In the former USSR, the Radionavigation Service was based on national radio systems without any real employment of foreign navigation aids. Separation of the independent sovereign States from the USSR caused problems in operating separate radionavigation systems (RNS) and resulted in failure to support the economic activity of the States with radionavigation data. Solving the problem for each new State individually seems unrealistic. Its solution can, however, be found through cooperation amongst the Commonwealth of Independent States, and the Internavigation Committee therefore suggested an initiative to coordinate these efforts via a new Radionavigation Intergovernmental Advisory Council. This suggestion was approved by the Independent States and the Council has been formed. Also, since operating the RNS in limited national interests seems inefficient, the Internavigation Committee is broadening international cooperation for the integration and joint exploitation of radionavigation systems in the interests of the world radionavigation community.

The AN/SSN-6 Navigation Sensor System Interface (NAVSSI) Project is a new system being designed with two primary objectives; to serve as the central distribution computer for navigation data to shipboard combat/weapon systems and to serve as the electronic chart display and information system (ECDIS). The NAVSSI will operate the digital nautical chart (DNC) database being developed by the Defense Mapping Agency (DMA). Our goal is for the digital nautical chart to replace the paper chart as a legal means of ownship navigation plotting. This paper will introduce the project and will primarily explore the use of digital nautical charts for ownship navigation with NAVSSI.