In the maritime transport, the Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS) has been developed into a complex computer-based ship critical operational technology system, playing central ...roles in the safe ship navigation and transport. While ECDIS software maintenance is regulated by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) ECDIS performance standards and related circulars, underlying software and hardware arrangements are implemented by ship-owners and supported by ECDIS equipment manufacturers. In this paper, we estimate ECDIS cyber security in order to study the origin of ECDIS cyber security risks. A set of ECDIS systems is examined using an industry-leading vulnerability scanning software tool, and cyber threats regarding the ECDIS backup arrangement, underlying operating system and third party applications are studied.
Klasično vođenje navigacije uporabom papirnatih pomorskih karata zamjenjuje se ECDIS sustavima te se od 2018. godine planira prijeći na PLECDIS sustav (engl. Paper Less Electronic Chart and Display ...Information System – posjedovanje informatičkog sustava i prikaza elektroničkih karata bez obveze posjedovanja klasičnih, pomorskih karata u papirnatom obliku) kao primarni navigacijski sustav. Poteškoće koje se pojavljuju u tom prijelaznom razdoblju su, između ostalog; stručno osposobljavanje velikog broja operatera – pomorskih časnika za pravilno korištenje različitih tipova ECDIS sustava i njihovih popratnih alata koji se na tržištu nude. Pored navedenog, pojavljuje se i problem stručnog osposobljavanja ovlaštenih ECDIS instruktora za daljnje osposobljavanje kandidata za rad na različitim tipovima ECDIS sustava. S ciljem rješavanja navedenih problema, u radu se iznosi postojeći standard ECDIS edukacije, kao i prijedlozi unaprjeđenja ECDIS edukacije s naglaskom na tipizirane tečajeve i osposobljavanje ECDIS instruktora. Samo pravilnim načinom korištenja ovoga sustava može se povećati stupanj sigurnosti plovidbe i zaštita morskog okoliša. Osnovni preduvjet za to je kvalitetna obuka ECDIS instruktora koji će svoja stečena znanja i iskustva prenositi pomorskim časnicima.
The development of Global Navigational Satellite Systems (GNSS) has revolutionised navigation on ships. GNSS, together with electronic chart display information system (ECDIS), has made navigation ...more accurate, efficient, and safer for sailors. However GNSS signals can be affected by various factors such as spoofing, jamming, ionospheric disturbances etc., while no backup means of position fixing in the open sea are available on board ships. Over-reliance on GNSS without the development of an alternative backup will jeopardise safe navigation of ships. However, most of the alternatives available are either complicated or expensive. By changing certain regulations and further development celestial navigation, a reliable and cost-effective backup system can be obtained.
The Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS) became the central navigational tool on modern ships. The system comprises numerous navigational and other components, each of them with ...its limitations and reliability. Due to ECDIS's revolutionary features, navigators are tempted to place excessive reliance on the system. Such reliance on it as a sole navigational aid is undoubtedly a problematic issue. The proposed paper is a segment of a systematically carried out research among ECDIS stakeholders. ECDIS EHO (Experience, Handling, and Opinion) research aims through research activities based on a user-centred approach to develop and improve the educational framework. The overreliance on the ECDIS system motivated the proposed research, which focused on system users' opinions and practice regarding confirmation of the accuracy of information displayed on ECDIS, particularly concerning positional sensors. Analysis of answers collected by the ECDIS EHO questionnaire represents a backbone of the research supported by previous achievements. The answers have been categorized and discussed, revealing certain worrying aspects referring to the system's positional error experienced by users. Furthermore, preferred methods of cross-checking ECDIS information have been identified and have differed among respondents based on their rank on board. Additionally, answers indicate certain doubts between users’ interpretation of the best confirmation method and the actual selection of the used method. The importance of cross-checking navigational data in avoiding overreliance and maintaining situational awareness has been presented in the conclusion chapter and the proposal for further work.
