2012: The Year of ‘Digital Navigation Insights'

The first of the initiatives is the Admiralty Digital Integration Workshop, which is available to attendees of Marintec China 2011 on the Admiralty stand. Developed in conjunction with Captain Paul Hailwood, a renowned expert on ECDIS and integrated bridge operations, and based on insights from shipping companies who have successfully made the transition to digital, the Workshop provides a clear, step-by-step process to support the planning and delivery of compliance with the ECDIS Mandate.

The Workshop builds a comprehensive checklist of activity for each key stage, from the initial risk assessment to the introduction and implementation of new procedures. Following its launch earlier this year, the Workshop will be held in Singapore and Mumbai in the first half of 2012, with additional dates to be announced.

A second initiative will focus on officer on watch training. A competent and confident bridge crew is a critical success factor in realising the safety and efficiency benefits of ECDIS navigation, and the maritime community faces a significant challenge in delivering the required training to meet ECDIS compliance. As part of an ongoing programme to raise awareness of the issue, Admiralty will be running a promotion offering ECIDS users the chance to win a sponsored place on an IMO Model Course 1.27 for the operational use of ECDIS. The promotion will launch next year, when entry details will be announced.

The third initiative focuses on the practical use of ENCs. There are key differences between navigating with paper charts and ENCs and, in addition to the safe operation of the many different types of ECDIS, it is vital that mariners understand how to correctly use the information within the ENC. Admiralty has developed an important training module to add to the IMO Model Course 1.27 to help develop ENC skills essential to safe day-to-day operations, which many courses only cover briefly.

To reach a wider audience the training module will be offered to maritime colleges around the world, and Admiralty will be working with maritime lecturers to enable them to integrate the module into their Model Courses. Further details will be announced.