The facts about electronic charts and carriage compliance

If you would like to send any questions regarding any aspect of Marine Navigation, we will direct your question to the best member of our team to see if they are able to help you. Send you questions to email ask.admiralty@ukho.gov.uk

Official/Unofficial

We have taken some of the most common questions we are asked regarding what makes electronic charts compliant and answered them below. Should you have any further questions, then please ask us at ask.admiralty@ukho.gov.uk

Question: "What does 'official' mean?"

'Official' is shorthand for 'compliant with SOLAS carriage requirements'. Under SOLAS, vessels must carry nautical charts and publications (Ch V, Regulation 19.2.1.4) and nautical chart or nautical publication are defined as: 'a special-purpose map or book, or a specially compiled database from which such a map or book is derived, that is issued officially by or on the authority of a Government, authorized Hydrographic Office or other relevant government institution and is designed to meet the requirements of marine navigation (Ch V, Regulation 2.2)'.

Question: "Why is it important to use official charts?"

In short, to ensure compliance with SOLAS Requirements.

Question: "Why aren't private sector produced charts official?"

Because they do not meet the definition of nautical charts in SOLAS. While private sector producers may make their charts under licence from hydrographic offices this does not mean that their charts are 'authorised by' those offices. This means that such charts cannot satisfy the carriage requirements of SOLAS and therefore are not 'official'. The basic principle is, that in such matters, the responsibility lies with the national government. It alone is wholly responsible for the provision and adequacy of charts.

Question: "Can unofficial electronic charts be used for navigation?"

No. Unofficial digital data cannot be used in ECDIS for primary navigation, however it can be used as a supplementary aid to navigation. If used in this way, to conform with regulations, primary navigation must be undertaken on paper: the passage plan must be recorded on a paper chart before sailing, and the vessel's position plotted on the chart at regular intervals. Unofficial digital charts do not comply with regulations relating to the use of ECDIS as a primary navigation system.

Admiralty Vector Chart Service (AVCS)

Following on from electronic charts and carriage compliance, we have included some of the most popular questions we are asked regarding our official ENC service - the Admiralty Vector Chart Service, and answered them below. Should you have any further questions, then please ask us at ask.admiralty@ukho.gov.uk

Question: "What is AVCS and how does it benefit shipping companies?"

The Admiralty Vector Chart Service (AVCS) provides comprehensive, official worldwide ENC coverage.

By combining its own produced ENCs with others from the world's national hydrographic offices, the UKHO has created a single SOLAS-compliant source of ENC coverage for use in ECDIS (Electronic Chart Display and Information Systems), that is comprehensive, official and global.

AVCS is helping the maritime community overcome historic barriers to the adoption of ECDIS, by offering the mariner usable and effective digital navigation, delivering significant gains in terms of efficiency, economy and, above all, safety.

Question: "Why choose AVCS over unofficial alternatives?"

To comply with IMO regulations an ECDIS system must be loaded with ENCs if it is to be used for primary navigation. If an ECDIS is loaded with unofficial private vector data (in any format) then the ECDIS is operating in ECS mode and can only be used to assist navigation. In this case paper charts must continue to be used as the primary means of navigation.

AVCS is 100% compliant, 100% official, and 100% future-proof.

Question: "Why is AVCS better than other official alternatives?"

AVCS offers the most extensive ENC coverage available from any one supplier. It includes ENCs which are not available through any other service. This coverage is key for any shipping company with vessels trading internationally and is not available from any other ENC provider.

These folios are available in three defined types (Transit, Regional and Port), and they provide customers with the best possible combination of flexibility of coverage, budgetary predictability, and ultimately peace of mind. Such folio services are not available from any other ENC provider.

AVCS also provides very flexible licensing to minimise chart costs. AVCS customers need only buy the ENCs they need when they need them. Chart access is provided for periods of as little as 3 months up to 1 year according to the geographic area and vessels operating requirements and priced accordingly. The vessel carries all the ENCs onboard.

Chart permits can be requested at any time via an Admiralty chart agent and supplied on board in minutes.

Question: "What criteria should customers consider in choosing a digital supplier?"