We have some methods to lead ships to their destinations safely, and among them, the main tool for the purpose is a chart. The modern nautical charts have accepted the demand of voyagers to secure ...voyage for more than 500 years. Charts started with only description of slight depth and shoreline, and then been refined to become modern nautical charts.With the appearance of ENC, the Electronic Navigational Chart, the demand of paper charts has decreased. And now ENCs take over the leading role of charts. The main reason for this trend is that the SOLAS Convention imposes the obligation of ECDIS carriage on the ocean liners. For those equipping ECDIS onboard, paper charts become unnecessary under a certain condition.I hope that still developing ENCs would inherit DNA of the modern paper charts refined during their history.This paper is a report of the “Future of Nautical Charts” reported at the symposium in Nov. 2021, with some revisions and some considerations.
Today’s navigation systems risk information overload and display clutter due to the multitude of available functionalities and information. Different navigational situations present differing ...challenges to the navigator, because of varying traffic or maneuvering conditions. This suggests that the need for information and functionalities on ECDIS and radar systems depends on the navigational situation, which was investigated by means of an online questionnaire. A sea voyage was divided into three situations, ranging from narrow maneuvering in port areas, to confined navigable waters, and open sea. N = 80 navigators completed the questionnaire. A compound priority measure was calculated to express the need for each functionality. Approximately half of the functionalities were prioritized in a situation dependent manner and substantially more functionalities were prioritized higher on ECDIS than on radar systems. The results have strong implications for aligning navigation systems more with user needs in the sense of a human-centered design approach.
The obligated implementation of the Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS) began ten years ago, and during this time, we could observe different types of familiarization with the ...system through its users. The incorrect use of the ECDIS is a problem recognized by the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO), and it is caused by disparate levels of education and the quality of courses. Another aspect of the recognized problem is the unequal length of the ECDIS specific course training period through which users acquire type-specific familiarization with the system. Switching between different types of ECDISs makes users more prone to errors until they become fully familiar with the new product system. This paper analyzes seafarers’ knowledge and ECDIS usage over a 6-year period. Based on obtained data, models that enable risk analysis based on conditional probability were created. This paper presents the use of Bayesian modeling to reduce errors in maritime accidents caused by inadequate use of the ECDIS.
Introduction of the Electronic Chart Display and Information System as the main navigation system on board a ship is one of the most significant developments in the maritime industry in recent years. ...Training of deck officers for its use is a key element for safe and effective work. According to international requirements, two types of training for covering the system are required – Operational Use of Electronic Chart Display and Information System and Type Specific training. Due to a lack of clear regulations for conducting Type Specific training, the producers apply their own training regulations for issuing certificates. Because of this, many seafarers face problems during their type specific training. The article examines and analyses different practices implemented by the producers regarding their Type Specific training for seafarers, the advantages and disadvantages of the above-mentioned procedures and training centre requirements as well. Examples of incidents resulting from improper use of ECDIS are provided. The authors present their experience as lecturers and instructors at the Nikola Vaptsarov Naval Academy training centre in respect to ECDIS type specific training.
The Zones of Confidence (ZOC) is a composite data quality indicator used in Electronic Navigational Charts. Accident reports show that failing to account for chart data quality can result in maritime ...accidents and loss of life. ZOC overlays are intended to help mariners in identifying potential seafloor hazards and in plotting routes safe for the vessel, but a major concern with the ZOC concept has been the utilized symbology with glyphs consisting of stars. Due to its recognized deficiencies, star-symbology has been rejected for use with the successor of ZOC, the Quality of Bathymetric Data (QoBD). This work presents a research effort toward a new QoBD representation. We define the requirements for the new coding scheme to be effective and propose two texture schemes incorporating countable elements, one consisting of lines and one of dot clusters. For comparison, we developed three alternative, color-based, coding schemes based on ideas previously expressed in the maritime community. Lastly, we present the design, dissemination, and results of an online user survey carried out to evaluate the five coding schemes. The survey results demonstrate that the proposed textures are the most preferred coding schemes among survey respondents.
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