Seaways Free Article: Getting ECDIS familiarisation right

29 Jul 2025 Seaways

Let's be clear about ECDIS familiarisation

Need to know

by Steve Monk Managing Director, Da Gama Maritime

As all mariners, shipmanagers and flag state representatives are probably aware, in order to operate an ECDIS, particularly as the primary means of navigation on a vessel, a mariner must have completed a flag-state approved Generic ECDIS Course conformimg to the IMO1.27 model standard. However, confusion seems to reign regarding how seafarers should get to grips with the specifics of the ECDIS on the individual ship on which they are sailing – what used to be referred to as ECDIS type specific training, and is more correctly referred to as ECDIS type familiarisation.

Let’s be quite clear about one point. In accordance with STCW.7/Circ.24/ Rev 1 (2017), ‘No requirement exists for the approved training on ECDIS equipment to be type-specific’. While the introduction of type-specific training was discussed at IMO level, there was considerable concern from shipping companies about the number of courses mariners would need to attend, due to the variation in ECDIS across their fleets. Following an industry campaign – including considerable input from The Nautical Institute – the IMO instead introduced ‘type familiarisation’.

The responsibility for this familiarisation was passed to management companies. As stated in MSC. 1/Circ. 1503 Ref A Para 13 and ref B section F, para 34.5, ‘companies are responsible for ensuring that seafarers employed on their ships are familiarised with the installed equipment, including ECDIS’. Ref A, para 14 then goes on to state:

  • It is agreed that seafarers required to have training in the use of ECDIS:
    • Should not be required to provide documentation of training in ECDIS that is specific to the installed equipment; and
    • Are required to be familiarised with the ECDIS equipment installed on board.

The IMO does not set any requirements for the contents of this training, and there is no syllabus.

Is there a certificate?

Although the responsibility for familiarisation rests with the management company, several training providers have since offered online training specific to individual ECDIS. However, as the IMO makes clear, there is no requirement for mariners to undertake any online ‘type’ training. None of these online courses have been Flag State approved – nor can they be. While their content may have been provided, written or given by the ECDIS manufacturer, there is no IMO syllabus content which they can meet.

Management companies and/or Masters who refer their watchkeepers to such online courses must be aware of the content and determine if they really fulfil the needs of the mariner onboard their vessels. It should not be assumed that someone who has completed one of these courses knows how to operate the equipment to the standards necessary to maintain a safe navigation watch while utilising the ECDIS as the primary means of navigation.

Our investigations have identified many day-to-day operations of the ECDIS are not covered by these online courses. This leaves the mariner lacking knowledge relevant to the ECDIS on their specific vessel. A classic example is knowing how to uninstall expired permits and charts or understanding Pay As You Sail and the auto-renewing three monthly permit.

Coming on board

Familiarisation training should be conducted before the operator stands their first watch. However, the reality is that many operators would admit they have stood a watch without having completed the formal familiarisation training onboard.

If the management company has not stipulated their own familiarisation requirement, this should at the very least be delegated to the Master of the vessel. They should state what they expect of their bridge watchkeepers using the ECDIS. Management must then at a minimum review these requirements.

This does not have to be excessively long, and indeed it should not be presented as a test. A list of the questions which form the absolute basic familiarisation requirements is given over leaf. We recommend that someone onboard the vessel or within the company with access to the relevant ECDIS completes the question bank, filling in the answer needed to achieve what that question asks. The full list of questions and answers should be given to the newly embarked watchkeeper to use as an aid to familiarisation before their first watch. The Captain or suitably nominated individual onboard should then go through the questions with the new watchkeeper to assess their knowledge before it is formally recorded onboard that the mariner has met the ECDIS familiarisation requirements of that vessel.

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