The following issues should be considered when selecting a digital chart service from any supplier:

• Is the service carriage compliant?
• Is it focused on the required routes?
• Does it offer comprehensive coverage?
• Does it offer flexible buying options?
• Does it offer managed coverage (folios) at no extra cost?
• Are new ENCs supplied automatically, allowing charts to be added to the licence immediately?
• Does the service offer remote (Internet) updating?
• Does it offer flexible licensing options - 3, 6, 9 or 12 months?
• Is it supported by a comprehensive catalogue
• which includes a complete series of navigational products?
• Does it include Temporary & Preliminary Notices to Mariners information?
• Is it available through normal channels for navigational products?
• Does it offer a 'try before you buy' free period?

AVCS does all of these things!

Question: "Does AVCS offer 100% global coverage?"

Not currently. It does however, offer the most comprehensive ENC coverage available.

Global ENC coverage is still maturing - in some areas it falls short of what is ideal for prudent navigation. Some such areas fall on major trade routes, and are significant to many vessels. Therefore, vessels navigating in such areas will need paper chart coverage to comply with SOLAS Regulations, with other digital charts possibly being used to aid navigation.

AVCS offers the widest coverage available and maximises the chances of being able to use a single chart service for the full voyage, cutting the cost of maintaining multiple services while also reducing training requirements and the potential for confusion.

Question: "How does AVCS updating compare with other updating services?"

Most services provide access to ENC updates over the internet; as well as weekly updates.

The Admiralty Updating Service provides access to Notices to Mariners (NMs), New Editions and New Charts (new ENCs).

Customers can get all available new ENCs online via the internet, without ever receiving a CD. We do, however, recommend occasionally installing an update CD, simply because it will contain cumulative update information for all ENCs worldwide, ensuring that no updates are missed, and so maximising safety.

Many flag states have additional requirements related to training, and some still do not allow paperless operation. Panama, for example, requires paper charts to be carried as backup on vessels using ECDIS as their primary navigation tool.

Question: "How does AVCS pricing compare with alternatives?"

AVCS pricing is generally comparable with that of competitors such as Primar, on a more or less like-for-like basis.

In some areas, AVCS sometimes offers more comprehensive coverage, at a marginally higher price. The difference in price is generally in the order of 1-3% with the difference in coverage perhaps 10-15%. In other words, a typical scenario will see a competitor providing 85% of AVCS coverage for 98% of the AVCS price.

The major selling point of AVCS is it's folios, which on many routes offer significant savings over buying ENCs individually, particularly given that updates are provided free of charge within the license period.

ECDIS Regulations

Following on from electronic charts and carriage compliance, we have included some of the most popular questions we are asked regarding our official ENC service - the Admiralty Vector Chart Service, and answered them below. Should you have any further questions, then please ask us at ask.admiralty@ukho.gov.uk

Question: "To meet full ECDIS requirement, a ship needs to install and carry 2 IMO compliant ECDIS. If a ship is on full ECDIS (i.e. 2 ECDIS), is there a requirement for the ship to carry paper charts as back up?

Based on IMO Regulation: "Regulation 19 of the new Chapter V - Carriage requirements for shipborne navigational systems and equipment allows an electronic chart display and information system (ECDIS) to be accepted as meeting the chart carriage requirements of the regulation.

The regulation requires all ships, irrespective of size, to carry nautical charts and nautical publications to plan and display the ship's route for the intended voyage and to plot and monitor positions throughout the voyage. But the ship must also carry back up arrangements if electronic charts are used either fully or partially."

From the above regulation, does it mean that even if you are full ECDIS compliant, the ship still needs to carry back up paper charts?"

The IMO carriage requirement for ECDIS that comes into force from 2012 for various classes and sizes of vessel requires the fit a single ECDIS and carriage of an appropriate backup system. The backup needs to fulfill the functional requirements set out in Appendix 6 of the IMO ECDIS Performance Standard.

The most commonly accepted backup solutions are either a second ECDIS or an outfit of paper charts (either of which are widely accepted); however some Administrations may also accept other solutions such as Chart Radar.

Whilst fitting dual ECDIS should in theory enable a vessel to navigate 'paperless' it is possible that some Administrations may require, at least for a transitional period whilst confidence is built up, a vessel to carry a small 'get you home' paper chart outfit 'just in case'.

In practice we observe that many vessels fitted with dual ECDIS are, for the present, continuing to maintain at least a small folio of paper charts onboard.