Technical Circular

No.: 020/2015 Date: 27th July 2015

To Whomsoever it may concern

Subject: IHO - New ECDIS Standards.

1. The International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) have recently issued a Press
release dated June 2015 (Copy attached) announcing new versions of some of its
ECDIS Standards. The revisions reflect lessons learned from earlier reports of
unexpected chart behaviour in some ECDIS. Among other things, the number of
alarms raised as a result of safety checking has been reduced and the names of
fairways and anchorage areas will now appear on the ECDIS display as a "hover-
over" function. The new editions enter into force on 1 August 2015 with a twelve
month transition period. The Press release also has an attachment containing a table
providing an overview of the IHO S-52 Changes versus Mariner’s Benefits related to
these changes.

2. IHO has stated that the new editions of S-52 and S-64 will enter into force on 1
August 2015. This will align with the publication of the new edition of the
International Electro technical Commission (IEC) ECDIS testing specification IEC
61174. From this date, the new editions of the IHO Standards will be the normative
references for the type approval of new ECDIS. There will be a 12-month transitional
period when the current editions of S-52 and S-64 will remain valid. The 12-month
transition period ending on 31 July 2016 is intended to provide time for ECDIS
manufacturers and national authorities to move towards type approval of new ECDIS
based on the revised Standards and to enable ship-owners and operators to update
existing systems to conform with the new Standards in accordance with the
requirements of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) circular
SN.1/Circ.266, as amended, covering the maintenance of ECDIS software.

3. New performance standards and specifications apply to ECDIS from January 2009
which introduce significant changes to existing ECDIS. All ECDIS manufacturers
must re-Type Approve their systems, and ECDIS installed after 1st January 2009
must be approved against the new standard. The new standards are:
IMO Resolution MSC.232(82) 2009 – Revised ECDIS performance standard
IEC Standard 61174 (2008/2009) – Operational and performance
requirements, methods of testing and required results for ECDIS

. This Technical Circular and the material contained in it is provided only for the purpose of
supplying current information to the reader and not as an advice to be relied upon by any
person.
. While we have taken utmost care to be as factual as possible, readers/ users are advised to
verify the exact text and content of the Regulation from the original source/ issuing Authority.
 IMO Resolution MSC.191(79) 2006 – Performance standards for the
presentation of navigation-related information on ship borne navigational
displays
IEC Standard 62288 (2008) – Presentation of navigation-related information
on shipborne navigational displays – General requirements, methods of testing
and required test results
S-63 - IHO Data Protection Scheme Edition 1.1

The MSC.191(79) and IEC62288 standards harmonise symbology and other display-
related elements across all navigational displays, and are new to ECDIS. The IHO
Data Protection Scheme, although widely used for the distribution of ENC data, was
not part of ECDIS type approval tests before.

4. The International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) issued a press release stating that
it has produced two simple fictitious ENC datasets designed to alert mariners to the
possibility that their ECDIS software may require updating so that they can carry
ECDIS performance check on board the ships. For further information and potential
download of datasets, guidance, background information and reporting forms please
refer to the following link: ECDIS Data Presentation and Performance Check in Ships

http://www.iho.int/srv1/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=585:news
&catid=166:1news-links&Itemid=287&lang=en

Enclosure:
1) Press release dated June 2015.
2) SN.1/ Circular 266 Rev 1.

Whilst the utmost care has been taken in the compilation of the Technical Information, neither Indian Register of
Shipping, its affiliates and subsidiaries if any, nor any of its directors, officers, employees or agents assume any
responsibility and shall not be liable to any person for any loss, damage or expense caused in any manner
whatsoever by reliance on the information in this document.
Press Release
June 2015

New normative references for the type approval of ECDIS

The International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) has published new versions of some of its ECDIS
Standards. These have been reviewed and updated to reflect lessons learned from earlier reports of
unexpected chart behaviour in some ECDIS. The updated versions of the Standards are a significant
contribution by the IHO to supporting navigational safety by ensuring that all identified ambiguities
and inconsistencies relating to the display of Electronic Navigational Charts (ENCs) in ECDIS have
been resolved.

