Ancillary Courses

Ancillary Courses

Course Name
OPERATIONAL USE OF ELECTRONIC CHART DISPLAY AND INFORMATION SYSTEMS (ECDIS)
Course Duration
: 40 Hours (5 Days)
IMO Model Course
: 1.27
 
  • This model course intends to provide the knowledge, skill and understanding of ECDIS and electronic charts to the thorough extent needed to safely navigate vessels whose primary means of navigation is ECDIS. The course emphasizes both the application and learning of ECDIS in a variety of underway contexts. This is achieved through sophisticated navigation simulation that provides each trainee with unrestrained access to ownship operations integrated with a complete type-approved ECDIS with numerous chart formats installed. The course is designed to meet the STCW requirements in the use of ECDIS, as revised by the 2010 Manila Amendments, specifically as these apply to Tables A-II/1, A-II/2 and A-II/3, and also to revised guidelines pertaining to training and assessment in the operational use of ECDIS in Table B-I (paragraphs 36 through 66), assessment in navigational watchkeeping, and evaluation of competence, both in Table B-II.
 
COURSE AIM / OBJECTIVE:
Those who successfully complete this course should be able to demonstrate sufficient knowledge skill and understanding of ECDIS navigation and electronic charts to undertake the duties of a navigational watch officer defined by STCW Code, as amended. This knowledge, skill and understanding should include Column 1 ECDIS competencies of Tables A-II/1, A-II/2, and A-II/3.
In particular, there will be:
  • Proficiency in operation, interpretation, and analysis of information obtained from ECDIS, and all indicated sub-topics
  • Elements of ECDIS
  • ECDIS Route Planning and Monitoring
  • ECDIS Responsibility & Assessment
  • Knowledge of the capability and limitations of ECDIS operations, and all indicated sub-topics
  • Proficiency in operation, interpretation, and analysis of information obtained from ECDIS, and all indicated sub-topics
  • Management of operational procedures, system files and data, and all indicated sub-topics
 
COVERAGE / PROGRAM FOCUS:
  • Instructions and simulation activities deal with the following subject & training areas:
  • Elements of ECDIS
  • Watch keeping with ECDIS
  • ECDIS Route Planning and Monitoring
  • ECDIS Targets, Charts & System
  • ECDIS Responsibility & Assessment
 
TEACHING METHOD:
  • ECDIS Classroom (Open Lab) - Lecturing with practical demonstration is conducted in an ECDIS classroom (Open Lab) setting, where each trainee has sole use of a PC workstation with a resident installation of type-approved ECDIS; all workstations should be networked to an Instructor Station running an integrated navigation simulation application that delivers to each workstation high-fidelity ownship conning controls, navigational aids including GPS, track control-capable Autopilot, AIS and radar/ARPA, and a visual scene, all of which are interfaced to the ECDIS. Lecturing without demonstration is conducted in the same ECDIS classroom with the workstations powered down.
  • Simulation lab - Trainees develop and demonstrate proficiencies in an Integrated Navigation Lab (INL) setting, where each trainee has use (either alone or in groups of no more than two) of an ownship in semi-isolation (Bridge). The Integrated Navigation Lab (INL) should run the same simulation application
 
ENTRY REQUIREMENT / TARGET GROUP: COURSE CERTIFICATE:
  • Entry to this course is open both for candidates for certification as officers in charge of navigational watch and for experienced deck officers.
  • It is assumed that trainees undertaking this course have accomplished some formal instruction in Terrestrial Navigation, have at minimum some familiarization with visual navigation, have accomplished a period of supervised bridge watch-keeping duties, and have prior completion of basic radar/ARPA (MC 1.07). Trainees should also have considerable familiarization with personal computing operating systems, keyboards and mice or trackballs
 
TARGET GROUP: COURSE CERTIFICATE:
  • A certificate of course completion shall be issued to those who shall satisfactorily fulfill the course requirements.
  • NOTE: At the end of the course, examination is conducted by the Department of Shipping who will issue the ECDIS certificate to successful candidates.