Horst Hecht created a presentation with a critical view on ECDIS from various perspectives: technical, regulatory and in the daily practice. In the conclusion he gives suggestions for improvement in the process

1. ECDIS: With a Critical View
Workshop Rotterdam, 11 December 2013
Hydrographic Society, Benelux Branch
by
Horst Hecht
Director (rtd.) Hydrography, BSH Germany
Present: Senior Scientific Advisor to Caris bv

2. Overview
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Historical flashback
Current situation
Problem areas
Strengths
Weaknesses
Threats
Outlook
Horst Hecht: ECDIS – With a Critical View
HSB, 11 Dec 2013

3. Some historical notes
• First ideas and proposals for an Electronic Chart System already
at the end of 70ies.
• First prototype: 1983 (USA, M. Rogoff)
– Port of Baltimore, already with Radar overlay
• 1986-1997: IMO and IHO address ECDIS; result: Performance
Standards for ECDIS as basis for industrial development
– Netherlands (RAdm van Opstal) initiated first steps
• 1988-1997: IHO develops S-52 and S-57 standards
• Since 1997: HOs produce ENCs and updates
• 2010: 95%-level of data coverage reached
Horst Hecht: ECDIS – With a Critical View
HSB, 11 Dec 2013

4. Where do we stand today with
ECDIS?
• ECDIS – a new database-driven, GPS-controlled navigation
information system replacing paper charts, regulated by IMO, data
to be produced under authority of national HOs following
worldwide IHO standards
• Phased carriage requirement (since July 2012)
• Component of an integrated bridge system
• Data available for about 95% of oceans
• Heterogeneous system of data distribution and service supply
• Core of future e-Navigation (IMO)
Horst Hecht: ECDIS – With a Critical View
HSB, 11 Dec 2013

5. International Organisations responsible for
ECDIS regulation and standardisation
IMO
Maritime
Administrations
IHO
ECDIS
Performance
Standards
SOLAS V
Carriage requirement
ECDIS Standards
S52
Hydrographic
Offices
S57/S100
S63
IEC
Industry
Test-Standard
IEC 61147
IMO: International Maritime
Organization
IEC: International
Electrotechnical Commission
Horst Hecht: ECDIS – With a Critical View HSB, 11
Dec 2013

6. ECDIS carriage requirement
(IMO NAV 54/25 Annex 14 [2009])
Type
Tonnage
Bis
Juli 2012
Juli 2013
Juli 2014
Juli 2015
Juli 2016
≥50,000
≥20,000
Cargo ships
≥10,000
≥3,000
<3,000
Tanker
All ≥3,000
<3,000
Passenger
ships
All ≥500
<500
No mandatory carriage, ECDIS optional
Requirement valid for newbuilds from 1 July on [of the first year coloured green]
Requirement valid for newbuilds from 1 July on [of the first year coloured green] , additionally for all other
vessels of that class from the date on of first inspection on or after 1 July [of the first year coloured red]
Horst Hecht: ECDIS – With a Critical View
HSB, 11 Dec 2013
Juli 2017
Juli 2018
Danach

7. Integrated Bridge System
(Schematic example)
Source: http://www.syberg.no/ibs-integrated-bridge-systems/integrated-bridge-and-navigation-system-synapsis-bridge-control-article127-153.html
Horst Hecht: ECDIS – With a Critical View
HSB, 11 Dec 2013

8. Worldwide availability of official ENCs
Source: http://iho-wms.net/wms/ENCatFrame.htm (as of June 2013)
Horst Hecht: ECDIS – With a Critical View
HSB, 11 Dec 2013

9. Current state - Summary
ECDIS .....
• is gradually becoming the standard equipment
• is the backbone of all bridge systems
• is the by far most complex navigation system ....
– integrating real-time input from a variety of sensors (GPS,
radar, AIS, gyro, rudder and other ship sensors) ...
– with GPS driving the functions of a complex GIS database,
which is to be continually kept up-to-date
– controlling a complex real-time graphic display and real-time
warning functions
• has overcome most of the initial problems and difficulties
But ........
Horst Hecht: ECDIS – With a Critical View
HSB, 11 Dec 2013

10. Problem areas
• Regulatory
– IMO
– IHO
• Organisationally
– Data services
– Quality assurance
• Technically
– Standardisation
– Hydrographic data quality
Horst Hecht: ECDIS – With a Critical View
HSB, 11 Dec 2013

11. Strengths
Organisationally:
• In principle, worldwide ENC service provision system in
place
Technically:
• Based on worldwide data and presentation standards
supporting complex functions
• Migration path to S-100 standards suite: imbedded in the
family of ISO 191xx family of GIS standards
• Ready for the future: S-100 adopted by IMO as basis of the
“Common Marine Data Structure” (CMDS) for e-Navigation
Horst Hecht: ECDIS – With a Critical View
HSB, 11 Dec 2013

