Feature 4 | ELECTRONIC CHARTING SYSTEMS
submitting evidence to support their claims. Where the claim is agreed, manufacturers receive a compliance certifi cate and can use the Mini ECDIS logo on their products. Mini ECDIS specifi cation is a modifi ed
version of that for the standard maritime ECDIS. It provides for charting and information functions that are specifi cally useful to fi shermen while relaxing some of the more onerous technical requirements associated with ‘big ECDIS’. For example, smaller displays and lower
resolution imagery are allowed. In general though, the standard has much the same functionality as its full SOLAS counterpart. It must similarly be capable of displaying vector and raster charts with the familiar zooming and seamless chart transition features. Although equipment can display private
chart systems (C-Map, Chartworld, etc), operations are fully legal only when offi cial S-57 standard vector charts or approved raster charts such as the British Admiralty’s ARCS series are used. As with full ECDIS, equipment must be able to download offi cial chart updates and incorporate them into its chart database. Mini ECDIS must be able to continuously
plot own ship’s position, derived from approved GPS/DGPS/WAAS, Loran, or other positioning sensors. Display of safety contours, prohibited areas and fi shing zones are among other required capabilities. T e system must provide waypoint-based route planning, route monitoring and can off er voyage recording. Additionally, it may be used to display
radar, AIS or other information, in registration with the displayed S-57 chart. At a detailed technical level, Mini ECDIS must comply with IEC 60945. T e specifi cation requires that a second,
independent means of navigation must be present as a back-up in case of a system failure. Options include paper charts for the area of operation or a second, less capable, Mini ECDIS installed on a portable waterproof computer. Dual positioning systems must be present, for example a Loran receiver in case of GPS outage or error.
Compliant system T e only signifi cant system so far registered as compliant is a Mini ECDIS product from French navigation systems company, Sodena SA, and the UK’s Ormston Technology. Sodena is responsible for the software, while Ormtec produces the ruggedised Windows XP/Vista-based computer that is the hardware. According to Ormtec senior engineer Neil
Allan, manufacturers were able to infl uence the development of the Mini ECDIS specifi cation. ‘For instance,’ he points out, ‘we argued against a proposed requirement that the system should be powered at mains voltage with an uninterruptible power supply to guard against the possibility of an onboard power failure. Our system draws its power at 24Vdc
from the ship’s batteries so that, in the event of main engine and generator failure, it can keep going. T is avoids the need for a UPS, reducing system complexity and cost.’
Alternative supplies of 240Vac and 12Vdc are available. A dual 24V power delivery circuit ensures
power supply redundancy. T e PC core does not rely on a fan for cooling and the unit is sealed against intake of corrosive salt air. Display screens of 15in, 17in, 19in, and 21in are available. T e system can be connected to an autopilot for automatic steering. Sodena’s compliant soſt ware, TurboWin,
is readily upgradable, allowing for future development. Users can feed into the system data of their own on, trawl tracking and seabed characteristics, for example. A facility is included whereby all user data can be removed from the screen with a single control operation, instantly restoring the clear S-57 chart for a navigation view only. As well as displaying S-57 charts, the Mini
ECDIS can provide anti-grounding and anti-collision warnings (the latter assuming ARPA and/or AIS inputs are present), Decca lane display, weather forecast overlay, plus displays of multiple tracks, marks, zones, and other fi shing data. T e latter can be shown or instantly hidden.
Route planning features are included. T e system can directly read Maxsea, Quodfi sh, and Transas data and can convert from Trax, Fishmaster, CVP, and shipmate Furuno. Optional features include 3D imaging
with free depth database, tidal stream prediction, trawl door
tracking and
dynamics monitoring, a pair trawling module, a sedimentary database, wrecks database, and Roxann/Seascan/JRC ground discrimination. T e system can be integrated
A potential incident gives rise to a collision warning in the Pentland Firth.
48
Presenting the topography on screen highlights where the shallows and main channels are.
Ship & Boat International September/October 2008
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