SMM Hamburg 2012: Are You Ready for New ECDIS Regulations?
Admiralty brings free Digital Integration Workshops to SMM Hamburg 2012 to help shipping companies in the implementation of digital navigation
Admiralty will host the next series of Digital Integration Workshops at SMM Hamburg 2012 in September 2012, it was announced. The Workshops, which are free to attend, help shipping managers effectively plan for the integration of digital technology into bridge operations to meet the IMO mandatory carriage of ECDIS legislation that came into force on 1st July 2012.
The Workshops will take place on first floor of Hall B6, in room B6.1 on 4th – 7th September 2012. Attendance is free, but spaces are limited and anyone wishing to attend should register online.
The Workshops have been developed in conjunction with Captain Paul Hailwood, a renowned expert on ECDIS and integrated bridge operations, and provide a simple, step-by-step process to support the planning and delivery of compliance with the mandatory carriage of ECDIS.
Following on from the start of the ECDIS Mandate at the beginning of July, shipping companies must be planning and implementing digital navigation, says Captain Hailwood; “Many companies underestimate how long the transition to digital navigation will take. It’s crucial that they make every effort to fully understand what ECDIS compliance requires. I’ve worked with many companies where the process has taken twice as long as first thought, resulting in a variety of operational issues. To avoid these problems shipping companies need definitive answers about the integration process to enable them to prepare effectively. The Admiralty Workshops are designed to be the definitive resource to set them on the right course.”
The Workshop programme is based on insights from shipping companies who have successfully made the transition to digital, and provides a clear and comprehensive checklist of activity for each key stage of transition, from the initial risk assessment to the introduction and implementation of new procedures.
Ian Moncrieff CBE, Chief Executive, UKHO and Admiralty, says: “The integration of digital navigation into bridge operations is a huge step forward for the industry, delivering improved safety and efficiency. However, these benefits will not come automatically; they require the strategic implementation of a range of technologies and processes alongside highly focused and competent operational execution. The Digital Integration Workshops we’re delivering at SMM Hamburg 2012 and around the world this year are designed to equip shipping companies with the knowledge and skills they need to embrace the digital future of navigation.”
The majority of Workshop delegates from Posidonia 2012 said that training is their key priority on the journey to ECDIS compliance and digital navigation. The Digital Integration Workshops are part of Admiralty’s Digital Navigation Insights campaign to help the maritime community meet the strategic and operational challenges they face. In addition to the Workshops, the Admiralty campaign focuses on the need for comprehensive ECDIS training for officers on watch, and on the practical use of ENCs. Full details of the campaign can be found here.
Following SMM Hamburg 2012, the Workshops will also be held in London on 24th September, details to follow and Dubai, UAE on 27th-29th November 2012. Additional dates will also be announced and full details can be found on the Admiralty website.