July 2023

The accuracy and reliability of Electronic Navigational Chart (ENC) information is vitally
important to the Mariner.

(a) State the Datum(s) used for EACH of the following:

(i) Depths;

The datum used is referred to as Sounding Datum and is not fixed to all ENCs

(ii) Heights, relating to Drying Heights, Vertical Clearance and other Elevations;

The datum used is referred to as “Vertical Datum” and is not fixed on all ENCs

(iii) Positions.

The datum is refered to as “Horizontal Datum” and is WGS84

(b) Outline the Survey Source Data and how the six ‘Category of Zone of Confidence’
(CATZOG) data is presented on Electronic Navigational Charts.

ZOC name and presentation Seafloor Coverage Typical Survey

(Symbol) Characteristics s
A1 Full area search Controlled, systematic
undertaken. survey 6 high
Significant seafloor position and depth
features detected and accuracy
depths achieved using DGPS or a
measured. minimum
three high quality lines of
position
(LOP} and a multibeam,
channel or
mechanical sweep system
A2 Full area search Controlled, systematic
undertaken. survey 6
Significant seafloor achieving position and
features detected and depth
depths accuracy less than ZOC A 1
measured. and
using a modem survey
echosounder 7 and a sonar
or
mechanical sweep system.
B Full area search not Controlled, systematic
achieved; uncharted survey
features, hazardous achieving similar depth but
to surface navigation lesser
are not expected but position accuracies than
may exist. ZOC A2,
using a modem survey
echosounder 5
, but no sonar or
 mechanical sweep system.
C Full area search not Low accuracy survey or
achieved, depth data
anomalies may be collected on an opportunity
expected. basis
such as soundings on
passage
D Full search not Poor quality data or data
achieved, large depth that cannot
anomalies expected. be quality assessed due to
lack of
information.
U Unassessed - The quality of the bathymetric data has yet
to be assessed

(c) Define SCAMIN (Scale Minimum Value) of an object on an Electronic Navigational Chart.

An ENC object attribute that specifies the minimum scale that an object can be viewed on
the screen. If SCAMIN for a depth contour object on a specific compilation scale chart is
1:17,999, for example, then at display scale 1:17,000 this object shows, but if the user
zooms out to 1:20,000, this object will disappear.

Shoreline constructions do not have a SCAMIN, and most rocks do not have one, and hence
are shown on all scales and all display modes.

Most ECS and ECDIS allow the user to turn off this feature, or to custom scale it.

October 2022:

The ship is to transit the Prince of Wales Channel, Torres Strait.

The Admiralty Sailing Directions give warnings of "strong tidal flow" and "shallow water and
numerous reefs in close proximity to the Traffic Scheme" in the channel.

(b) Outline EACH of the following:

(i) the function and presentation of the ECDIS 'Safety Contour' setting to assist in the
transit;

The safety contour is an outline which marks the division between safe and unsafe waters.
The colour blue is used to indicate the unsafe areas while white or grey for safe areas.
The default safety contour if not specified by the mariner is set to 30m.
ECDIS allows the officer to set safety parameters according to the ship’s static or dynamic
particulars.

(ii) the function and presentation of the ECDIS 'Safety Depth' setting to assist in the
transit.
The safety depth shows spot soundings either in gray for deeper depths or black for
shallower depths compared to the safety depth value entered by the navigating officer
thereby highlighting the potentially safe and unsafe areas.

March 2022:

SOLAS Chapter V specifies the legal aspects regarding Safe Navigation.

It is intended to compile the Passage Plan using the ship's approved ECDIS equipment.
However, full coverage of Indonesian waters is not available on the ship's Electronic
Navigation Charts (ENC).

Outline the key points of the current MCA guidance when operating approved ECDIS
equipment in the Raster Chart Display System (RCDS) mode.

MGN 610.
4.1 Raster Chart Display System (RCDS) Mode: Although the use of ECDIS with ENCs is the
required mode of operation, where the complete availability of ENCs is limited to specific
geographic areas, e.g. NW Europe, N. America and parts of SE Asia, Australia and New
Zealand, RNCs are permitted in the areas where the ENC coverage doesn’t yet exist,
employing the RCDS mode.
4.2 Risk Assessment: When intending to operate the ECDIS in RCDS mode, UK flag vessels
are to comply with the requirements as detailed in MGN 285 (Electronic Charts – The use
of risk assessment methodology when operating ECDIS in the RASTER chart display system),
which provides guidance on undertaking suitable risk assessment associated with the use
of RNCs. Evidence that the ship’s responsible officer (or officers) have undertaken the
above risk assessment in every case should be maintained on board

MGN 379.
ENC data must be used where it is available, but, where ENC data is not available; Raster
Navigational Charts (RNC) may be used with the ECDIS in the Raster Chart Display System
(RCDS) mode.
However, when operating in RCDS mode, the RCDS must be used in conjunction with an
appropriate folio of up-to-date paper charts

(d) Outline the purpose and details of CATZOC on Electronic Navigational Charts (ENC).