12. Weaknesses (1)
Generally: Strengths are confined to technical potential, problem: reality!
Regulatory:
• IMO:
– Despite SOLAS being international law: virtually no enforcement
mechanism in case of contraventions (e.g. insufficient fulfilment of
national responsibilities for hydrography, data production)
– Type approval mechanism (approval authorities, equipment test
standard) of nautical equipment flawed. For ECDIS there is particular
risk that unfit equipment enters the market
– No mandatory upgrading of older ECDIS equipment versions
• IHO
– No enforcement mechanism for HOs to adhere to WEND principles
Horst Hecht: ECDIS – With a Critical View
HSB, 11 Dec 2013

13. Weaknesses (2)
Organisationally (IHO):
• No central quality assurance system in place
– HOs handle QA differently,
– most countries participate in QA centres, but important
countries (e.g. USA, Canada, Japan) stay out
• No agreed common distribution system:
– Two (competing) QA centres (RENCs) as outlets
– Other countries via distributors direct
• Consequence: Service Providers must handle multiple data
sources of variable, sometimes even questionable quality
Horst Hecht: ECDIS – With a Critical View
HSB, 11 Dec 2013

14. WEND Conceptual Model
HO Reg B
REGION
B
HO Reg B
IHO WEND
COMMITTEE
RENC B
HO Reg B
HO Reg A
REGION
A
National
Shipping
HO Reg A
RENC A
ENC
Agents
HO Reg A
HO Reg C
REGION
C
HO Reg C
RENC C
HO Reg C
Annex 6 to CL27/1994 –Report of the Special Committee on WEND
International
Shipping

15. Reality
(as of 2004 – but still valid in principle ....)
Hong Kong, Philippines
USA, Chile, Japan
Australia, Canada
(Bahrain), Belgium, Cyprus
Egypt, Germany, (India),
Jamaica, Malta, Netherlands,
Portugal, South Africa, Spain,
Sri Lanka, UK
IC-ENC
(Greece)
Denmark, Estonia, Finland,
France, Latvia, Norway, Poland,
Russia, Sweden
PRIMARStavanger
Singapore
Others
?
D
I
S
T
R
I
B
U
T
O
R
S
U
S
E
R
S

16. An analogy: Committee Design
What the customer
wanted
What the committee
agreed
How it was defined by
standards
Horst Hecht: ECDIS – With a Critical View
HSB, 11 Dec 2013
What industry
delivered

17. Threats
• For navigational equipment, everything that doesn„t
work as it should constitutes a potential risk and must
be considered a threat to the customer as well to the
idea of the system
– Conceptual Issues
– Legacy Issues
– Certification Issues
– Data Quality Issues
Horst Hecht: ECDIS – With a Critical View
HSB, 11 Dec 2013

18. Conceptual Threats
• First and important point: Overreliance !
– “Computers do not err”
– Neglection of traditional watchkeeping duties
• Complexity of ECDIS handling
• Crews frequently changing ships  always new
equipment with different MMI
Possible action:
• Training, training, training .... (general and typespecific)
Horst Hecht: ECDIS – With a Critical View
HSB, 11 Dec 2013

19. Legacy issues
• Old equipment, partly 1st generation ECDIS still in use
• Software errors in ECDIS
• Incomplete test standards (IEC) and test data set (IHO) 
special data combinations lead to incorrect functions
• Only one third of all ECDISes perform correctly!
• IMO Circular SN1-Circ 312 - ECDIS anomalies.pdf
warns of specific errors
Action:
• New standard S100/S101 for ECDIS allowing updating of
data standard
• Introduction of methods for underway software upgrades
Horst Hecht: ECDIS – With a Critical View
HSB, 11 Dec 2013

20. Certification
• Mostly carried out by classification societies
• Should involve thorough independent testing in
laboratory
– But often only relied on manufacturer‟s
documentation
• Competitive business, competition often over
cost, not over quality of certification
• In EU, any certificate issued by a recognized
EU body must be accepted
Action:
• ??
Horst Hecht: ECDIS – With a Critical View
HSB, 11 Dec 2013

21. Data Quality
• Generic:
– Outdated surveys (partly no competent HO!)
– „Zone-of-Confidence“ (ZOC) Parameter in ENCs not adequate:
 No relation to water depth (much better: IHO S-44!)
 No relation to time/temporal variability of seafloor
• Specific:
– Some ENCs published with no independent QC (e.g. USA!)
– Updating slow or much delayed in some countries
• Potential Risk:
– Any data deficiencies may lead to accidents and casualties!
Action:
• Improvement of international cooperation, correction of quality parameter
Horst Hecht: ECDIS – With a Critical View
HSB, 11 Dec 2013

22. Conclusion
(1) Theory – OK, practical implementation flawed
(2) International coordination and cooperation should be improved:
WEND  WENC
(3) Improvement by new IHO standard S-100 (e.g. Upgrading of
data standard)
(4) More stringent certification procedures
(5) Reality Check:
ECDIS, as the most complex navigation system, will never
be perfect, neither in terms of technology nor of data
ECDIS must still be operated by intelligent human beings, not
the other way around!
Horst Hecht: ECDIS – With a Critical View
HSB, 11 Dec 2013

23. Thanks for your kind attention!
Horst Hecht: ECDIS – With a Critical View
HSB, 11 Dec 2013