30 – 31 August 2004, Cartagena, Colombia
Lack of worldwide ENC coverage continues to be a problem. Most HOs have been unable to produce sufficient quantities of ENC data to satisfy the requirements of ECDIS users. This pertains to ENC data at all scale ranges required for a ship’ voyage (e.g., General, Ocean, Coastal, Approach, and Harbor)
Depending on how determined, 70-80% of the World’s oceans are considered international waters. As called for in Section A-101.1 of the IHO INT Chart Scheme: “The aim of the international chart concept is to facilitate the provision of minimum sets of charts suitable for the navigational requirements of international (foreign-going) shipping.”
The INT charts are paper nautical charts that are produced under cooperative agreement by HOs in a particular region (e.g., MACHC). The scale range of these an INT paper nautical charts is:
Steps:
1. Use the INT Chart Scheme as the basis for the production of small-scale ENC cells with a “general” navigation purpose. Determine how to deal with overlaps in the paper chart coverage.
2. Identify HOs willing to produce a small-scale ENC from the paper INT Chart. Or, contact private companies/organizations who may be willing to produce small-scale ENCs on behalf of the MACHC.
3. Once produced, the Small-scale ENCs should undergo a validation – quality assurance - consistency process prior to official release. Ideally, this would be a 3rd party QA/validation (e.g., performed by a RENC).
4. After validation, the small-scale ENCs would be posted on the IHO and MACHC websites, and would be available free-of-charge as a “service” to RENCs, ECDIS/ECS manufacturers, chart producers/distributors, and the maritime shipping industry.
1. Provides “official ENC” coverage for General and Ocean routes within MACHC region.
2. Encourages larger-scale ENC production for coastal, approach and harbor areas.
3. Would help facilitate establishment of RENC based on IHO WEND concept (i.e., up-to-date and liability would be addressed by a RENC).
4. Encourage the use of IMO-compliant ECDIS onboard SOLAS vessels in region.
5. Demonstrates cooperation between IHO and “Industry Stakeholders”.
6. MACHC would seen as accomplishing tangible results that benefit MACHC Member States, IHO, charting industry and maritime user groups.
1. Some M.S. may want to gain revenue from sale of small-scale ENCs even if produced from INT Charts.
2. Who should perform validation/consistency checks? (perhaps create an entity within MACHC).
3. Concern about liability for accuracy and completeness.