However, seafarers should always ensure that ECDIS charts are updated on a weekly basis and they can be downloaded through various applications such as Chart Tracker in a matter of minutes, he added.
Mr Devereese stressed the need to ensure that charts do remain up to date, failing to do so can result in significant penalties, including the vessel being deemed unfit to be put to sea and being detained in port.
He pointed that an annual test has been proposed to ensure ECDIS is running correctly, and a test CD can be acquired via an ENC service provider. As several companies provide these charts, it raises the question of whether the charts are always identical. Manufactures of ECDIS are developing uniform standards, which should mean all information is replicated across all systems.
However, while the information may be the same, ECDIS systems can be operated in subtly different ways. It is therefore important for crew to be comfortable on the ECDIS system that they are operating. A crew's training and experience should be examined, and an assessment made as to whether they require additional training on in-house simulators provided by the shipping company.
An issue has been raised that the ECDIS alarm system can be over-zealous, such as triggering alarms whenever a vessel passes over an underwater cable, which can lead to complacency when genuine alarms are sounded.
While ECDIS is an extremely useful aid for seafarer navigation, seafarers must remember that it is an aid to navigation, and not a replacement for all navigational skills. "It is a seafarer's responsibility to ensure the safety of a vessel, ECDIS is fallible, and can contain errors," Mr Devereese said.
There is also the possibility of the system failing, in which case a seafarer will need to resort to traditional methods of navigation. As a result, seafarers should continue to be trained in a variety of navigational techniques, hold a paper chart 'back up' portfolio, and run table top exercises with the officer of the watch to maintain their familiarity with paper charts and proper position fixing routines.
"An over reliance on ECDIS can cause these traditional skills to fade, and potentially lead to incidents, and the industry should make sufficient navigational training widely available," he added.
Mr Devereese stressed the need to ensure that charts do remain up to date, failing to do so can result in significant penalties, including the vessel being deemed unfit to be put to sea and being detained in port.
He pointed that an annual test has been proposed to ensure ECDIS is running correctly, and a test CD can be acquired via an ENC service provider. As several companies provide these charts, it raises the question of whether the charts are always identical. Manufactures of ECDIS are developing uniform standards, which should mean all information is replicated across all systems.
However, while the information may be the same, ECDIS systems can be operated in subtly different ways. It is therefore important for crew to be comfortable on the ECDIS system that they are operating. A crew's training and experience should be examined, and an assessment made as to whether they require additional training on in-house simulators provided by the shipping company.
An issue has been raised that the ECDIS alarm system can be over-zealous, such as triggering alarms whenever a vessel passes over an underwater cable, which can lead to complacency when genuine alarms are sounded.
While ECDIS is an extremely useful aid for seafarer navigation, seafarers must remember that it is an aid to navigation, and not a replacement for all navigational skills. "It is a seafarer's responsibility to ensure the safety of a vessel, ECDIS is fallible, and can contain errors," Mr Devereese said.
There is also the possibility of the system failing, in which case a seafarer will need to resort to traditional methods of navigation. As a result, seafarers should continue to be trained in a variety of navigational techniques, hold a paper chart 'back up' portfolio, and run table top exercises with the officer of the watch to maintain their familiarity with paper charts and proper position fixing routines.
"An over reliance on ECDIS can cause these traditional skills to fade, and potentially lead to incidents, and the industry should make sufficient navigational training widely available," he added.