Raster chart performance standards agreed

Draft performance standards for raster chart display systems have been agreed by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Sub-Committee on Safety of Navigation. It proposes to amended the performance standards for electronic chart display and information systems (ECDIS) to allow them to be used with raster charts where vector electronic chart systems are not available.

The proposed draft amendments to Resolution A817(19) state that some ECDIS equipment may operate in raster chart display system (RCDS) mode when the relevant chart information is not available in vector mode. The draft amendments indicate which performance standards for vector charts apply equally to raster charts, and add specific specifications for raster charts, covering such aspects as display requirements, alarms and indicators, provision and updating of chart information and route planning. The draft amendments state that when used in RCDS mode, ECDIS equipment should be used together with up-to-date paper charts.

The Sub-Committee was divided on whether RCDS should be accepted as having equivalency with paper charts. The amended draft performance standards now go to the Maritime Safety Committee meeting in December.

The IMO is a UN agency responsible for improving maritime safety and preventing pollution from ships.

Fax: +44 171 587 3210.