Safe navigation

Overview of major issues

ECDIS

Electronic chart display and information system (ECDIS) is a tool which aids in the safe navigation of ships and has demonstrated to have a positive effect on reducing the number of collision and grounding accidents, and consequently the number of fatalities and oil spills. This has led the IMO to adopt amendments to Chapter V of SOLAS for the carriage requirements of ECDIS on ships so that it can be accepted as complying with the up-to-date chart requirements of SOLAS. IMO has also developed performance standards for ECDIS which importantly states that the chart information used in ECDIS should be the latest edition of information provided by national hydrographic offices. Unfortunately, the complexities in the equipment and continual changes in the software by ECDIS manufacturers have made it difficult for INTERTANKO Members to ensure that they fully comply with the latest requirements. INTERTANKO has actively engaged at IMO and with equipment manufacturers to assist Members in complying with the latest ECDIS requirements so they can navigate their tankers safely worldwide.

Pilotage
Almost all countries around the world require ships to take on board a maritime pilot to assist the crew in the safe navigation of the ship through their navigable waters and ports. The pilotage requirements in each country are not all the same, resulting in problems that members tankers encounter when taking on a pilot. These include, but are not limited to, pilot standards, a clear understanding of the pilot’s responsibilities, Master/pilot information exchange, bridge resource management, passage plans and communications. To assist Members with these issues INTERTANKO has signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the International Maritime Pilots Association (IMPA) to discuss and resolve issues that may arise between Members' tankers when taking on a pilot.    

e-Navigation
E-navigation is intended to be the harmonized collection, integration, exchange, presentation and analysis of marine information onboard ship and ashore by electronic means to enhance berth to berth navigation and related services for safety and security at sea and protection of the marine environment. This will involve the integration of new and existing bridge technologies and equipment to enable the provision of globally harmonized maritime services. In this respect IMO has developed an e-navigation Strategy Implementation Plan and is working on a number of major issues to implement this plan. INTERTANKO fully supports the development of e-navigation with the focus of providing the ship all the information that is needed by the crew to safely navigate. However, there are certain entities that consider e-navigation as a vehicle to have shore personnel direct the navigation of the ship. INTERTANKO will be actively involved in the development of e-navigation at IMO to ensure that the safe navigation of Members' tankers remain under the control of the crew with the necessary guidance from shore personnel.