The IHO has published the following new editions:

 IHO Specifications for Chart Content and Display Aspects of ECDIS

S-52 Edition 6.1 - October 2014

 IHO Presentation Library

S-52 Annex A Edition 4.0- October 2014

 IHO Test Data Sets for ECDIS

S-64 Edition 3.0 - December 2014

 IHO Data Protection Scheme

S-63 Edition 1.2 - January 2015

Commenting on the updated IHO Standards, Robert Ward, President of the IHO, said: “When the
various parts of the revised Standards have been implemented by ENC producers, ECDIS
manufacturers and ECDIS testing authorities, it will result in an improved ECDIS experience for the
mariner.”

The updated IHO Standards include a number of changes that will bring significant benefits to the
mariner. Discussing these changes, Thomas Mellor, Chairman of the IHO ENC Standard Maintenance
Working Group responsible for S-52 - the IHO Standard for the display of ENCs in ECDIS, commented:
“One of the biggest benefits of upgrading ECDIS systems to the latest S-52 Presentation Library will
be a reduction in the number of audible alarms triggered by ECDIS, helping ease the issue of alarm
fatigue on the bridge, whilst still maintaining safety at sea. The introduction of an alert model,
based on the requirements in the IMO ECDIS Performance Standard, will also harmonize ECDIS
behaviour across different manufacturers’ systems.”

A number of significant changes to the Presentation Library reflect mariner feedback. For example,
the names of Fairways and Anchorage Areas will now appear on the ENC display. A “hover-over”
function for certain charted features has also been introduced.

A number of new symbols have been added to the Presentation Library. These new symbols help
draw attention to features that need to be highlighted, including the location of automatic ENC
updates and ENC features that have a temporal (time-based) attribute.
To support the complex process of ECDIS type-approval, the IHO has worked closely with a number
of prominent Notified Bodies and improved the ENC tests and test data sets. The restructuring of
the data sets and the inclusion of more specific tests will ensure that the proper display of ENCs is
more thoroughly checked during type-testing process in future.

The IHO has updated S-63 - the ENC data protection scheme, to include specifications for an ENC
update status report, which is a provision that had not been available previously. The update status
report will allow mariners and Port State Control inspectors to confirm that the ENCs installed in an
ECDIS are up-to-date.

It is planned that the new editions of S-52 and S-64 will enter into force on 1 August 2015. This will
align with the publication of the new edition of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC)
ECDIS testing specification IEC 61174. From this date, the new editions of the IHO Standards will be
the normative references for the type approval of new ECDIS.

There will be a 12-month transitional period when the current editions of S-52 and S-64 will remain
valid. The 12-month transition period ending on 31 July 2016 is intended to provide time for ECDIS
manufacturers and national authorities to move towards type approval of new ECDIS based on the
revised Standards and to enable ship-owners and operators to update existing systems to conform
with the new Standards in accordance with the requirements of the International Maritime
Organization (IMO) circular SN.1/Circ.266, as amended, covering the maintenance of ECDIS
software.

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

1. The International Hydrographic Organization is an intergovernmental consultative and

technical organization that was established in 1921 to support safety of navigation and the
protection of the marine environment. It currently comprises 85 Member States.
2. The IHO S-52 Presentation Library controls the presentation of ENCs in ECDIS.
3. Unexpected chart behaviour in some ECDIS (ECDIS anomalies) - Investigations in 2010 found
that some ECDIS, especially early models, were affected by display anomalies and in some
cases appropriate alarms and indications were not raised as expected. As a result of these
issues and to alert mariners to them, three NAVAREA warnings were issued in 2010.
4. In 2012 the IHO provided an ENC Check Dataset to mariners to help identify if their
particular ECDIS was able to display all the latest IMO-approved ENC features. The check
was intended to alert mariners to the possibility that their ECDIS software may require
upgrading and if so, what extra measures mariners might need to take in the meantime,
such as employing particular equipment operating procedures.
5. The publication of the new editions of the IHO Standards was reported to the IMO Sub-
Committee on Navigation, Communications and Search and Rescue on 22 December 2014.
6. The IHO has worked together with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) to
align the date of entry into force of the new editions of S-52 and S-64 with the date of
publication of the new edition of IEC 61174 (ECDIS operational and performance
requirements, methods of testing and required test results).

