Appendix 3 - Guidance on Training and Assessment in the Operational Use of ECDIS Simulators

.1 operate the ECDIS equipment, use the navigational functions of ECDIS, select and assess all relevant information and take proper action in the case of a malfunction;

.2 state the potential errors of displayed data and the usual errors of interpretation; and

.3 explain why ECDIS should not be relied upon as the sole reliable aid to navigation.

.1 differences between vector and raster charts;

.2 differences between ECDIS and ECS;

.3 differences between ECDIS and RCDS;

.4 characteristics of different types of ECDIS; and

.5 characteristics of systems for special purposes (unusual situations/emergencies).

.1 the limitations of ECDIS as a navigational tool;

.2 potential risk of improper functioning of the system;

.3 system limitations, including those of its sensors;

.4 hydrographic data inaccuracy; limitations of vector and raster electronic charts (ECDIS vs RCDS and ENC vs RNC); and

.5 potential risk of human errors.

.1 performance standards of the equipment;

.2 radar data representation on an electronic chart, elimination of discrepancy between the radar image and the electronic chart;

.3 possible projection discrepancies between an electronic and paper charts;

.4 possible scale discrepancies (overscaling and underscaling) in displaying an electronic chart and its original scale;

.5 effects of using different reference systems for positioning;

.6 effects of using different horizontal and vertical datums;

.7 effects of the motion of the ship in a seaway;

.8 ECDIS limitations in raster chart display mode;

.9 potential errors in the display of:

• .1 the own ship's position;

• .2 radar data and ARPA and AIS information;

• .3 different geodetic coordinate systems; and

.10 verification of the results of manual or automatic data correction:

• .1 comparison of chart data and radar picture; and

• .2 checking the own ship's position by using other independent position‑fixing systems.

.1 ignoring overscaling of the display;

.2 uncritical acceptance of the own ship's position;

.3 confusion of display mode;

.4 confusion of chart scale;

.5 confusion of reference systems;

.6 different modes of presentation;

.7 different modes of vector stabilization;

.8 differences between true north and gyro north (radar);

.9 using the same data reference system;

.10 using the appropriate chart scale;

.11 using the best-suited sensor to the given situation and circumstances;

.12 entering the correct values of safety data:

• .1 the own ship's safety contour;

• .2 safety depth (safe water); and

• .3 events; and

.13 proper use of all available data.

.1 appreciation of the differences in operation of RCDS mode as described in appendix 2; and

.2 ECDIS, in any mode, should be used in training with an appropriate portfolio of up‑to-date charts.

.1 starting and setting up ECDIS; connecting data sensors: satellite and radio navigation system receivers, radar, gyro‑compass, log, echo-sounder; accuracy and limitations of these sensors, including effects of measurement errors and ship's position accuracy, manoeuvring on the accuracy of course indicator's performance, compass error on the accuracy of course indication, shallow water on the accuracy of log performance, log correction on the accuracy of speed calculation, disturbance (sea state) on the accuracy of an echo-sounder performance; and

.2 the current performance standards for electronic chart display and information systems adopted by the Organization^footnote.

.1 the correct starting procedure to obtain the optimum display of ECDIS information;

.2 the selection of display presentation (standard display, display base, all other information displayed individually on demand);

.3 the correct adjustment of all variable radar/ARPA display controls for optimum display of data;

.4 the selection of convenient configuration;

.5 the selection, as appropriate, of required speed input to ECDIS;

.6 the selection of the timescale of vectors; and

.7 performance checks of position, radar/ARPA, compass, speed input sensors and ECDIS.

.1 the main characteristics of the display of ECDIS data and selecting proper information for navigational tasks;

.2 the automatic functions required for monitoring ship's safety, such as display of position, heading/gyro course, speed, safety values and time;

.3 the manual functions (by the cursor, electronic bearing line, range rings);

.4 selecting and modification of electronic chart content;

.5 scaling (including underscaling and overscaling);

.6 zooming;

.7 setting of the own ship's safety data;

.8 using a daytime or night-time display mode;

.9 reading all chart symbols and abbreviations;

.10 using different kinds of cursors and electronic bars for obtaining navigational data;

.11 viewing an area in different directions and returning to the ship's position;

.12 finding the necessary area, using geographical coordinates;

.13 displaying indispensable data layers appropriate to a navigational situation;

.14 selecting appropriate and unambiguous data (position, course, speed, etc.);

.15 entering the mariner's notes;

.16 using north-up orientation presentation and other kinds of orientation; and

.17 using true- and relative‑motion modes.

