Navico Obtains South Korean Type Approval for Simrad MARIS ECDIS Units

Navico has made a significant addition to the approvals it has received from the Korea Marine Equipment Research Institute of South Korea, following type approval of the latest generation Simrad MARIS ECDIS900 Mk 5 and Mk 15 Electronic Chart Display & Information Systems. The list of products already approved in Korea includes Simrad Broadband 4G™ radars, ARGUS antennae, gyrocompasses, autopilots, and control and display units.

The integrated electronic navigation specialist has secured certificates warranting the new type approvals from KMERI for its IMO type-approved ECDIS navigation systems for use on board merchant vessels. The IMO has agreed mandatory compliance deadlines for all merchant ships by type and size as part of amendments to the Safety of Life at Sea Convention.

 “This is an important step in our progress in extending the reach of our navigation portfolio for merchant vessels,” declares Jose Herrero, Executive Vice President and Managing Director of the company’s Commercial Marine Division. “We made significant deliveries of earlier generation of ECDIS products in South Korea in the past. The type approval for the ECDIS900 Mk 5 and Mk 15 is an acknowledgement from an important regulator of our major commitment to the development of state-of-the-art ECDIS technology. We are proud to have some of the best products on the market.”

As a member of the IMO Council, South Korea is recognized at UN level as one of the 10 States with the largest interest in providing international shipping services. It is one of the largest genuine national flags and has more registered tonnage than Norway, the UK, Germany, Japan or Denmark.

“South Korea is also the world’s second largest shipbuilding nation,” says Herrero. “There are only a few ECDIS manufacturers with type approval certification from the Korean maritime authorities. Receiving type approvals for the MARIS ECDIS900 systems opens up exciting new opportunities for us.”

The Simrad MARIS ECDIS900 units come packed full of functionality. They are easy to use, with a standard Windows PC interface, and facilitate advanced route planning and optimization tools with special-purpose modules including search-and-rescue planning. The systems, which support electronic navigation charts from most leading hydrographic chart providers, offer integrated chart management with online ordering and updates. Other features include position prediction, docking assistance and a universal radar overlay. The Mk5 system comes with a 24- or 26-inch flat panel monitor and standard PC. The Mk 15 has a 19- or a 24-inch flat panel display and an integrated PC.

Under the IMO’s Safety of Life at Sea Convention (SOLAS), regulation V/19-2.1.4, as amended, mandatory carriage of type-approved ECDIS has been phased in progressively since July 1, 2012.  Between now and mid-2018, ECDIS will become mandatory for: existing cargo ships other than tankers of more than 50,000 gt built before July 1, 2013 (by first survey after July 1, 2016); existing cargo ships other than tankers of 20,000-50,000 gt built before July 1, 2013 (by first survey after July 1, 2017); and existing cargo ships of 10,000-20,000 gt (by first survey after July 1, 2018).