Further information and enquiries:

Secretariat of the IHO

www.iho.int
E-mail: [email protected]
IHO S-52 Changes Mariner’s Benefits
A new section “Detection and Notification of Ensures all ECDIS raise the required alerts in a
Navigational Hazard” has been added. consistent manner, reducing training needs and
improving safety at sea.
For each ENC feature and its associated
attributes this defines the priority of the alert to Reduces the number of alarms raised as a result
be raised when a navigational hazard is of ECDIS safety checking.
detected.
A new section “Detection of Areas, for which Ensures all ECDIS raise the required alerts in a
Special Conditions Exist” has been added. consistent manner, reducing training needs and
improving safety at sea.
Lists the ENC features and attributes that will
raise an indication or alert in the ECDIS as Reduces the number of alarms raised as a result
defined by the mariner. of ECDIS safety checking.
Detecting the Safety Contour: Reduces the number of alarms on ECDIS, whilst
ensuring that the mariner remains aware of
The IMO ECDIS Performance Standard (PS) states dangers as rocks, wrecks and obstructions will
that rocks, wrecks and obstruction detected still be detected if they meet the “Detection and
inside the safety contour should result in an Notification of Navigational Hazards” criteria.
indication on the ECDIS.

The previous edition of S-52 included rocks,

wrecks and obstructions to the detection of the
safety contour, resulting in alarms, as opposed
to indications, being raised. They have been
moved to “Detection and Notification of
Navigational Hazards”.
Added a new symbol `Indication Highlight’ - Clear and unambiguous presentation of features
designed for warning and caution conditions that that require an indication highlight.
require an indication highlight on the ENC.
New standardized symbols have been added to Ensures the mariner is aware of updates that
identify where automatic ENC updates have have been applied automatically to their ENCs.
been applied.
New symbol to indicate where in the ENC Will allow mariners to quickly identify where
features with temporal attributes are located. features that have temporal attributes are
located, such as seasonal buoys, traffic
separation schemes etc.
A means for the mariner to insert a date or date Will allow the mariner the ability to plan and
range within the ECDIS to display date check routes, viewing the conditions they will
dependent features. encounter on a given date or time period in the
future.
Ability to turn isolated dangers in shallow water In certain circumstances mariners must navigate
on/off. across the safety contour, this change allows the
mariner the flexibility to navigate in shoal areas
with or without the isolated danger symbol
displaying on the ENC.
Mandatory selector for the display of the shallow Important feature in ECDIS as it becomes
water pattern. increasingly difficult to detect the changes in the
ENC depth shades during night navigation.
Added guidance on the implementation of the If provided, the hover-over function speeds up
optional “hover-over” function available for a the process of ENC enquiry by the mariner. The
limited number of ENC features. new guidance ensures that the hover-over
function does not result in the ENC presentation
becoming obscured.
Display of complete tidal stream panel in ECDIS Provides the mariner with tidal data in a form
pick report. that is similar to the paper chart equivalent
Changes to S-52 display provisions: Allows the mariner to navigate to an anchorage
without the need to repeatedly interrogate each
Anchorage area – display of name in ENC; area on the ENC by:
Fairway - display of name in ENC; 1. Presenting the name of fairway on the ENC
Nautical publication – new visible presentation for quick identification of location;
for the meta feature nautical publication. 2. Presenting a graphical indication on the ENC
to give mariners the ability to easily select
the nautical publication feature using the
pick report.
Standardization of the ECDIS pick report. Ensures all ECDIS present pick report information
in a consistent manner, reducing training needs
and improving safety at sea.
The viewing groups may be used by the mariner Ensures all ECDIS use viewing group
to customise the ENC information presented on nomenclature in a consistent manner, reducing
the ECDIS display. The names of these viewing training needs and improving safety at sea.
groups have been standardized.
 E

