What is the status of Rosepoint Coastal Explorer ECS as a USCG approved substitute for ECDIS on US Flag Jones Act tugs operating only within the US EEZ?
What about in the Inside Passage of British Colombia? Is Canada allowing Rosepoint as an ECDIS substitute?
I just took a gander at Rose Point’s website, since I am not familiar with Coastal Explorer. It looks like you can use Coastal Explorer for inland navigation. Remember that you are ONLY allowed to use certified and regularly updated ENCs (vector) charts. If you transit outside of the boundary line (even though staying within the EEZ) you are required to have a dual system kept updated and ready to use. Rose Point offers a package for Rose Point ECS that includes Hatteland displays and is accepted by the USCG. It does not appear that the pleasure boat aimed Coastal Explorer is suitable for professional offshore use.
I know Rose Point offers certified British Columbia ENCs, but I am not up to speed on Transport Canada’s requirements for paperless navigation for smaller vessels.
CaptStash…
As far as I know, Transport Canada still requires corrected paper charts, or ECDIS.
Rosepoint is by far the most common ECS on US tugboats.
The USCG was accepting it on two separate computers for offshore tugs, but I have heard some chatter that maybe that acceptance might be withdrawn.
If that happens, maybe Rosepoint will develop an ECDIS.
I can’t remember the exact wording but in the settings screen the authorized version of Rosepoint has a Declaration of Conformity, Certificate of Compliance, or something like that. Whatever it’s called if it’s there it’s very easy to find and verify.
I don’t know about Canada, but tugs don’t need ECDIS to go paperless. My understanding is tugs only need a compliant ECS. If you comply with NVIC 01-16, you can go paperless. Rosepoint is not ECDIS, but it is an approved ECS if installed in compliance with NVIC 01-16. Their website has info about this compliance (see the hattland display section).
That is my understanding as well, and I have passed Subchapter M COI inspections with two separate computers and displays each running Rosepoint off separate GPS units.
However, I have heard some chatter that the USCG: may have, or may intend to, withdraw the approval of Rosepoint, specifically Rosepoint.
Is there any truth to this? If so, I wonder why?
Rosepoint is a good, well proven ECS that most tugboat mariners are familiar with. It’s inexpensive and perfectly adequate for tugboat navigation.
The USCG should have better things to do —-like speeding up license processing at NMC —-instead of spending its time and resources engaged in mental masterbation and hyper-technical nitpicking of Rosepoint.