Best arguments to add dual ECDIS?

Professional Mariner Forum
1

Our vessel has met regulatory requirements to date with a single ECDIS supplemented by paper charts.

With official bodies retiring charts right now, we are advocating with management for addition of fully compliant dual ECDIS and let paper charts go away.

Our arguments:

  1. trying to maintain paper charts which are no longer supported by official bodies is very confusing to all mariners aboard and nobody understands how it is supposed to work

  2. the confusion will likely result in regulatory noncompliances in the future

  3. ECDIS is more intuitive and easier to maintain; the incremental cost of a second is not a big deal since we have the first.

Other good, jargon-free arguments welcome.
Not interested in arguments for maintaining our status quo.

2

It makes sense to me, when paper charts transition to printed versions of ENC charts, why not just have the actual chart?
I assume they will have some sort of redundant power supply sorted so one fuse doesn’t take out 100% of your navigation.

1 Like
3

Dual ECDIS systems operate with full battery back up uninterrupted power supplies for each unit.

OP. Your arguments are sound and reasonable. Hopefully your company sees it the same way. I was not fully onboard with going full ECDIS, but it really is a better way to operate. Every so often I miss the ability to review my charts on the table and strike a line or two, but its night and day in usability for everyone. Way better situational awareness.

1 Like
4

Could argue it’s a more efficient, accurate, and accessible way to log positions, speeds, etc.

1 Like
5

What type of vessels are you operating. I’ve seen this as a problem too, but my understanding is that the USCG is not requiring the paper charts to be updated. I fall outside of ECDIS requirements though(not subject to SOLAS) Rosepoint gets the updates though, and we’re debating adding a backup laptop or chartplotter to the boat.

1 Like
6

Costs: Work-hours required to maintain two systems is going to be higher. Time spend on maintaining paper charts (corrections, track-lines etc) is essentially wasted.

Risk: Relying on a paper chart back-up is getting increasingly risky as bridge watch-standers skill at using paper charts continues to degrade.

Simplicity: One system to maintain is simpler and less hassle.

Convenience: Having a separate ECDIS makes it easier for a second user and allows voyage planning to be done while the primary ECIDS is in use during a voyage.

Efficiency: Being able to download new charts when ports get added to the schedule or if the ship’s trade changes is far better then having to wait for paper charts to be delivered to the ship.

2 Likes