Electronic Chart Display & Information Systems (ECDIS)

Electronic Chart Display and Information Systems (ECDIS) are now fitted as standard equipment in most large yachts. Although many systems are, superficially, easy to use, there are many capabilities which are not so obvious and for which training is required.

There are also hidden dangers in these capabilities which navigators must be trained to avoid. For this reason in the 2010 ’Manila Amendments’ of STCW95 it was decided to make training in ECDIS compulsory for the deck CoCs. This course fully complies with the requirements of and is approved by the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA).

The course takes 5 days and involves theoretical instruction in the principles of ECDIS operation and practical training in our navigation simulator. The course satisfies the legal requirement for ’generic’ training. We do recommend that those students wishing to take an ECDIS have first successfully completed the OOW Navigation and Radar course, otherwise they could well struggle to master the content. This is obviously not applicable if you are taking ECDIS to lift the negative endorsement on your Master 200 CoC.

This course becomes a mandatory module for OOW(Y) and Chief Mate and above from 1st Jan 2014. Meanwhile, if any deck CoC OOW and above is issued prior to December 31st where an ECDIS is not supplied, it will be endorsed ’Not for use on ECDIS fitted ships after 1 January 2017’.