Training-requirements:

In its Risk Watch Magazine (Volume 16: Number 2 July 2009) the Britannia Steam Ship
Insurance Association published an article about the proper use of ECDIS. A number of
recent incidents have demonstrated that bridge watchkeeping officers are not always
properly trained in the use of the ECDIS (Electronic Chart Data Information System) and that
the correct use and limitations of such equipment may not be properly understood. With
modern navigational technology becoming more commonplace aboard merchant vessels
today it is important that ships deck officers and their line managers ashore recognize the
importance of formal ECDIS training in order to ensure that their vessels continue to be
properly operated by competent personnel.
Although Table A II/1 of the STCW95 Convention states that ECDIS systems are considered to
be included under the term charts, there is no mandatory international requirement for
navigating officers to undertake specific ECDIS training, and the requirements of individual
national administrations differ in this respect. The UK administration includes ECDIS in its
syllabus for all deck officers, and also requires navigating officers to receive both generic and
equipment-specific training when serving on vessels fitted with ECDIS. However, most other
European Union (EU) administrations, including the Netherlands, rely on the general
requirements placed upon ship owners and managers by the ISM Code to ensure all
personnel are familiar with the equipment they are expected to use. The Code states:
The Company should establish procedures to ensure that new personnel and personnel
transferred to new assignments related to safety and protection of the environment are
given proper familiarization with their duties
Guidelines have been issued to surveyors conducting PSC inspections under the Paris
Memorandum of Understanding, which includes:
Are the master and deck watchkeeping officers able to produce appropriate
documentation that generic and type specific ECDIS familiarisation has been
undertaken?
In September 2008, an ad hoc intersessional working group of the IMO Sub-Committee on
Standards of Training and Watchkeeping (STW) considered a proposal submitted by Australia
to include additional competences related to the knowledge and use of ECDIS in tables AII/1, A-II/2, A-II/3 and section B-II/1 of the STCW Code. The proposed amendments include
the demonstration of competence by the examination and assessment of evidence from
approved training ship experience, approved ECDIS simulator training, and approved inservice experience. The proposal was supported by the United Kingdom, and will be further
considered at the next meeting of the STW sub-committee scheduled for February 2009.
The framework of an ECDIS course, titled Model Training Course on the Operational Use of
ECDIS (Model Course 1.27) was published by the International Maritime Organization (IMO)
in 2000, and provides detailed guidance on content, the facilities required, basic entry level

qualifications, certification, and simulator exercises. Many ECDIS training courses based on
the IMO model course are run by maritime training colleges and other educational
organisations around the world. The course is designed for 40 hours of instruction (1 week),
and successful completion is dependent on attendance. Although tests and evaluations are
suggested, there is no requirement for attendees to pass an examination.
Marine Accident Investigation Branch
Report No 21/2008

The IMO Sub-committee for STW wrote in its 40th session on February 5th 2009 in its
COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF THE STCW CONVENTION AND THE STCW CODE
Chapters I, II, III and VII Report of the Working Group
Table A-II/1 Navigation at the operational level
Plan and conduct a passage and determine position
8 In considering the above competence the Group was of the opinion that the Note in
column 2 referring to ECDIS could be deleted as it was now covered by new draft text under
thecompetence of Use of ECDIS to maintain safety of navigation. However, after
considerablediscussion, the Group was of the view that it was also necessary to include the
same Note in column 1 regarding Training and assessment in the use of ECDIS .. as in the
new draft text on ECDIS in column 1, page 4.

And according to the Vessel Inspection Questionnaires for Oil Tankers,

Combination Carriers, Shuttle Tankers, Chemical Tankers and Gas Carriers
(2008 Edition Rev2, 14 November 2008)
3.8 If the vessel is equipped with a fully approved ECDIS, have all the deck officers attended
appropriate training course?
Notes: The system should have Administration approval to be used as the primary means of
navigation. Use of ECDIS as a stand-alone navigation system without paper charts requires
two fully independent, IMO type-approved vector chart systems. An appropriate training
course may be considered to be an interactive CBT. Where a single or non-approved ECDIS,
ECD or INS is fitted and the deck officers have evidence of appropriate training, then this
should be recorded in other comments. Absence of such training should be recorded as an
Observation.

The Paris MOU with its PORT STATE CONTROL COMMITTEE INSTRUCTION 35/2002/02
states:
5.3.2 Are the master and deck watchkeeping officers able to produce
appropriate documentation that generic and type-specific ECDIS
familiarisation has been undertaken?