Majority of Global Tanker Fleet Yet to Adopt ECDIS

UKHO calls on tanker owners and operators to ensure compliance with SOLAS rules on ECDIS carriage from July 1, 2015

The majority of ships in the global tanker fleet have yet to adopt ECDIS, according to data published for the first time by the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO).

The SOLAS regulations on the mandatory carriage of ECDIS will come into force from July 1, 2015 for all tankers over 3,000 gross metric tons, apart from permitted exemptions. Over 8,500 tankers will be required to comply with these rules and, with less than 10 months to go, the UKHO can reveal that 58% of these ships do not yet use an ENC service.

The amendments to the SOLAS Convention requiring the mandatory carriage of ECDIS were adopted in 2009. To date, approximately 3,600 tankers, or 42% of the global tanker fleet use an ENC service. This leaves almost 5,000 tankers that do not use an ENC service and therefore may not have ECDIS installed.

The UKHO data also reveals a significant divergence in the ENC use of the global tanker fleet between different tanker sizes and types. Overall, 23% of the global product tanker fleet of approximately 1,700 vessels is already using an ENC service, compared to 44% of crude tankers and 63% of LNG tankers.

With less than one year until these amendments to the SOLAS Convention come into force for the global tanker fleet, owners and operators of tankers that are not yet ready to comply need to ensure they have a plan in place to adopt ECDIS in a thorough and diligent manner. Whether it is the physical installation of ECDIS onboard, the delivery of type-specific training for crew or the necessary revisions to bridge policies and procedures, it is a considerable undertaking.

Since launching the global ECDIS seminar program in 2011, the UKHO has provided FREE expert guidance on the ECDIS transition to over 2,300 delegates. By the end of 2014 that is projected to exceed 3,400 delegates in 55 locations. Delivered by Captain Paul Hailwood, an expert on ECDIS and integrated bridge operations, the UKHO ECDIS Implementation, Policy and Procedures seminars help professionals involved with the shipping industry, including managers, owners, ship personnel, regulators and auditors, to achieve this important requirement.

Captain Paul Hailwood said, “The transition to ECDIS is a very complex and significant undertaking, whether it is for a single ship or an entire fleet. This data on the current state of ENC use across the global tanker fleet reveals that there is still a long way to go in a short period of time if the fleet is to be fully ready to comply with the SOLAS regulations, even allowing for exemptions and the grace period until a ship’s first survey date. There are also wider implications for the ability of the industry to deliver a transition to ECDIS on this scale in such a short period of time, given the inevitable constraints on capacity, such as crew training places and the availability of engineers to manage the installation process.”

Hailwood continued, “Any tanker owner or operator beginning or yet to begin preparations for the adoption of ECDIS should have a plan in place by now in order to make the transition in a safe, compliant and efficient manner and to avoid the risk of failing to comply with the regulations. It is a misconception to think ‘because I can navigate with paper, I can navigate with ECDIS.’”

Jason Scholey, Senior Product Manager - Charts, UKHO commented, “Our aim is to help all owners and operators to be ECDIS-ready, to comply with regulations on ECDIS carriage and to make best use of it as a navigational tool that will help them to sail safely and efficiently. AVCS is the right solution to help them to achieve those goals. It contains 100% official ENCs, offers the most comprehensive global coverage and it operates on all makes of ECDIS. At no extra cost, AVCS also comes with the unique ADMIRALTY Information Overlay (AIO), a valuable passage planning tool that shows ADMIRALTY T&P NMs and extra navigationally significant information to aid safer navigation.”

As well as the global seminar program, the UKHO provides expert guides and resources for tanker companies on managing the transition to ECDIS, including the publications NP232, NP231 & NP5012. In addition, the ADMIRALTY Vector Chart Service (AVCS) is the most chosen ENC service for ECDIS, offering the widest official coverage and compatible with all makes of ECDIS.

admiralty.co.uk