Press Article: ECDIS - elephant on the bridge?

Captain Yves Vandenborn, of The Standard Club, explains why shipowners and their bridge teams need to do more to ensure clear understanding of ECDIS and other safety-critical systems.

ECDIS, the satnav of shipping, is still one of the least understood items on the bridge.

Despite the electronic chart display and information system (ECDIS) sitting on every ship's bridge, it is often the case that shipowners and their bridge team members do not fully understand it.

ECDIS is a wonderful piece of equipment, showing the precise, real-time position of your ship on the latest navigational chart anywhere in the world, and with overlays it can give you a complete picture of your surroundings at sea.

It is important for masters to show leadership with regard to
the system, given the importance of ECDIS to ship operations and its inherent risks, immediately picking up on any incorrect or mismanagement in the use of the system by other officers.

All bridge team members should also be encouraged to raise their concern or queries with ECDIS operation or management. It should not be allowed to become the “elephant in the room”

Captain Yves Vandenborn, Director of Loss Prevention, has contributed an article to Maritime Risk International about the importance of understanding ECDIS. The full article is available to download via the link on the right.

类别: Loss Prevention