.1 loading the ship's characteristics into ECDIS;

.2 selection of a sea area for route planning:

• .1 reviewing required waters for the sea passage; and

• .2 changing over of chart scale;

.3 verifying that proper and updated charts are available;

.5 route planning with calculation in the table format, including:

• .1 waypoints selection;

• .2 recalling the waypoints list;

• .3 planning notes;

• .4 adjustment of a planned route;

• .5 checking a pre-planned route for navigational safety;

• .6 alternative route planning;

• .7 saving planned routes, loading and unloading or deleting routes;

• .8 making a graphic copy of the monitor screen and printing a route;

• .9 editing and modification of the planned route;

• .10 setting of safety values according to the size and manoeuvring parameters of the vessel;

• .11 back-route planning; and

• .12 connecting several routes.

.1 using independent data to control ship's position or using alternative systems within ECDIS;

.2 using the look-ahead function:

• .1 changing charts and their scales;

• .2 reviewing navigational charts;

• .3 vector time selecting;

• .4 predicting the ship's position for some time interval;

• .5 changing the pre-planned route (route modification);

• .6 entering independent data for the calculation of wind drift and current allowance;

• .7 reacting properly to the alarm;

• .8 entering corrections for discrepancies of the geodetic datum;

• .9 displaying time markers on a ship's route;

• .10 entering ship's position manually; and

• .11 measuring coordinates, course, bearings and distances on a chart.

.1 absence of the next chart in the ECDIS database;

.2 crossing a safety contour;

.3 exceeding cross-track limits;

.4 deviation from planned route;

.5 approaching a waypoint;

.6 approaching a critical point;

.7 discrepancy between calculated and actual time of arrival to a waypoint;

.8 information on under-scaling or over-scaling;

.9 approaching an isolated navigational danger or danger area;

.10 crossing a specified area;

.11 selecting a different geodetic datum;

.12 approaching other ships;

.13 watch termination;

.14 switching timer;

.15 system test failure;

.16 malfunctioning of the positioning system used in ECDIS;

.17 failure of dead-reckoning; and

.18 inability to fix vessel's position using the navigational system.

.1 the ship's position in dead-reckoning mode, when the satellite and radio navigation system receiver is switched off;

.2 the ship's position, when automatically obtained coordinates are inaccurate; and

.3 course and speed values.

.1 automatic voyage recording;

.2 reconstruction of past track, taking into account:

• .1 recording media;

• .2 recording intervals;

• .3 verification of database in use;

.3 viewing records in the electronic ship's log;

.4 instant recording in the electronic ship's log;

.5 changing ship's time;

.6 entering the additional data;

.7 printing the content of the electronic ship's log;

.8 setting up the automatic record time intervals;

.9 composition of voyage data and reporting; and

.10 interface with a voyage data recorder (VDR).

.1 performing manual updating of electronic charts. Special attention should be paid to reference ellipsoid conformity and to conformity of the measurement units used on a chart and in the correction text;

.2 performing semi-automatic updating of electronic charts, using the data obtained on electronic media in the electronic chart format; and

.3 performing automatic updating of electronic charts, using update files obtained via electronic data communication lines.

.1 connecting ARPA to ECDIS;

.2 indicating target's speed vectors;

.3 indicating target's tracks;

.4 archiving target's tracks;

.5 viewing the table of the targets;

.6 checking alignment of radar overlay with charted geographic features;

.7 simulating one or more manoeuvres;

.8 corrections to own ship's position, using a reference point captured by ARPA; and

.9 corrections using the ARPA's cursor and electronic bar.

.1 interface with AIS;

.2 interpretation of AIS data;

.3 indicating target's speed vectors;

.4 indicating target's tracks; and

.5 archiving target's tracks.

.1 methods of testing for malfunctions of ECDIS, including functional self-testing;

.2 precautions to be taken after a malfunction occurs; and

.3 adequate back-up arrangements (take over and navigate using the back-up system).