The Underlying Expenses of ECDIS

Op-Ed by Captain Charis Kanellopoulos

Most of us are already aware of the deadline of mandatory ECDIS implementation depending on vessel type. Shipping is entering a new era of obligatory electronic navigation and many key issues should be carefully examined and assessed. Issues that might affect not only the safety of navigation, but also become a fiscal trap: The new budgetary item of electronic navigation should be carefully reviewed, including not only ENC charts but also the actual ECDIS equipment.

Don't think that by just placing ECDIS on board the story is over! Once the cat is out of the proverbial bag and the electronic navigation subject is breached, one will almost certainly face extraordinary and unpredicted expenses.

Initially, each company apart of ECDIS operating procedures should have procedures for the smooth and controlled transition from paper charts to ECDIS. Amongst these procedures, emphasis should naturally be given to the training and familiarization with the equipment on board. However, and before one reaches training onboard, a vital and often underestimated part of these procedures, would be the actual choice of ECDIS equipment and ENC provider criteria.

Selection of ECDIS equipment and ENC data is of paramount importance and dependent on many factors. One important factor that may often be overlooked is the capability of ECDIS equipment in conjunction and versus the demands of the ENC data in use (coverage areas, navigational information display, T&P corrections, etc...) which needs to be carefully examined in order to achieve a seamless operation.

What a company should take into account is the very real possibility of ECDIS equipment renewal on a five year basis, simply due to the fact that both hardware tech and software engineering are constantly evolving. New software upgrades will eventually come from ECDIS manufacturers in order to solve either operating issues or compatibility with ENC providers' new upgrades (i.e: online updating, pay as you sail, dynamic licensing, weather overlay, route finder, additional overlay information, etc...). There will be a time where the equipment will simply won't have the capability to follow the ENC software increasing demands.

ECDIS machines, much like any piece of high tech computing equipment nowadays, will become "old" and "outdated". Production will eventually stop and spare parts will be hard to get on the spot - not to mention delivery time might be in the range of weeks or months.
No need to analyze the consequences for vessel and operator in case of an ECDIS equipment breakdown: class attendance, change of safety equipment certificate, immediate need for updated paper charts for the voyage, etc... One soon realizes that in order to be proactive, might have to consider renewing the entire equipment altogether! Not only because it has thousands of running hours and it has been worn out from the continuous operation, but also due to the already occurring breakdowns which might increase over time.

Having the experience of almost half a decade in paperless navigation, one dares to warn that a company might have to spend more than 50 percent of the total equipment installation cost in repairs within five years - excluding secondary collateral expenses such as possible off-hire cost due to equipment breakdown and consequent delays or similar factors.

All of us will agree that no shortcuts should be taken when safety of navigation is concerned. Renewal of ECDIS equipment on a five years basis doesn't only guarantee a seamless future operation enjoying the privileges of the evolving technology. It should actually be considered as a budgeted and expected expense. Moreover, taking into account the included installation labor and the renewed warranty for spare parts which will be granted, one might argue that such a move is not only fiscally sensible but also recommended and cost effective in the long run. Moreover, quite possibly ECDIS equipment renewal is the only way to minimize the risk of equipment breakdown and ensure flawless paperless navigation. The subject expense including commissioning fees is almost trivial compared to the total cost of a special survey. Moreover, the gains far outweigh the cost when obvious potential impacts are taken into account.

After all, amongst us we would all consider a five year old cell phone or computer as outdated! Why the same principle doesn't apply in such a critical piece of equipment like ECDIS?

Captain Charis Kanellopoulos started his seagoing career in 1998 having graduated from the Greek Merchant Marine Academy of Aspropyrgos. He served on crude, product and chemical tankers and in 2007 he obtained the Master's Class A degree. In 2009 he joined Mare Maritime Co.S.A as a Marine Superintendent dealing with Vetting and CDI inspections. He has extensive experience and knowledge of ECDIS, enhanced from the fact that Mare Maritime runs a fleet of chemical tankers trading worldwide, utilizing paperless navigation since 2008.