Admiralty Digital Catalogue (ADC)

Efficient passage planning depends on bringing together trusted information from multiple sources. As the volume of information available to bridge teams grows, the challenge is increasingly about finding what matters and understanding it efficiently. We explore how reducing unnecessary friction can give navigators more time to focus on the decisions that support safe navigation.

Setting the ECDIS safety contour correctly is one of the most effective things a bridge team can do to prevent grounding. When configured for the vessel's actual draught, margins and operating conditions, it controls how depth information is displayed in ECDIS and alerts the crew before the vessel approaches unsafe water.

For most navigators, the sound of an ECDIS alert is unmistakable. Depending on the watch, an ECDIS alert can mean anything from a routine chart update to an imminent grounding risk. The challenge is knowing which is which – and acting accordingly.