ECDIS is a computer-based navigation display system that shows a vessel’s real-time position on official electronic navigational charts (ENCs), integrating data from GPS, radar, AIS, and other navigation sensors into a single continuously updated display.
What ECDIS Replaced
Before ECDIS, navigation relied on paper charts corrected manually using Notices to Mariners. ECDIS-equipped vessels can use electronic charts as the primary means of navigation, with paper charts required only as a backup in some flag state and company policies.
Key Functions
- Real-time position display on official electronic charts, continuously updated via GPS
- Route planning and monitoring, with automatic alarms for approaching hazards, shallow water, or deviation from planned track
- Chart correction — electronic charts are updated via data services rather than manual paper corrections
- Integration with radar (overlay) and AIS target data on the same display
SOLAS Requirement
Under SOLAS Chapter V, ECDIS carriage became mandatory on a phased basis for most passenger ships and cargo ships above specified tonnage thresholds, effectively ending paper-chart-only navigation on the large majority of the world’s commercial fleet.
Type-Specific Training
ECDIS systems vary by manufacturer, and officers must complete both generic ECDIS training and type-specific familiarization for the exact ECDIS model fitted on their vessel — a distinct, mandatory certification requirement separate from other navigation qualifications.
Exam Relevance
ECDIS operation, chart interpretation, and route planning are tested in both written competency exams and practical simulator assessments for 2nd Mate FG and above.