The mandatory requirement of ECDIS for new ships and existing ships.

 The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has made it mandatory for certain types of vessels to use the Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS)¹²³. Here are the details:

• New Ships: The amended SOLAS regulation V/19 requires all newly built passenger ships of 500 gross tonnage and upwards, as well as newly built cargo ships of 3,000 gross tonnage and upwards engaged on international voyages to be fitted with ECDIS¹.

• Existing Ships: For existing ships, phase-in introduction of fitting requirements are being introduced for all ships of certain size engaged on international voyages¹. The specifics of the phase-in schedule are as follows²:

  • Passenger ships of 500 GT and upwards constructed before 1 July 2012, not later than the first survey on or after 1 July 2014.
  • Tankers of 3,000 GT and upwards constructed before 1 July 2012, not later than the first survey on or after 1 July 2015.
  • Cargo ships, other than tankers, of 50,000 GT and upwards constructed before 1 July 2013, not later than the first survey on or after 1 July 2016.
  • Cargo ships, other than tankers, of 20,000 gross tonnage and upwards but less than 50,000 GT constructed before 1 July 2013, not later than the first survey on or after 1 July 2017.
  • Cargo ships, other than tankers, of 10,000 GT and upwards but less than 20,000 GT constructed before 1 July 2013, not later than the first survey on or after 1 July 2018.

The term “first survey” is defined as being 'the first annual survey, the first periodical survey or the first renewal survey whichever is due first after the date specified in the relevant regulation or any other survey if the Administration deems it to be reasonable and practicable, taking into account the extent of repairs and alterations being undertaken².