[QUOTE=otnmbrd;86182]Just curious…What is it about ECDIS that it is deemed necessary to take some sort of course to use it, and what does the course involve?[/QUOTE]
Time (32 hours I believe) and money (depends on the course) for a certification. You never actually have to have seen one just pass the class.
But seriously, ECDIS is a great tool but like anything else you need to understand its capabilities and limitations. The best way to explain why it is necessary is to read the definition of an ECDIS ( a Cray Computer) as opposed to chart plotter (a calculator) and you will quickly see why a course is required for certification so it can’t be used as an excuse for grounding or a collision.