Barriers to the Barriers to the adoption of ECDISadoption of ECDIS

Summary of Key FindingsSummary of Key Findings

IHO WEND Meeting – April 7IHO WEND Meeting – April 7thth 20052005

The Hailwood ReportThe Hailwood Report

Background Background 22ndnd International ECDIS Conference 2003 – Singapore International ECDIS Conference 2003 – Singapore

Operators present want ECDIS and where they lead the rest of the industry Operators present want ECDIS and where they lead the rest of the industry will follow will follow

Regulators identify significant benefits to Marine Safety and Environmental Regulators identify significant benefits to Marine Safety and Environmental protection protection

But ----But ---- There are so many operational issues that both groups are disillusioned and There are so many operational issues that both groups are disillusioned and

losing interestlosing interest How far have we really moved since ECDIS 1 in 1996 ?How far have we really moved since ECDIS 1 in 1996 ?

““Don’t give me excuses, give me ENC’s !!”Don’t give me excuses, give me ENC’s !!”

So ---So --- MPA and UKHO commissioned survey to identify needs and views of real MPA and UKHO commissioned survey to identify needs and views of real

customers, operating real ships in a real commercial environmentcustomers, operating real ships in a real commercial environment

QuestionQuestion

““What are the main operational issues What are the main operational issues delaying the adoption of ECDIS delaying the adoption of ECDIS aboard merchant ships ?”aboard merchant ships ?”

The Hailwood ReportThe Hailwood Report

Capt Paul HailwoodCapt Paul Hailwood Master Mariner – 20 years at seaMaster Mariner – 20 years at sea Electronic Charts since 1996Electronic Charts since 1996 Operator Training at WarsashOperator Training at Warsash Consulting on bridge procedures etcConsulting on bridge procedures etc Assignments for P&O, Carnival, RFA and, Assignments for P&O, Carnival, RFA and,

most recently, QM IImost recently, QM II Advised MCA on MGN 194 – Risk Assessment Advised MCA on MGN 194 – Risk Assessment

and “appropriate” paper folio with ECDISand “appropriate” paper folio with ECDIS

Phase 1 - Seafarers’ Questionnaire Phase 1 - Seafarers’ Questionnaire Phase 2 - Ship-owner InterviewsPhase 2 - Ship-owner Interviews

• Asia, Europe and North America Asia, Europe and North America • Cruise, Container, Bulker, TankerCruise, Container, Bulker, Tanker

Conclusions consistent with ECDIS Conclusions consistent with ECDIS Conference feedback, user groups etc.Conference feedback, user groups etc.

FINDINGSFINDINGS

Sea-farers’ Questionnaire 1Sea-farers’ Questionnaire 1

Who are they ?Who are they ?

What is their employment ?What is their employment ? What is their experience with electronic What is their experience with electronic

charts?charts? What is their level of understanding ?What is their level of understanding ?

Observations 1Observations 1

A good cross-section of marinersA good cross-section of mariners Worrying level of confusion over difference Worrying level of confusion over difference

between ECDIS and ECSbetween ECDIS and ECS Just over 60% considered they had Good Just over 60% considered they had Good

to Average understanding of e.g. Backup to Average understanding of e.g. Backup Arrangements, ENC, SOLAS etc Arrangements, ENC, SOLAS etc

Less than 50% of RENC’s, RCDS etc –Less than 50% of RENC’s, RCDS etc –

Seafarers’ Questionnaire 2Seafarers’ Questionnaire 2

What do they think of ECDIS ?What do they think of ECDIS ?

Have they experienced any of the Have they experienced any of the commonly reported limitations ?commonly reported limitations ?

What would be important to them if What would be important to them if navigating using ECDIS?navigating using ECDIS?

How highly do they value commonly How highly do they value commonly mentioned benefits ?mentioned benefits ?

What would they like to see improved?What would they like to see improved?

Categories and responses Q10 - limitations of ECDIS

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

1

Nu

mb

er o

f re

spo

nse

s

Dependance on GPS

Lack of Training

Poor display

ENC quality lacking

Other

Updating errors

Raster prefered

ENC coverage

Over reliance

Power failure

Paper charts prefered

Q6 Percentage of all respondents selecting 1 High for importance when navigating with ECDIS

0102030405060708090

100

Per

cen

tag

e

Categories and responses Q9 - benefits of ECDIS

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

1

Nu

mb

er o

f re

spo

nse

s Situational awareness

Integration withRadar/ARPA

Efficiency

Other

Observations 2Observations 2 ECDIS is only rated higher or similar to ECS on ECDIS is only rated higher or similar to ECS on

accuracy and completeness but –accuracy and completeness but – These are also the aspects which they value These are also the aspects which they value

most highlymost highly Many have had bad experience with most other Many have had bad experience with most other

aspectsaspects Many of the limitations highlighted are Many of the limitations highlighted are

hardware/display relatedhardware/display related Many disliked alarm functionMany disliked alarm function Ease of update and good situational awareness Ease of update and good situational awareness

in real time highlighted as key benefitsin real time highlighted as key benefits

QuotationsQuotations

Seafarers were given an opportunity to Seafarers were given an opportunity to state benefits in their own words – they state benefits in their own words – they said:-said:-

1.1. ““ECDIS is extremely useful in areas of traffic density ECDIS is extremely useful in areas of traffic density when used with target overlay from ARPA ---”when used with target overlay from ARPA ---”

2.2. ““Would do away with the drudgery of manually Would do away with the drudgery of manually correcting a large collection of charts. Monotonous correcting a large collection of charts. Monotonous work is a source of human error. Tendency to such work is a source of human error. Tendency to such work whilst on watch instead of keeping proper lookout work whilst on watch instead of keeping proper lookout would be curbed”would be curbed”

Structured Interviews 1Structured Interviews 1

Who are they ?Who are they ?

