ECDIS Glossary of Terms
ECDIS Glossary of Terms
ECDIS Glossary of Terms
ECDIS Glossary
Glossary
Abort point APEM
The point on the passage beyond which there is The APEM methodology, described in IMO Resolution A.893
no sufficient sea room to turn back the vessel. (21), nominates appraisal, planning, execution and
When approaching or entering a port or monitoring as the key stages of passage planning.
procedding in a channel, the width of the
channel may not be sufficent to turn the vessel. ARCS
The point where width of the channel becomes Admiralty Raster Chart Service. A raster chart published by
narrow enough that vessel cannot make a turn UKHO Associated target: A target simultaneously
would be called Abort point. representing a tracked target and a AIS target which are
decided as the same
Accuracy
The extent to which a measured or enumerated Attribute
value agrees with the assumed or accepted value. A characteristic of an object. It is implemented by a defined
attribute label/code, acronym, definition and applicable
Activated target values. In the data structure, the attribute is identified by
A target representing the automatic or manual its label/code. The acronym is only used as a quick reference
activation of a sleeping AIS target for the display in related documents and in
of additional information ENC Product Specification. Attributes are either qualitative
or quantitative.
AIO
Admiralty Information Overlay published by Automatic updating
United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO). Either the semi-automatic or the fully automatic means of
updating the ENC/SENC.
AIS
Automatic Identification System Auto sail
The system automatically navigates to keep the scheduled
Anti-clutter rain: route. Same as automatic sailing.
Rain/snow clutter suppression
AZ
Anti-clutter sea : Acquisition/Activation zone
Sea clutter suppression
AZI
Alarm Azimuth stabilization mode
In ECDIS a device or system which alerts by
audible means, or audible and visual means, a Base CD
condition requiring attention. Chart CD containing a complete chart data
CCRP Clutter
As set by IMO regulations, a Consistent Common Excess information or noise data on a display reducing its
Reference Point (CCRP) is a location on own ship, readability. Note: E.g., information overload on a chart, or
to which all horizontal measurements, such as confusing unwanted wave echoes on a radar display.
target range, bearing, relative course/speed,
closest point of approach, or time to closest point C-MAP
of approach are referenced. Digital chart data by Jeppesen (formerly, C-MAP, Norway)
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ECDIS Glossary
symbol depends on system configuration, Mariner datums are defined as horizontal and vertical datums
options and the objects spatial relationship to separately. For a local geodetic datum the reference surface
other features (e.g. whether a wreck is is defined by five parameters: The latitude and longitude of
symbolized as an "isolated danger" depends on an initial point, the azimuth of a line from this point, and the
its relationship to the safety contour chosen by parameters of the reference spheroid. Absolute datums
the Mariner) or where symbolization is complex specify the initial point of the reference ellipsoid to be
(e.g. light sector). (ideally) located at the earth’s center of mass. For modern
reference systems using datum information given by
satellites, additional parameters are defined, e.g. gravity
CPA/TCPA models.
Distance to the Closest Point of Approach/Time to
the Closest Point of Approach. Deep Contour
Indicates the limit of sea area where shallow water effects
Cumulative update occur that can affect a vessel. It should be estimated twice
The collection of all sequential correction or four times the draught of vessel (depending on the depth
information which has been issued since the last of water available)
new edition of the ENC or since the last official
update applied to the SENC. Differential System
An augmentation system whereby radio-navigation signals
Cursor-pick are monitored at a known position and the corrections so
The process of querying a point-symbol, line or determined are transmitted to users in the coverage area.
area for further information from the data base [GNSS]
which is not represented by the symbol.
Display
Curved Heading Line (Curved EBL) A visual presentation of data. Note: For example, a
Curved EBL is a design and control tool to start a presentation of a line of alphanumeric data, a window, or
turn at correct position and to monitor behaviour the entire screen.
of the own ship during turn. The Curved EBL is
available on ECDIS screen and on some selected Display category
ARPA radar displays. The ECDIS performance Standards establish three categories
for SENC objects:
CTW • Display Base: permanently retained on the display;
Course Through Water. The direction of the ship's • Standard Display: displayed at switch-on, recalled by
movement through the water single operator action.
