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Track: Oceanography, Coastal Zone, Marine Resources
Kjell Johansson
Swedish Maritime Administration
Slottsgatan 82
Norrkoping, S-601 78
SWEDEN
Telephone: 011-46-11-191343
Fax: 011-46-11-133903
E-mail: kjellc.johansson@shipadm.se
Ismo Laitakari
Digital Revolution of Navigation - Exploiting ECDIS and Production of Electronic Navigational Charts
As in many other areas, electronic charts have made their way into the world of hydrography and navigation. Next year the first ships can throw away their paper charts and start to navigate with systems that use electronic charts instead. The term for these systems is ECDIS (Electronic Chart Display and Information System). ECDIS does not only consist of a computer with a software for displaying the chart, but it also involves a lot of other elements (e.g., GPS/DGPS positioning device, interfaces to gyro, and logs.) Since ECDIS systems and used ENC (Electronic Navigational Chart) data are quite complex, a number of standards have been produced. There are technical specifications and display standards for ECDIS, and also product specifications and standard for the exchange format of the ENC data. The last ones are known as S-57, and for the moment it is out in its third edition. Even if ECDISs are rather complex systems, they are "stand-alone" systems on one ship. There is no interaction with other
ships or traffic control centers. Among other countries, Sweden and Finland take active part in the development of a way to manage this interaction with Vessel Traffic Service Systems (VTS) and Environmental and Traffic Information Systems (ETIS). National hydrographic offices are exclusively responsible for production and authorization of ENC data in their waters. In Finland and Sweden this task has been tackled by a joint development project for the Hydrographic Information System (HIS). Hydrographic offices are also responsible for delivery of ENC data and updates to customers (i.e. ECDIS operators) in a reliable and cost-effective way. The United Kingdom and Norway have established Northern Europe Electronic Navigational Chart Coordinating Centre (RENC/NE) for commerciallybased service for the storage and distribution of ENC data. These services will be made available on CD ROM, ISDN, Inmarsat B High Speed, and GSM mobile telephones. Both Sweden and Finland have joined the RENC/NE and are actively
working in the related development projects.
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