Description
ECDIS Passage Planning and Watchkeeping – 2024 Edition
This publication provides a comprehensive understanding of Passage Planning and Watchkeeping through ECDIS, enhancing navigation safety and bridge efficiency. Operators are encouraged to actively use ECDIS features such as automatic “no-go” alarms, 3D ENC capabilities, and VHF. The 2024 edition introduces a chapter on Port State Control, Audits, and Compliance Verification, focusing on ECDIS and Passage Planning following the APEM framework. Detailed verification processes, enhanced ECDIS screenshots, NAVTEX content, and practical illustrations, such as PSC flowcharts, are included to master best practices for safe navigation.
Contents of ECDIS Passage Planning and Watchkeeping – 2025 Edition
Definitions
Abbreviations
ECDIS Passage Planning and Watchkeeping
1 ECDIS and Passage Planning Requirements
Introduction
1.1 ECDIS Requirements
1.2 ECDIS Standards
1.2.1 IMO Standards
1.2.2 IHO Standards
1.3 ECDIS Training
1.4 The Components of ECDIS
1.5 APEM Passage Planning
1.6 Effective Planning on ECDIS
2 Configuration of ECDIS Settings
Introduction
2.1 Configuration of ECDIS Sensors
2.1.1 CCRP and Technical Set-up
2.1.2 Sensor Settings
2.1.3 ECDIS Alert Management
2.2 Depth Contours and Safety Settings
2.3 Safety Settings Calculations
2.3.1 Datums and Vertical Clearance
2.3.2 Safety Contour and Safety Depth
2.3.3 Insufficient UKC
2.4 Cross Track Distance (XTD)/Safety Corridor
2.5 Detection Area
2.6 Navigational Hazards
2.7 Isolated Dangers
2.8 Areas for which Special Conditions Exist
2.9 Chart Display Settings
2.9.1 System Units
2.9.2 ENC Loading Options
2.9.3 Display Category
2.9.4 Two/Four Colour Shading
2.9.5 Further Display Settings
2.9.6 SCAMIN and SCAMAX
2.9.7 Symbols
2.9.8 Standardisation of Symbols, Terms and Abbreviations (S-Mode)
2.9.9 Palette
2.9.10 Chart Legend
2.9.11 Environmental Data
2.10 Ship Display Parameters
2.11 Route Display Parameters
2.11.1 Route Alarms
2.11.2 Other Display Options
3 Appraisal/Information Gathering
Introduction
3.1 Overview of Appraisal Research
3.2 Destination
3.3 Meteorology
3.3.1 Passage Planning on ECDIS in Ice Regions
3.4 Datums
3.5 ENC Scales and Usage Bands
3.5.1 Compilation Scale and Overscale
3.5.2 ENC Usage Bands
3.5.3 HD ENCs
3.5.4 Example of Usage Bands
3.5.5 ENC Review
3.6 ENC Management and Installation
3.7 ENC Updates
3.7.1 Chart Subscription Expiry
3.8 CATZOC Review
3.9 Pick Reports
3.10 Other Considerations
4 Planning the Voyage
Introduction
4.1 Display Configuration
4.1.1 NAVTEX
4.1.2 Admiralty Information Overlay (AIO)
4.2 Route Creation
4.2.1 New Route
4.2.2 Adding Waypoints
4.2.3 Adjusting Waypoints
4.2.4 Route Table
4.3 Mariner-added Objects
4.4 Manual ENC Updates
4.5 Route Check
4.5.1 Configuration of the Route Check
4.5.2 Conducting the Route Check
4.5.3 Manual (Visual) Check
4.6 Route Management and the Voyage Plan
4.7 Master’s Approval and Bridge Team Briefing
6 Monitoring
Introduction
6.1 ECDIS Handover
6.2 Position Monitoring and Verification of the GNSS
6.2.1 Verification Methods
6.2.2 Position Verification Frequency
6.2.3 Position Verification Summary
6.3 Other Watchkeeping Considerations
6.3.1 Own Ship
6.3.2 Waypoint Passing Criteria
6.3.3 ECDIS and Track Control Systems (TCS)
6.3.4 Magnetic Compass
6.3.5 ECDIS Safety Settings and Change of Orders
6.3.6 Alarms and Alerts
6.4 Managing the ETA
6.5 ARPA and AIS Overlay
6.5.1 Radar Information
6.5.2 Chart Radar
6.5.3 AIS Integration with ECDIS
6.5.4 AIS Aids to Navigation (AIS AtoNs)
6.6 Anchor Watch Monitoring
6.7 ECDIS Additional Functionality
6.7.1 SAR Patterns
6.7.2 Man Overboard (MOB)
6.7.3 3D Charts
6.7.4 VHF
6.8 Logbook, ECDIS Voyage Recording and Playback
6.9 Sensor Failure
6.9.1 Heading and Speed Failure
6.9.2 GNSS Failure
6.9.3 Other Sensor Failure
6.10 ECDIS Failure
6.10.1 Software and Hardware Failure
6.11 Cyber Security
6.11.1 Security Drill – ECDIS Cyber Security
6.12 Pilotage Considerations
6.13 Effective Monitoring
7 Preparation for PSC, Audits and Inspections
Introduction
7.1 Overview of ECDIS and Passage Planning Checks
7.1.1 Summary of ECDIS Verifications
7.1.2 Summary of Passage Planning Verifications
7.1.3 Port State Control (PSC) and Audits
7.2 ECDIS System Requirements
7.3 ECDIS Backup Requirements
7.4 ENC Requirements
7.5 ECDIS Operator Requirements
7.6 Voyage Appraisal Requirements
7.7 Voyage Planning Requirements
7.8 Voyage Execution Requirements
7.9 Voyage Monitoring Requirements
7.10 Verification Summary Checklist
Annexes
A ECDIS Checklists
ECDIS Operator Familiarisation Checklist
ECDIS Appraisal and Planning Checklist
ECDIS Pre-sailing Checklist
ECDIS Safety Settings Checklist
ECDIS Handover Checklist
ECDIS Failure Checklist
GNSS Failure Checklist
Anchorage Checklist
B IMO: ‘ECDIS – Guidance for Good Practice’
C ECDIS-related Extracts from U.S. Chart No. 1
Positions, Distances, Directions, Compass
Natural Features
Cultural Features
Landmarks
Ports
Tides, Currents
Depths
Nature of the Seabed
Rocks, Wrecks, Obstructions and Aquaculture
Offshore Installations
Tracks, Routes
Areas, Limits
Lights
Buoys, Beacons
Fog Signals
Radar, Radio, Satellite Navigation Systems
Services
D Display Options
Mandatory – Functions Required by the Performance Standards
Optional Functions
E S-63 Error Codes and Explanations
F Objects Associated with the Question Mark Symbol
