New ECDIS developments

The emergence of advances aimed at meeting a tranche of IMO regulations due to be finally implemented by 2018 includes one from Norwegian E-navigation company Navtor AS of Egersund.

It has announced NavSync, a facility for directly uploading up to date charts to an ECDIS from a USB stick. Designed to work in conjunction with the company’s recently launched ‘Pay As You Sail’ DNV approved ENC service, it permits access to charts via a subscription based model.

“By using the USB port on an ECDIS, ENCs can be installed from NavSync’s USB-compatible device, NavStick, in one simple operation in contrast to loading multiple CDs”, said Navtor’s Børge Hetland. He added that updates can be easily downloaded to the NavStick via an internet enabled onboard computer and transferred to an ECDIS on a rolling basis. As an additional feature, the NavSync program also provides a print function for producing relevant port authority reports to verify that vessels are equipped with the most up to date ENCs.

Meanwhile, in Germany, Hamburg based ChartWorld has launched a dedicated ‘ECDIS as a Service’ website (www..ecdis-as-a-service.com) for supplying a complete range of ECDIS and digital chart data services, including its type approved eGlobe unit. The site also enables shipping companies to submit their own information in order to receive a customised service quotation.

“Implementing ECDIS requires considerable planning and investment as well as radical changes in operating procedures and training requirements”, said ChartWorld director Oliver Schwarz. Pointing out that the current industry approach is to burden customers with full responsibility for addressing all the problems themselves, he said ChartWorld’s approach is to take the problems away from them by developing clear and simple affordable packaged service solutions that are easy to understand and implement.