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Reality Checked ECDIS type-approval is encouraging more shipowners to trust in technology Shipowners are about to find them- selves under a barrage of propaganda about electronic charts and the display systems that run them. These systems have been around for some years, and are used heavily in the offshore, dredg- ing, fishing and leisure fields. But mer- chant shipping, with a few exceptions, has shied away from using electronic charting, preferring to wait for a com- mon international standard and type- approved equipment. The common stan- dard is now in place, and the first approved ECDIS systems are entering the market. By this summer, there will be a choice of systems, some offering glossy boxes with shiny buttons and some offering facilities owners never dreamt they needed. But what is the real- ity? The reality is that a simple PC running well-thought-out software can save time, money and reduce the risk of accidents. The ability of modern PCs to process information means they can be har- nessed to improve safety by helping the bridge team manage and display inputs from multiple sources in one convenient place. "Electronic chart and information display systems cut the likelihood of navigational error, cut down on the pos- sibility of an accident, cut chart correct- ing time and reduce crew fatigue," says Malcolm Brown, ECDIS manager of Aberdeen-based Sea Information Sys- tems. "But ECDIS systems are not mandatory, and many owners still regard them as an expensive magic black box. They should think of them as a sensible way to use computers to make their ships more efficient and safer." Brown has seen the way the offshore and fishing industries have embraced ECDIS. "For fishermen at sea, ECDIS represents the difference between profit and loss, danger and safety. A single computerized chart display system can replace paper charts, free up space that would otherwise be occupied by a navi- gation station, and allow fast and accu- rate access to navigation information and positions at any time," says Brown. This attribute is transferable to main- stream shipping traffic. "How many times have you wished for an accurate real-time fix when entering unfamiliar ports?" says Brown. "Many seafarers worry about out of date charts, but ECDIS upgrades are regularly issued. Rather than relying on messy pencil marks on paper charts, and worrying about the accuracy of your corrections, the system is an accurate, instantaneous way of upgrading and correcting your charts," he continues. Brown, who is a master mariner him- self, says one of the aspects that discour- age more shipping companies from installing ECDIS is that many applica- tions of IT to safe navigation are dressed up as expensive systems. "They can run just as well on any PC," he says. "SIS will be launching one of the first stand- alone internationally approved ECDIS systems on the market this spring. But at its heart is a standard PC running sophis- ticated software. Manufacturers don't need to present their ECDIS in fancy covers," he said Companies with experience of chart plotting software on ordinary PCs for demanding applications such as offshore rig moves, dredging and fishing, can show just how reliable PC-based sys- tems are. "When working offshore, the movement and positioning of oil rigs and pipelines is a considerable invest- ment," Brown says, "Anything that will reduce the amount of time and cost posi- Maneuver.. .Propel.. .Position Tunnel Thrusters 100 to 2000 HP Harbormaster thrusters and outdrives are found around the world in ships, boats and barges where economical performance is required. For unassisted maneuvering in tight quarters. For easily-moved, deck-mounted propulsion. For critical dynamic positioning. For precision vessel control. 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