Wärtsilä ECDIS simulator fulfils, and goes beyond, all the below training and simulator requirements and standards to provide you with the most comprehensive, yet cost-efficient, solution for realistic ECDIS training.
ECDIS training regulations:
- STCW Code Section A-I/12 and Section B-I/12
- Generic ECDIS Training STCW Tables A-II/1, A-II/2, A-II/3
- Familiarisation/ Type-Specific ECDIS Training Ch. I – Regulation I/14-1.5 & ISM (International Safety Management) 6.3 & 6.5
- Performance standards for shipborne navigation equipment IMO A.817(19), IMO MSC.191(79), IMO MSC.232(82), IEC 80/598
- DNVGL-ST-0033 Maritime simulator systems Edition June 2020
- IMO Model Course 1.27
Requirements for conventional training and competency certification:
- A compliant type-approved simulator with mandatory simulator features for ECDIS compliant training:
- ECDIS backup station
- Use official S-57 charts
- Fictitious area
- Instruments for route planning, work with licenses and chart updates
- Courseware (minimum recommendations for the generic ECDIS training are described in the IMO model course 1.27, and recommendations for familiarisation/ type-specific training are required by all major flag states)
- Qualified instructors trained by a system manufacturer are strongly recommended and mandatory for major flag states.
Revised ECDIS standards and their impact on ECDIS training:
IEC and IHO revised their ECDIS standards in August 2015, and the old standards were withdrawn in September 2017. This affected all main standards for ECDIS and the following functions within ECDIS:
- Alert Management
- Safety Parameters
- Chart Management
- Route Planning
- Display of Charts
- Source of information for chart data
What does this mean for ECDIS training?
- ECDIS Type-Specific Training / Familiarisation:
- Port State Controls or vetting inspectors do not check the ECDIS certificates anymore; they check the actual competence of the seafarers.
- Training Centers will not be able to train the officers to this level of competence using a system that does not reflect the reality on board.
- Generic ECDIS Training:
- Major topics of the generic ECDIS training have changed fundamentally, e.g. switching from "alarms & warnings" to "alarms, warnings, caution, important indication and the indication".
- Existing installations also should be compliant with these latest changes.
- The course/centre environment should be re-approved by updating the ECDIS being used for the training.
