UKHO and MPA third international ECDIS Conference

02 July 2009, 3:31pm

02 July 2009 - Joint ECDIS conference will examine current and future issues on path to e-navigation

Influential members of the shipping industry will gather in Singapore on the 19-21st October for the third International ECDIS Conference (IEC09) hosted jointly by the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO) and Singapore’s Maritime and Port Authority (MPA).

“With IMO having finalised its consideration of carriage requirements for Electronic Chart Display and Information Systems, the industry must get to grips with the use of official electronic charts (ENCs) and ECDIS,” commented Dr Parry Oei, Chief Hydrographer Singapore MPA.

New legislation to mandate the carriage of ECDIS, starting in 2012, has huge implications for the shipping industry at the same time as presenting significant opportunities for safer, more efficient, more cost-effective fleet operation.

The conference will address what ship owners, management companies, fleet managers and marine superintendents really need to know to equip themselves and their fleets for the transition from paper to eNavigation as well as taking a look into the future of navigation to see what technologies might emerge in another decade.

UKHO’s Hayley Jopson says the conference is timed to allow the industry to evaluate the changes that have taken place since the last event and plan for the future.

She said: “We are delighted to be holding this third joint conference with the Singapore Maritime and Port Authority. Mandated use of ECDIS is one of the most important changes that navigators will have to face in the next few years.

“The IMO has decided that ENC quality and global coverage are sufficient for mandation. Now the industry has to get to grips with training, back-up and using ECDIS day-to-day. There’s so much opportunity but it’s a big challenge too.”

The conference will provide a platform for prominent speakers from shipping companies, hydrographic offices, ECDIS manufacturers, and chart distributors to offer their views, guidance and share their experiences on the latest developments, technologies, practices and trends.

Delegates will come away with everything they need to know to equip them for first phase ECDIS mandation.

Ms Jopson says the conference is designed to get people engaged as the mandation process moves forward.

“UKHO is committed to ensuring that the move towards ECDIS mandation in 2012 is as straightforward as possible,” she said.

“We think the industry can learn from our shared experience, that ENCs and ECDIS represent a business benefit that also improves safety.”

Ms Jopson’s view is one that is echoed within the industry.

Captain Paul Hailwood, Hailwood Consultancy, said: “There has never been a more important time to hold an International ECDIS conference. As shipping companies begin to develop their strategies for adoption of ECDIS, many issues and questions will undoubtedly be raised. There is no better place to find the worlds’ experts on ECDIS than at this conference.”

3rd International ECDIS Conference

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