VOYAGE PLANNING WITH ECDIS — PRACTICAL GUIDE FOR NAVIGATORS

The voyage planning process can be treated as a sort of evolution from the old-school penciling of the proposed route on a nautical chart to a really high quality and technological process including the proper risk assessment. The marine navigators of today have to filter, analyze, correctly interpret and also do good and thorough evaluation of the huge amount of data used for the ship voyage planning.

Of course, when doing so, due care shall be taken of the compliance with the applicable regulatory framework. The recent introduction of the electronic charts followed same approach, allowing the mariners to filter the nautical chart data and adapt it to such extent that would allow only the relevant information to be displayed, meaning the voyage-specific information directly relating to the particular vessel. In the meantime, proper attention shall be paid to the handing of the information.

When compared to the traditional paper nautical charts, this approach will require a fully reworked mindset forming some challenges to the navigators today. What it means is that the navigators shall be able to properly adapt the routines of the duly trained craftsmanship on the charts in order to ensure that the subject challenge is met.