What type of ships do you operate ?What type of ships do you operate ? How many ships do you operate ?How many ships do you operate ? Where do you trade ?Where do you trade ? What is your experience with ECDIS ?What is your experience with ECDIS ?

Types of ships operated by shipping companies interviewed

0 2 4 6 8 10 12

Tankers

RoRo

Container

Bulkers

Cruise

Other

Sh

ip t

ype

Number of shipping companies

Number of shipping companies with operational experince of ECDIS or ECS

0 2 4 6 8 10 12

1

Number of shipping companies

ECS

ECDIS

None

Observations 1Observations 1

A good cross-section was interviewed A good cross-section was interviewed representing key vessel types, regions and representing key vessel types, regions and fleet sizes.fleet sizes.

There was good first hand experience of There was good first hand experience of using electronic charting.using electronic charting.

Structured Interviews 2Structured Interviews 2

What do they think of ECDIS ?What do they think of ECDIS ?

What would motivate them to adopt What would motivate them to adopt ECDIS ?ECDIS ?

What would discourage them ?What would discourage them ? What is their perception of ECDIS ?What is their perception of ECDIS ? Do they understand the regulations ?Do they understand the regulations ? What would they like to see improved ?What would they like to see improved ?

GENERAL VIEWS OF ENC

Observations 2Observations 2

Improved situational awareness scores very Improved situational awareness scores very highly – this group is concerned about safetyhighly – this group is concerned about safety

They also like the safety implications of easy They also like the safety implications of easy updatingupdating

They lack confidence that “issues” will be They lack confidence that “issues” will be addressed and resolvedaddressed and resolved

Potential benefit from better situational Potential benefit from better situational awareness is negated by shortcomingsawareness is negated by shortcomings

Concerns over data “quality” – how it is Concerns over data “quality” – how it is displayed and presenteddisplayed and presented

QuotationsQuotations

Owners also made some telling comments – they said:-Owners also made some telling comments – they said:-

1.1. ““I believe there is a 50% improvement in safety due to I believe there is a 50% improvement in safety due to situational awareness by using electronic charts”.situational awareness by using electronic charts”.

2.2. ““It is not simply the ability to save one person’s time, It is not simply the ability to save one person’s time, what is required is an efficient method that ensures the what is required is an efficient method that ensures the quality, accuracy and reliability of the Chart quality, accuracy and reliability of the Chart corrections”.corrections”.

3.3. ““If there was an official system, covering all the trade If there was an official system, covering all the trade routes that could replace paper charts, I would have it routes that could replace paper charts, I would have it tomorrow”.tomorrow”.

4.4. ““I can take my sailing boat into most marinas in Europe I can take my sailing boat into most marinas in Europe using an ENC but not a VLCC from the Persian Gulf to using an ENC but not a VLCC from the Persian Gulf to Japan, why?”Japan, why?”

Human FactorsHuman Factors

Not in original brief but it became apparent that Not in original brief but it became apparent that “human factors” issues should also be “human factors” issues should also be consideredconsidered

Meetings with MAIB and Lloyds RegisterMeetings with MAIB and Lloyds Register Highlighted that electronic charts:-Highlighted that electronic charts:-

• Should bring significant benefits to safety by reducing reduce Should bring significant benefits to safety by reducing reduce fatigue and workloadfatigue and workload

• Can partly compensate for poor navigational practice.Can partly compensate for poor navigational practice.• Should allow more time for visual watch keepingShould allow more time for visual watch keeping

More attention could have been given to “human More attention could have been given to “human factors” when developing the ECDIS standardfactors” when developing the ECDIS standard

Report ConclusionsReport ConclusionsElectronic charting is viewed positivelyElectronic charting is viewed positivelyIt has potential to significantly improve safety and It has potential to significantly improve safety and efficiencyefficiencyThere is much confusion over the regulationsThere is much confusion over the regulationsThe distinction between ECDIS and ECS is blurredThe distinction between ECDIS and ECS is blurredECDIS does not rate as highly on quality as it shouldECDIS does not rate as highly on quality as it shouldUsers attach high importance to accuracy and qualityUsers attach high importance to accuracy and qualityUsers see a direct link between operational efficiency Users see a direct link between operational efficiency and safety and safety Global ENC coverage essentialGlobal ENC coverage essentialPricing – a concern Pricing – a concern

RecommendationsRecommendationsInternational hydrographic community must:-International hydrographic community must:-

Review/improve “quality” of ENCReview/improve “quality” of ENCTake the lead in providing clearer guidance on Take the lead in providing clearer guidance on regulations particularly the distinction between regulations particularly the distinction between ECDIS and ECSECDIS and ECSPromote “Safety through Efficiency”Promote “Safety through Efficiency”Promote awareness of Human factors – fatigue, Promote awareness of Human factors – fatigue, overload etcoverload etcClarify pricing, licensing etc Clarify pricing, licensing etc

MPA/UKHO conclusionMPA/UKHO conclusion

There is a significant gap between the needs of There is a significant gap between the needs of the customers and the products and services on the customers and the products and services on offer from the hydrographic communityoffer from the hydrographic community

No single organisation can address all of these No single organisation can address all of these issues alone – it is time to join forces and work issues alone – it is time to join forces and work togethertogether

The international hydrographic community The international hydrographic community cannot afford to ignore the implications of this cannot afford to ignore the implications of this reportreport