ECDIS training requirements

As a reminder, new ECDIS training requirements contained in the U.S. Coast Guard's

Supplemental Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (SNPRM) are expected to be phased in over

a five-year period, which will conclude January 2017. If an officer does not have the

required training by Jan. 1, 2017, his or her credential will have a limitation placed on it

prohibiting the individual from serving on ECDIS equipped vessels. ECDIS training may

also be required sooner under certain circumstances, as noted below.

     Separately, some ECDIS requirements for newly built ships will begin to take effect

July 1. Tankers larger than 3,000 gross tons and passenger ships larger than 500 gross

tons constructed on or after that date will need to meet requirements in the SOLAS

Convention.

     Regarding training requirements, the U.S. Coast Guard has issued its SNPRM on the

implementation of the 2010 STCW Manila Amendments. Although the public comment

period has ended, the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) will not be finalized until the

Coast Guard reviews all comments. STAR Center will provide detailed guidance to

members of American Maritime Officers once the USCG policy is published. When the

CFR is finalized, STAR Center will also request a formal acceptance of our current ECDIS

training course as meeting the new requirements. STAR Center's analysis indicates that

the school's current course will meet all the expected USCG requirements.

     STAR Center has been conducting USCG approved ECDIS training for AMO officers since

2003 and has trained more than 900 AMO members in the current USCG approved ECDIS

course.

     Between now and January 2017, current ECDIS credentials and endorsements should

continue to be honored by port state inspectors both in the U.S. and in other countries. However,

 if a specific vessel designates ECDIS as the primary means of navigation, or if a specific vessel

is equipped with ECDIS, port/flag state authorities may require an approved ECDIS training

course to have been completed. STCW also requires companies to provide individuals employed

onboard a ship with familiarization in the specific shipboard equipment, operating procedures

and other arrangements, needed for the proper performance of their duties. This would include

installed ECDIS equipment. Proper documentation of this familiarization should be available.

     Although the proposed five-year phase in period will run until January 2017, some contracted

companies (and vetters) already require documentation of having completed an approved ECDIS

training course in order to ship on ECDIS equipped vessels. Officers who have not completed an

approved ECDIS course are encouraged to do so as their schedules permit. It is recommended that

each officer carry his or her approved ECDIS course certificate onboard the vessel.

     Regarding ECDIS requirements taking effect July 1, these address equipment, chart data and

training. To meet the technical standards, the following criteria must be met:

1. Type-approved equipment (there are approximately 26 manufacturers of type-approved equipment);
2. Adequate up to date official ENC chart data installed;
3. A flag state accepted back-up arrangement. Some back-up arrangement options are a second

independent ECDIS unit, a chart/radar, or a full folio of up-to-date nautical paper charts. The

USCG has not yet stated what they will require.

Pertaining to these requirements for companies and vessels, obtaining and maintaining adequate

up-to-date charts can be done in a number of ways. Several chart distributors vying for the business

of supplying official up to date data to ships.