The Global Positioning System (GPS) has changed the way the world operates. This is especially true for marine operations, including search and rescue. GPS provides the fastest and most accurate method for mariners to navigate, measure speed, and determine location. This enables increased levels of safety and efficiency for mariners worldwide.
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It is important in marine navigation for the ship's officer to know the vessel's position while in open sea and also in congested harbors and waterways. While at sea, accurate position, speed, and heading are needed to ensure the vessel reaches its destination in the safest, most economical and timely fashion that conditions will permit. The need for accurate position information becomes even more critical as the vessel departs from or arrives in port. Vessel traffic and other waterway hazards make maneuvering more difficult, and the risk of accidents becomes greater.
Mariners and oceanographers are increasingly using GPS data for underwater surveying, buoy placement, and navigational hazard location and mapping. Commercial fishing fleets use GPS to navigate to optimum fishing locations, track fish migrations, and ensure compliance with regulations.
An enhancement to the basic GPS signal known as Differential GPS (DGPS) provides much higher precision and increased safety in its coverage areas for maritime operations. Many nations use DGPS for operations such as buoy positioning, sweeping, and dredging. This enhancement improves harbor navigation.
Governments and industrial organizations around the world are working together to develop performance standards for Electronic Chart Display and Information Systems, which use GPS and/or DGPS for positioning information. These systems are revolutionizing marine navigation and are leading to the replacement of paper nautical charts. With DGPS, position and radar information can be integrated and displayed on an electronic chart, forming the basis of the Integrated Bridge System which is being installed on commercial vessels of all types.
GPS is playing an increasingly important role in the management of maritime port facilities. GPS technology, coupled with geographic information system (GIS) software, is key to the efficient management and operation of automated container placement in the world's largest port facilities. GPS facilitates the automation of the pick-up, transfer, and placement process of containers by tracking them from port entry to exit. With millions of container shipments being placed in port terminals annually, GPS has greatly reduced the number of lost or misdirected containers and lowered associated operation costs.
GPS information is embedded within a system known as the Automatic Identification System (AIS) transmission. The AIS, which is endorsed by the International Maritime Organization, is used for vessel traffic control around busy seaways. This service is not only vital for navigation, but is increasingly used to bolster the security of ports and waterways by providing governments with greater situational awareness of commercial vessels and their cargo.
AIS uses a transponder system that operates in the VHF maritime band and is capable of communicating ship to ship as well as ship to shore, transmitting information relating to ship identification, geographic location, vessel type, and cargo information -- all on a real-time, wholly automated basis. Because the ship's GPS position is embedded in these transmissions, all essential information about vessel movements and contents can be uploaded automatically to electronic charts. The safety and security of vessels using this system is significantly enhanced.
Finally, with the modernization of GPS, mariners can look forward to even better service. In addition to the current GPS civilian service, the United States is committed to implementing two additional civilian signals. Access to the new signals will mean increased accuracy, more availability, and better integrity for all users.
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Furuno provides a complete solution for ECDIS retrofit ranging from single ECDIS configuration to a full Integrated Navigation System (INS) with Track Control System (TCS). This means that Furuno, can provide you with the solution that fits your requirements. Furuno ECDIS are in operation worldwide on all kind of vessels ranging from container feeders and small chemical tankers to large ferries and LNG tankers. The design and user interface have been developed to provide an easy and reliable operation and to accommodate the operator with easy access to the necessary functions and data to operate the vessel safely. The user interface is designed to guide the operator through the various steps of planning and performing route steering. The hardware design is made to meet the current standards issued by the maritime authorities and to provide indispensable support to navigators under tough environment at sea. When selecting Furuno as a partner to integrate ECDIS into your fleet, you will have the chance to obtain a wide range of comprehensive services and support as a total package of ECDIS solutions.
Training is required to ensure an efficient and safe operation of ECDIS. Implementing ECDIS onboard a vessel is an investment and it is in the interest of the shipowner to benefit from the advantages provided by ECDIS. This includes less time spent on chart management and voyage planning and the increased safety obtained through the proper setup and operation of the ECDIS, which can remarkably reduce the risk of groundings, etc. This can be accomplished through proper training programs. Training comes in many forms and the crew should undergo both generic training to get the full understanding of the ECDIS as a concept, the rules governing ECDIS and the influences on the bridge operation as well as the ECDIS familiarization training, which helps the operator familiarise themselves with the specific ECDIS onboard the vessel.
FURUNO Maritime Training provides the aforementioned ECDIS operation training programs with relevant certification as well as a wide range of training courses, which can be combined with ECDIS training.
In addition, FMT can provide training aimed at the shore staff about ECDIS rules and regulations and technical solutions, which can be of assistance to the purchasers or superintendents in their daily work.
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STCW requires that all masters and officers in charge of a navigational watch (Officer of the Watch: OOW) on a ship fitted with ECDIS shall have completed a generic ECDIS course and hold an ECDIS certificate in accordance with IMO model course 1.27.
This ECDIS training provides the trainees with knowledge of the ECDIS as a system, the ECDIS operation, electronic chart materials, practical navigation, and terms and conditions for implementing paperless navigation. The training course focuses upon many advantages and safety features obtained by operating ECDIS. Also, the limitations of ECDIS are taught throughout this training course.
This training is concluded with 3 compulsory tests, and, if passed, a certificate is issued, which confirms the trainees' successful completion of the generic ECDIS training in accordance with IMO Model Course 1.27.
This training course provides the navigators with the knowledge and tools to safely shift from traditional paper chart navigation to electronic chart navigation by use of ECDIS.
This training course complies with the IMO STCW code.
The FURUNO ECDIS familiarization training provides the trainees with the specific knowledge about functionality and effective use of FURUNO ECDIS for navigation onboard.
The training covers the following aspects of FURUNO ECDIS operation:
The training is concluded with a compulsory test. Upon successful completion of the test, the navigators is issued a certificate that confirms the successful completion of the FURUNO ECDIS familiarization training course.
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