by using all available means. It also improves the awareness of
Dom/upstaff for any particular Situation concerning the safety of Life at Sea.

Following regulations must be observed and complied with, for safe navigation

SOLAS CHAPTER (V), Safety of navigation

Regulation No 19 and 27,
Carriage requirement for ship borne navigation system and equipment.

Question No 10
What is the IMO Resolution A 817(19) related to criteria?
Ans.
The Imo Resolution A 817(19) is related to following criteria.

ECDIS means navigation information System which, with adequate back arrangement,
can be accepted as complying with up to date chart required by regulation V/19 & V/27
of 1974 SOLAS Convention.

Question No 11
What will you do If you find ECDIS is giving errors?
Ans:
There are three types of errors to be checked and to take action accordingly:
1- GPS Error - in order to check the quality of GPS Position.
2- HDOP: (Horizontal Dilution of precision) which is to be assesed through values.
Values should be monitored as follows.
If HDOP value is
i) 0.5 < 2 = It means the position shown is safe & reliable
ii) 2 < 4 = It means a position can be used with caution
However position varification is rreliabl
iii) 4 > More: It means the position shown is unsafe and unreliable. Therefore It should
be rejected. and position should be varrified by all other means.

3. GYRO ERRORS: Gyro error should be verified and recorded once in every watch
during Navigation as per IMO Recommendation. After calculation the gyro error should
be applied to Ship's heading accordingly.

4. Doppler Log Error: This error should also be varrified by comparing it with other
availble logs. It can also be checked when Land Marks are also be availbe for manual
fixing Position by Plotting two position and finding the distance between them, the actual
Speed can be calculated to varrify doppler Log error.

Question No 12
Define Vector Chart ?
Ans.
Ans: Vector Charts ( ENC, TX97, C-Map93-)
Digitalized Paper chart - every object is defined and grouped in Layer that Can be
selected within the set Parameters.
Advantages: Automatic alarm generation.

Question No 13
How to update chart on ECDIS?
or How to update ENC?
Ans:
To keep your system up to date you need to install

① the latest base CD for the area

② The latest Correction CD.
③ An update CD only work with the corred base CD
④ It is not possible to use or install older updates or new updates with old base CD.
⑤ updates are cumulative, This means that on the latest weekly CD, you will find all
corrections since the last Base CD.

EPFSElectronic Position Fixing System

→ Three duties of OOW.

① To varryfy your Position.
② Performance of the sensors is to be checked
③ To checked the errors of Sensors.

Question NO 14
What is the procedure to check the performance of the sensors?
Ans:
In order to Monitor the Performance of the sensors. Following Steps should be
observed.

Tasks List → Config → Comtrace → Select equipment → Printing of NMEA ( National

Marine Electronic Association) DATA is as follows:
i) if NMEA Data is Printing white, it means the selected sensor is working normall
ii) RED Data: if NMEA data is Printing red, it means the selected sensor is giving an
alarm
iii) Intermittantly) - if NMEA data is intermittantly (not continous) white, it means the
selected sensor is of an older brand.
iv) if NMEA data is not printing, it means that the selected sensor is either power off or
off line.