We really have to reduce the navigation instrument complexity on board flag of convenience vessels, if we want to expand profits by hiring more seaman from additional third world countries.
But we have to realize that governing bodies make their living out of that complexity … as amended by Resolution A.741(18) MSC.104(73) MSC.179(79) MSC.195(80) MSC.273(85) and again, re-amended by Resolution A.1022(26) MSC–MEPC.7/Circ.5 MSC–MEPC.7/Circ.7 … or so !
IMO proved that cant do it when they had the opportunity to make rules for ECDIS.
Aside from the fact that IMO doesnt think computers exist, try going from one vessel to the next and jump on the ECDIS
I’ll bet you can run the radar the autopilot and the radio but ECDIS is a fail in that regard.
So imagine now that you’re a pilot and you’re changing vessel almost every day ! Most of the shipboard ECDIS are a real pity. The crew have box click on everything possible function and alarms so you don’t even see the ship anymore, but sure you can hear the alarms going off all the times. Not to speak of Raster Charts that you can’t zoom in to a working scale. Unusable. So you have no choice then to connect your own ECDIS into the AIS, hoping that the antenna position has been properly configured (abcd) … which is not often the case. Then you connect your own DGPS antenna to verify if the superposed vessels (AIS/DGPS) correspond to each other, if not you will have to find out why … while the vessel is en route !
That done, you have a look at the Radars that has not been cleaned for years. There is so much useless cya information on the PPI, that you have to concentrate just to find out the EBL and VRM data. Setting the Fixe Rings is a 5 steps push button operation, so imagine to set a PI. Kelvin Hughes Nucleus radars are the worst … select deselect select deselect till you get nuts !!! Their ECDIS is even worst, useless.
Operation manuals are traduced by Goggle translator word to word from foreign languages to English, Made by the Turkey.
IMO ! If anyone out there propose the very best ECDIS system that you ever wish to work with, by the time it is approved by the governing bodies, the next fifth edition of that system will already be on the market, if not totally superseded !
Thanks God that I have good eyes so to judge the geospatial situation in real time. Unless I sail with a bag over the head in dense fog or eyes like baby pacifier hole after a night shift !
Talking about Ulstein’s Bridge Vision … I like the idea that you can concentrate your eyesight through the windows while being feed by navigation information. Just like fighter pilot’s visor offers. That could be developed for maritime purpose. At the present, we can at least move WiFi around the bridge and the wings with our portable ECDIS.
I wonder how Ulstein’s Bridge Vision will deal with a low bright sun directly ahead, frost in cold weather or cracks due to rough weather. With such large bay windows, the bridge will also be difficult to cool or to heat … nothing is perfect !
dont you think is weird that you need to do ECDIS type training but not DP type training?
You get choppered out and start your watch on a console you have never seen…tough call.
[QUOTE=powerabout;103630]dont you think is weird that you need to do ECDIS type training but not DP type training?
You get choppered out and start your watch on a console you have never seen…tough call.[/QUOTE]
See 46 CFR 15.1105. You are required to be “familiar” with all equipment you will use.
Also, at least for areas covered by NOAA, I have raster charts of all scales down to harbor charts. I usually like them better than the vector charts, having learned to navigate some decades ago.
Yacht ones have been around for 20 years.
The only issue was/is the charts they use as they dont usually use charts and you are warned not to navigate with them as they made them up from different scale charts as do IMO approved systems but they tell you when they are using them
I am not sure I understand this. The charts I use are from NOAA : http://www.nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/mcd/Raster/index.htm and http://www.nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/mcd/enc/index.htm. They are definitely intended to be used for navigation as far as I can tell.
(NOAA ENCs support all types of marine navigation by providing the official Electronic Navigational Chart used in ECDIS and in electronic charting systems. NOAA ENCs support real-time navigation, as well as the collision and grounding avoidance needs of the mariner, and accommodate a real-time tide and current display capability that is essential for large vessel navigation)
[QUOTE=powerabout;103861]Yacht ones have been around for 20 years.
The only issue was/is the charts they use as they dont usually use charts and you are warned not to navigate with them as they made them up from different scale charts as do IMO approved systems but they tell you when they are using them[/QUOTE]