Mariners’ Guide to Accuracy of Depth Information in Electronic Navigational Charts (ENC)

Category Zone of Confidence (CATZOC) values are used to indicate the accuracy of data
presented on charts to assist mariners with determining a safe Under Keel Clearance
(UKC).

ZOC name and presentation Seafloor Coverage Typical Survey

(Symbol) Characteristics s
A1 Full area search Controlled, systematic
undertaken. survey 6 high
Significant seafloor position and depth
features detected and accuracy
depths achieved using DGPS or a
measured. minimum
three high quality lines of
position
 (LOP} and a multibeam,
channel or
mechanical sweep system
A2 Full area search Controlled, systematic
undertaken. survey 6
Significant seafloor achieving position and
features detected and depth
depths accuracy less than ZOC A 1
measured. and
using a modem survey
echosounder 7 and a sonar
or
mechanical sweep system.
B Full area search not Controlled, systematic
achieved; uncharted survey
features, hazardous achieving similar depth but
to surface navigation lesser
are not expected but position accuracies than
may exist. ZOC A2,
using a modem survey
echosounder 5
, but no sonar or
mechanical sweep system.
C Full area search not Low accuracy survey or
achieved, depth data
anomalies may be collected on an opportunity
expected. basis
such as soundings on
passage
D Full search not Poor quality data or data
achieved, large depth that cannot
anomalies expected. be quality assessed due to
lack of
information.
U Unassessed - The quality of the bathymetric data has yet
to be assessed

October 2018

In recent years, digital navigation tools have increasingly been used for the safe navigation
of vessels.

(a) Approved ECDIS equipment can be operated in a number of different modes, depending
upon different chart types in use on the equipment. These different modes may cover all
or some of the requirements for the carriage of nautical charts on board.

For EACH of the following chart types, name the corresponding mode that the equipment
is operating in and outline the degree to which each mode fulfils the ECDIS functional
requirements for the need to carry nautical charts on board:
(i) Approved ECDIS equipment operating with ENCs;

ECDIS Mode. Nautical charts need not be carried provided there is adequate backup,
duplicate equipment

(ii) Approved ECDIS equipment operating with RNCs;

RCDS Mode. An appropriate folio of current paper charts is required to be carried

(iii) Approved ECDIS equipment operating with unapproved Vector charts.

ECS Mode, not approved

(b) Outline the operational limitations of ECDIS equipment operating with RNCs when
compared to ECDIS equipment operating with ENCs.

RNCs cannot:
be interrogated,
provide alarms,
provide indications,
provide customised display,
Display may be cluttered with additional information.

(c) Explain the difference between safety depth setting and safety contour display setting
on an ECDIS, whilst also outlining the importance of understanding this difference to a
mariner for the purpose of safe navigation.

Safety Depth:

• Set by the user.

• ECDIS emphasizes soundings equal to or less than the safety depth whenever
selected for display.
• Affects the display of sounding colours
• Soundings shallower appear in black
• Soundings deeper appear in grey

Safety Contour

• The primary safety feature in ECDIS.

• Equivalent to a No Go line.
• Set by the user to mark the boundary between safe and unsafe water
• Shown emphasised over all other contours
• Uses the next deepest contour (or boundary of depth area) in the chart
• The chart display logic assumes that the safety contour will never be crossed.
• Dangers on the shallow side may not be shown.

March 2016

SOLAS Chapter V requires that the vessels must carry up-to-date charts and that electronic
charts may be carried as an alternative to paper charts.

(a) State in full the meaning of the following acronyms:

(i) ECDIS;

Electronic Chart Display and Information System

(ii) ENC;

Electronic Navigation Chart

(iii) RNC.

Raster Navigational Chart

(b) With regard to ECDIS and ENC:

(i) explain how the information is stored;

The information is stored as ENC data in IHO S-57 format encrypted according to IHO S-63
security scheme

(ii) explain how the information is displayed;

The ECDIS system converts the ENC data to the System Electronic Navigation Chart for
display and integrates the vessel’s position information from the Global Position System.
The user can select the data to be displayed according to the circumstances.
The density of data is appropriate to the scale of the chart.

(iii) state the precautions that should be observed when the OOW selects the type of data
to be displayed.

The data selected must be appropriate to the part of the passage.

Sufficient safety information to enable a safe passage.
Avoiding information overload.
Items to consider:
Safety settings and alarms.
Safety contours.
Look ahead and alarms.
Cross Track Distances.
Scale of display.
Density of information displayed such as depths.
Display palette.

(c) Summarise the key points of the MCA's guidance contained in MGN 285 Electronic
charts -the use of risk assessment methodology when operating ECDIS in the raster chart
display system (RCDS) mode.

1. Define the hazard.

2. Calculate the risk.
3. Decide if the risk is tolerable.
4. Control the risk and record procedures.
5. Review the risk and develop emergency procedures.
March 2011

The UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency publish guidance to mariners in the form of
Marine Guidance Notes (MGN's).

Outline the current MCA guidance regarding the alarms that must be fitted to ECDIS
systems to ensure safety of navigation.

ECDIS alarms:
• Crossing safety contour
• Area with special conditions
• Deviation from route
• Positioning system failure
• Approach to critical point
• Different geodetic datum
• Malfunction of ECDIS