4 ALBERT EMBANKMENT
LONDON SE1 7SR
Telephone: +44 (0)20 7735 7611 Fax: +44 (0)20 7587 3210

Ref. T2-OSS/2.7.1 SN.1/Circ.266/Rev.1

7 December 2010

MAINTENANCE OF ELECTRONIC CHART DISPLAY AND

INFORMATION SYSTEM (ECDIS) SOFTWARE

1 The Sub-Committee on Safety of Navigation (NAV), at its fifty-sixth session

(26 to 30 July 2010), reviewed the text of SN.1/Circ.266 and agreed that the text of the original
circular should be amended as this was an important issue for ensuring the safety of navigation.

2 The Maritime Safety Committee, at its eighty-eighth session (24 November

to 3 December 2010), concurred with the Sub-Committee's views, approved the revised
Guidance on the maintenance of Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS)
software, as set out in the annex, and encouraged their use by the relevant authorities.

3 Member Governments are invited to bring the attached revised SN circular to the
attention of all concerned for information and in particular to ensure that mariners always have
the latest safety-related information available to them.

***

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 SN.1/Circ.266/Rev.1
Annex, page 1

ANNEX

1 Resolution MSC.282(86), adopted on 5 June 2009, introduced a mandatory carriage

requirement for Electronic Chart and Display Systems (ECDIS) to be phased in, according to
size and class of ship, between 1 July 2012 and 1 July 2018. ECDIS Performance Standards
have been adopted by IMO and in turn refer to the International Hydrographic Organization
(IHO) Standards that govern the transfer and presentation of the chart information used in
ECDIS.

2 ECDIS in operation comprises hardware, software and data. It is important for the
safety of navigation that the application software within the ECDIS works fully in accordance with
the Performance Standards and is capable of displaying all the relevant digital information
contained within the Electronic Navigational Chart (ENC).

3 ECDIS that is not updated for the latest version of IHO Standards may not meet the
chart carriage requirements as set out in SOLAS regulation V/19.2.1.4.

4 For example, in January 2007, Supplement No.1 to the IHO ENC Product Specification1
was introduced in order to include, within the ENC, the then recently introduced IMO
requirements for Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas (PSSA), Archipelagic Sea Lanes (ASL) and to
cater for any future Safety of Navigation requirements.

5 Any ECDIS which is not upgraded to be compatible with the latest version of the
Product Specification or the S-52 Presentation Library2 may be unable to correctly display the
latest charted features. Additionally, the appropriate alarms and indications may not be
activated even though the features have been included in the ENC. Similarly any ECDIS which
is not updated to be fully compliant with the latest version of the S-63 Data Protection Standard
may fail to decrypt or to properly authenticate some ENCs, leading to failure to load or install.

6 In 2010, the status of IHO standards affecting ECDIS Equipment is:

IHO ECDIS Standards Current Edition

Electronic Navigational Chart (ENC) S-57 Edition 3.1
Presentation Library for ECDIS S-52 PresLib Edition 3.4
ENC Data Protection Scheme S-63 Edition 1.1
Raster Navigational Chart (RNC) S-61 Edition 1.0
(Only if ECDIS software supports RCDS
mode)

An up-to-date list of all the relevant IHO standards relating to ECDIS equipment is maintained
within the "About ENCs" section of the IHO website (www.iho.int).

1
S-57 Appendix B.1, ENC Product Specification, ed. 3.1.
2
S-52 Appendix 2, Annex A, Presentation Library, ed. 3.4.

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SN.1/Circ.266/Rev.1
Page 2

7 The need for safe navigation requires that manufacturers should provide a mechanism
to ensure software maintenance arrangements are adequate. This may be achieved through the
provision of software version information using a website. Such information should include the
IHO Standards which have been implemented.

8 Administrations should inform shipowners and operators that proper ECDIS software
maintenance is an important issue and that adequate measures need to be implemented by
masters, shipowners and operators in accordance with the International Safety Management
(ISM) Code.

___________

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