Tag: ECDIS

Australia's Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) issued an investigation report on the grounding of the Australian Border Force cutter Roebuck Bay (ABFC Roebuck Bay) on Henry Reef, Queensland, in September 2017. The report identified an amendment on the passage plan which led the vessel to the reef and poor use of ECDIS.

Complying with the ISM Code is at least a prerequisite for a safe navigation. As part of its series on ISM Code-related accidents, SAFETY4SEA focuses on the grounding of the Maltese-registered tanker ‘Ovit’ in the Dover Strait, off UK, in September 2013. 

As emerging technologies are enhancing ship routing, navigation is getting faster and safer, while there are new possibilities for mega-container ships and fully autonomous ships to sail the high seas in the coming future. Ship routing has been steadily improving, as the shipping industry successfully mitigates several issues.

Wärtsilä revealed its new Navi-Planner voyage planning and optimisation solution during Nor-Shipping 2019. Developed by Transas, a Wärtsilä company, the new Navi-Planner utilizes the connected ECDIS. The new connectivity enables onboard voyage planning to be cut from 5 hours to 30min, and it also aims to provide better navigational safety standard for less experienced seafarers.

During the 2019 SAFETY4SEA London Forum, Capt. Paul Whyte, MBE AFNI, Shipping Technical Director (Navigation Services), London Offshore Consultants talked about the importance of situational awareness in shipping industry referring also worst aviation accidents and lessons that translate to the maritime industry.

As the North P&I Club informs, the UK Admiralty Court has recently rejected a shipowner’s claim for general average. It specifically concluded that the ship was unseaworthy because of an error in the passage plan. North Club noted that this case has showcased how important a proper berth-to-berth passage planning is, saying that it 'is much more than just putting courses on a chart or ECDIS.'

A year-long research project carried out by the UK and Danish marine investigation authorities has highlighted major concerns over the design and operation of ECDIS and significant shortfalls in the way in which seafarers are training to use the systems.

Japanese shipping company MOL announced its intention to install a navigation system using augmented reality (AR) technology jointly developed by Furuno Electric and MOL Techno-Trade, on 21 MOL-operated very large crude oil carriers (VLCCs).

CHIRP issued its 54th Maritime Feedback, focusing on several reports outlining the anomalies between a vessel’s AIS and ECDIS, and positions obtained from a PPU or by visual/radar position fixing. The incident results to the fact that incorrect AIS offsets at the installation stage can also cause a great deal of confusion and may require a visit from a technician to access the pass code. 

Transport Malta's MSIU issued an investigation report on the collision between the Ro-Ro cargo vessel 'Neptune Hellas' and the general cargo vessel 'Nur' while underway in the Marmara Sea. The investigation identified issues related to poor lookout, as well as ineffective use of electronic navigation and radar information.