We Visited for You

The Central Commission for Navigation on the Rhine (CCNR) organised a workshop on Inland ECDIS in Strasbourg (France) on 14 May 2002. The workshop was about the present status of the Inland ECDIS standard, experiences, approval and testing procedure of hard and software, present state and planning of data production.

The CCNR is a convention with five contracting states (Germany, Belgium, France, The Netherlands and Switzerland).
With S57 and S52 as a basis an Inland ECDIS standard was developed to accommodate the specific inland shipping objects like navigation features (e.g. traffic signs). As an example 173 new raster symbols and eight new vector symbols were added to the S52 contents. The standard was adopted by resolution of the CCNR on 31 May 2001 as ‘Standard system for displaying electronic inland navigation charts and associated information (Inland ECDIS standard)’ (2001-1-16) and recommended by the Donau commission on 2/10 April (DK 201/VII-2001). The standard is described in five parts; e.g. Part 2 ‘Data standard’ augments S57 and part 4 ‘Technical and operational implementation requirements, test methods and test results’ as a counterpart of IEC 1174.
Two modes of operation are distinguished.
The Information Mode in which the system functions as an electronic atlas, with a system connected to it that defines the position. Systems operating in this mode do not have to be tested or comply with the standards; the standard serves only as a recommendation.
The Navigation Mode of the system has to comply with all the aspects of the standard, i.e. integrated with radar, official chart data, tested, position to be derived from a system that continuously determines the position with an accuracy for safely navigating the ship. While anyone who uses an Inland ECDIS device in the Navigation Mode must have a radar licence.
It is important to realise that river vessels are very seldom equipped with a compass, so it needs a special technique to match the radar picture with the chart. Information (S 57) on radar-reflection of objects and shorelines is very helpful for this. Contrary to the lack of a compass a rate of turn indicator is standard equipment.
Another topic at the workshop was the availability of official chart data. It is of little use to have an I-ECDIS system and little data available. There is a similarity with the availability of ‘maritime’ official data: parts are already fully covered, while other river stretches/countries are still lacking. However from the presentations the member states gave it can be concluded that by 2005 there will be full coverage on all the major rivers and waterways of the member states.
The Inland ECDIS standard is now set, however an important item for the user has not yet agreed: the pricing of the chart data. Some countries are charging quite considerable amounts, while Austria is giving away the official S57 data for free (see www.via-donau.org).
At the workshop not only information about the standard was given, but also manufacturers had the opportunity to give short presentations on their products and services. These presentations included state of art and experiences in Russia and on the Po river in Italy.
The majority of attendants at the workshop came from the countries in the Rhine/ Danube-basin, but also Helmut Lanziner from Canada, who can be considered as one of the fathers of ECDIS, was present. Helmut was long ago heavily involved with electronic chart systems for the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence Seaway (inland waterways), which developed into the maritime ECDIS.
Although the Inland ECDIS was adopted as standard for navigation on the Rhine and Danube it can be used (as an example) for inland navigation all over the world.