There’s a plethora of practical information on ECDIS (Electronic Chart Display and Information System). ECDIS books, manuals and videos – they’ve become big business in the nautical world. In the midst of it all, Christian Hempstead, Professor and Director of Nautical Science Simulation at the US Merchant Marine Academy, has come up with a short list of what he calls ‘ECDIS axioms’. We prefer the more mundane term ‘tips and tricks’. Here they are, for the benefit of ECDIS trainees and navigators, with a short preface by Professor Hempstead:
ECDIS is an integrating device meant to improve the economy and safety of navigation. But no matter what the brand, learning an ECDIS can be intimidating, and defies prudent navigation in the demand to learn all of its hundreds of features. Of course, ECDIS functions are added for appeal to a broad spectrum of customers. Few will make use of every menu and option, but all users are well advised to learn what lies behind every door just so that is left alone when not needed in the heat of a tense situation. So, here is a concise guide for learning to navigate with ECDIS. I list these axioms (in no particular order) because they may not be very self-evident. Each one stems from my own discoveries and considerable experience in the art of integrated ECDIS navigation as watchstander and teacher.
• No one setting suits all conditions
• The mouse will kill you
• When in doubt, right click
• If it’s clickable, it will get clicked
• Structure your practice to master the basics
• Exercise the 7-second glance
• Stick to the single-point query
• Skilled use includes stepping back from the ECDIS
• The problem of partial use
• Make friends with every menu
• Do as you would on a paper chart, and so much more
• Move the line, check the line
• Luckily, you cannot edit the route you’re monitoring
• Check all source sensors and connected devices
• Treat the ECDIS as if it were steering the vessel
• Detect and resolve ambiguities
• The ECDIS display will have many readers
• Enable only the alarms you want to hear
• ECDIS is mostly about chart data
• Procure, install, select, initialize, and then load
• ECDIS use should enhance the safety of navigation
