Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-t7czq Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-26T23:03:26.505Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

The ECDIS Paradox: A Controversial View on Navigation, Freedom and Safety at Sea

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 October 2009

Fosco Bianchetti
Affiliation:
(C-MAP)

Abstract

The unexpected commercial success of electronic charting systems has put an unusual pressure on the regulatory organizations to come up with some accepted international standard for this new technology. Unfortunately, the scope of this issue is far-reaching and touches the most sensitive nerves of maritime tradition and culture. This cumbersome legacy was noticeable from the very first US RTCM meetings on the subject and has conditioned the development of recommendations ever since.

This paper, written by an outsider, tries to look at the whole issue with an unprejudiced eye, arriving at a conclusion which casts heavy doubts on the wisdom of the current course and which advocates a different approach to take advantage of the incredibly powerful potential of this new technology – a technology which could radically change the rules and laws of commercial navigation to the benefit of safety and economy.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © The Royal Institute of Navigation 1994

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Bianchetti, F. (1988). Two approaches to electronic charting: reprographic versus structural encoding. Vroc. RTCM Workshop April 1988, Fort Lauderdale, Florida.Google Scholar
Bianchetti, F. and Cassidy, F. (1989). Experiences with the conversion of North Sea Project test data to the C-Map commercial standard. Proc. RTCM Workshop April 1989.Google Scholar
Eaton, R. M. (1990). GPS and the electronic chart. Lighthouse, 41.Google Scholar
Proceedings of the International Conference on Vessel Traffic Services in the Mediterranean.February 1990,Genova.Google Scholar
Proceedings of the International Conference on Maritime Law and the Electronic Chart. November 1990, Ottawa .Google Scholar
Bianchetti, F. (1991). La cartografia elettronica. ATTl dell'Istituto Italiano di Navigazione N, 124.Google Scholar
Weeks, C. G. (1991). ECS or ENS. The tfydrographic Journal, 61.Google Scholar
Ekblom, R. (1991). Role of hydrography in marine investigation and litigation. Lighthouse, 44.Google Scholar
Bianchetti, F. (1992). Electronic charts: past, present, future. Marine Electronics, 3.Google Scholar