ECDIS training

With the threat of ECDIS becoming a mandatory fit on SOLAS vessels and probably the next major purchase for shipowners retrofitting equipment on the bridge, Lilley & Gillie, the UK-based manufacturer of navigational instruments and nautical equipment, has come up with a low cost solution for shipowners to solve the problem of training officers to use this complex equipment.

ECDIS defines a complete system including approved hardware and software, official ENC charts, and back up arrangements. If any one of these requirements is deficient the system is not an ECDIS but an ECS (Electronic Chart System) and can only be used as an aid to navigation, valuable though that may be. Most existing installations described as ECDIS do not conform to this rigorous definition, most commonly due to the use of unofficial chart data.

Lilley & Gillie have teamed up with PC Maritime by acquiring a 50% shareholding of this established marine software company. As a leading chart agent and navigation equipment manufacturer this acquisition now establishes Lilley & Gillie as one of the few companies in the world that has in house products, design teams and expertise to ensure the transition from paper charts to digital occurs with the minimum possible effort for its customers. PC Maritime?s Navmaster product range is already well known for quality and for technical support including remote diagnostic techniques.

The idea to promote the use of ECS rather than ECDIS for retrofit installations came about in a meeting with a leading ship manager, during which the Safety & Quality Manager stated, “If an Administration decides to impose the compulsory use of ECDIS then we?ve got problems due to the complete lack of training onboard.” Lilley & Gillie?s recommendation to shipowners for existing vessels is to fit an ECS that has been developed to the IMO ECDIS specification, which can then be upgraded to an ECDIS when conditions are right for shipowners and their vessels. Until ECDIS becomes a mandatory fit, the crew can use the ECS as an aid to navigation, continuing with the paper chart system to meet SOLAS requirements, whilst they become fully familiar with its usage. This will save man-hours and related costs in terms of training for personnel, and shipowners will also enjoy the benefits of the ECS to enhance safety with continuous vessel position display, efficient passage planning and documentation. Other features include the usage of official chart data with weekly updates, ENCs where available and ARCS to cover the gaps. Lilley & Gillie has the in-house expertise in production, support and related services in order to ensure hardware, software and data is managed and supported effectively.

Graham Knight, Managing Director of Lilley & Gillie, said, “We believe PC Maritime?s ECS/ECDIS software will prove itself and therefore there are very few ties on the shipowner within the agreement offered. It?s a great solution to shipowners in the transition to ECDIS. We are delighted that we once again can provide a customer focused solution that makes Lilley & Gillie stand out from the competition.”