Comité International Radio-Maritime (CIRM), the international association of marine electronics companies, has announced the publication its Guideline on Performance Test Procedure for ECDIS.
The Guideline outlines a test procedure to be carried out on a ship’s Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS) installation, to determine if the equipment meets the operational requirements defined by the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
The document describes a range of manufacturer-recommended tests and checks, which correspond to IMO’s requirements for ECDIS as laid down in SOLAS regulations V/19.2 and V/27, MSC.232(82) and MSC.1/Circ.1503/Rev.1.
Development of the Guideline was initiated in response to concerns raised by stakeholders across the maritime industry about the condition of in-service ECDIS, CIRM said, which are often found to have operational issues.
Problems typically encountered include inadequate power supply arrangements, the running of outdated software versions, disabled audio signal for alerts, and the incorrect functioning of interfaces to connected equipment.
The Guideline was produced by CIRM’s ECDIS Working Group, with the input of ECDIS manufacturers, system integrators, and service providers, with the ultimate aim of ensuring that an in-service ECDIS is functioning properly, in the interests of safety of navigation.
“We are very pleased that CIRM members have come together to develop a practical solution to industry concerns about the operational condition of ECDIS. This new Guideline will provide stakeholders with effective measures to identify and address ECDIS operational issues. ECDIS is a key navigational tool and it is therefore essential that systems function as IMO intended,” said CIRM’s Secretary-General, Frances Baskerville
The Guideline is free-to-use and available via the CIRM website.
