Time to Revise the IMO’s Guidance on Good Practice for the Use of Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS)

Abstract

In the course of developing the publication "Recommendations on usage of ECDIS and preventing incidents" [19] by members of the Oil Companies International Marine Forum (OCIMF), they have identified the importance of sharing information on a malfunction of an ECDIS. The problem was discussed in the forum of the International Maritime Organization (IMO). As a consequence, there was a necessity to modify the IMO’s ECDIS – Guidance for Good Practice. This guidance is intended to assist smooth implementation of ECDIS and its ongoing safe and effective use on board ships. In the new version of this document (second revision), new important terms appear, such as: type approval authority (TAA), type approval certificate (TAC), letter of acceptance (LOA), declaration of conformity (DOC). In this article, the author tries to present the problem and describe the actions taken by the appropriate IMO bodies.