ECDIS – Guidance for Good Practice

The new guidance includes relevant procedures into a single, consolidated document from several previous IMO circulars aiming to assist smooth implementation of ECDIS and its ongoing safe and effective use on board ships.

ECDIS is a complex, safety-relevant, software-based system with multiple options for display and integration. The ongoing safe and effective use of ECDIS involves many stakeholders including seafarers, equipment manufacturers, chart producers, hardware and software maintenance providers, shipowners and operators, and training providers. It is important that all these stakeholders have a clear and common understanding of their roles and responsibilities in relation to ECDIS. The IMO has developed a single, consolidated document termed ECDIS – Guidance for Good Practice encouraging ship operators, masters and deck officers on ECDIS-fitted ships to use this guidance to improve their understanding and facilitate safe and effective use of the equipment.

The guidance has been revised by IMO through MSC.1/ Circ.1503/Rev.1 

you can download the Guidance here

The guidance is laid out in seven sections, namely: 

A. Chart carriage requirement of SOLAS 

B. Maintenance of ECDIS software 

C. Operating anomalies identified within ECDIS 

D. Differences between raster chart display system (RCDS) and ECDIS E. ECDIS training 

F. Transitioning from paper chart to ECDIS navigation 

G. Guidance on training and assessment in the operational use of ECDIS simulators