UKHO to Hold ECDIS Workshops in Singapore

The United Kingdom (UKHO) Hydrographic Office announced its plans for a series of ECDIS Workshops during the Sea Asia 2013 Conference in Singapore.

These free-to-attend workshops will present the “Admiralty Guide to policy and procedures for the operational use of ECDIS” which will provide expert guidance on the regulatory requirements governing the adoption of ECDIS and the policies and procedures that are required to fulfil SOLAS carriage obligations, including any necessary amendments to bridge procedures on-board safety management systems.

These workshops are designed for anyone involved in managing the integration of digital navigation into their vessels to meet the revised SOLAS regulations on the carriage of ECDIS, including ship managers, owners, shop personnel, regulators and auditors. Following on from the UKHO’s highly regarded Digital Integration Workshops, which provided nine-stage guide to planning for the ECDIS transition, these new ECDIS workshops will provide more detailed advice on the regulatory requirements for ECIDS policy and procedure, as well as allowing plenty of time for questions from delegates and discussions with the UKHO team.

All three workshops will be held in Basement 2 of the Marina Bay Sands in Singapore, the venue for Sea Asia 2013, at the following times:

• Tuesday 9 April: 15:15 - 16:45
• Wednesday 10 April: 12:00 - 13:30
• Thursday 11 April: 16:00 - 17:30

The Singapore workshops will be led by Captain Paul Hailwood, a Master Mariner and internationally respected expert on ECDIS and integrated bridge operations.

According to Captain Hailwood, “Many shipping owners and operators have asked for guidance on the legal requirements for the adoption of ECDIS, which can appear complex and vary with interpretation. Our workshops will identify the hazards associated with the operation of ECIDS, set out the control measures required to minimise the risk and provide a checklist of items required by international standards, in order to help shipping companies to prepare for Port State inspection or third-party audit relating to the ECDIS. As one of the world’s leading shipping hubs, it made sense to bring our ECDIS workshops to Singapore and I would encourage anyone in Singapore or attending Sea Asia 2013 to join us.”

All three workshops are free to attend and places can be booked online at http://www.admiralty.co.uk/Pages/events-admiralty-workshops.aspx.