• All other information: displayed individually (by class) on
C UP demand.
Course up. Own ship’s course is pointed to the top
center of the radar display. Display Base
Display base is a permanently shown, irremovable list of
Data Server minimum objects on the ECDIS display, including coastline,
Organization providing S-63 chart Safety Contour and selected planned route. This is
categorised as vital information required at all times, in all
circumstances, in any geographical location.
Date dependant objects
There are several objects within the Marine
environment, which are seasonal, such as racing DIST
buoys. These objects are only to be displayed over Distance
a certain period. Any object with one of the above
attributes must not be displayed outside its DNV
effective dates unless requested by the Mariner. Det Norske Veritas
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the same time a panel next to the chart provides equipment which displays chart data but which is not
relevant data for docking. intended to comply with the IMO Performance Standards
for ECDIS, and is not intended to satisfy the SOLAS Chapter V
DOP requirement to carry a navigational chart.
Describes the error caused by the relative position
of the GPS satellites. Basically, the more signals a ENC (Electronic Navigational Chart)
GPS receiver can “see” (spread apart versus close An ENC is a Government Hydrographic Office approved
together), the more precise it can be. vector chart.
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ECDIS Glossary
from a variety of sources which is directly or IMO
indirectly spatially referenced to Earth. International Maritime Organization Import (Chart
Maintenance): A procedure of enabling the chart supplied
Geometric primitive by Base CD to be displayed on ECDIS
One of the three basic geometric units of
representation: point, line and area. Impossible Turn
Alarm at a waypoint during passage plan creation in ECDIS
GC caused by either the turn radius or speed being inapropriate
Great Circle or the distance between waypoints is too small.
H UP ISW
Head up. Own ship’s heading line is always Inter Switch unit
pointed to the top center of the radar display.
Layer
Hydrographic and Oceanographic A group of related information displayed as a whole.
Department
Hydrographic and Oceanographic Department of LAT
Japan Coast Guard. Publisher of ENC Latitude
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not located at the ship’s centre. When moving Mariner’s navigational objects
forward and turning to starboard, the ship’s Features, other than chart objects, such as the own ship
lateral movement is to port. When moving astern symbol and velocity vector, planned route, electronic
and turning to starboard, lateral movement is to bearing lines, etc from Appendix 3 of the Performance
starboard. It is important to understand where Standards for ECDIS, which are specified in IEC document
the pivot point lies and how lateral movement can 61174.
cause sideways drift, knowledge which is essential
when manoeuvring close to hazards. Mariner-added Objects
Mariner-added objects are used in passage planning to
Leg add symbols, lines and areas as a layer to highlight
Line between two consecutive waypoints information in the ENC. They provide information that
includes navigational warnings, local Notices to Mariners
LMT and relevant explanatory notes relating to the route.
Local Mean Time
MED
LON Marine Equipment Directive. Request standard for
Longitude standardization of marine equipment within the EU region
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ECDIS Glossary
Vector representation of hydrographic data in gyrocompass heading of the ship.
proprietary formats developed by private • Course-up display: based on the course or route being
companies, generally based on official HO taken.
surveys, and available for use in ECS and
CDIS only by specific license agreements Overscale
To display the chart information at a display scale larger
Non-navigable waters than the compilation scale. Overscaling may arise from a
Non-Navigable waters are a value set by the deliberate overscaling by the mariner, or from automatic
operator with the Shallow water contour. This is overscaling by ECDIS in compiling a display when the data
depicted with dark Blue colour and indicates the included is of various navigational purposes. Note: An
grounding depth (this is the depth below which indication is provided only for the partial overscale area of
the ship will go aground). the display.
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wind or other influence. The pivot point traces the PROC
path that the ship follows. PROCess. Radar signal processing function
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ECDIS Glossary
Relative vector Rubber band
A predicted movement of a target relative to own Border that indicates the selected range.
ship’s motion
Safe (Navigable) Waters Non-navigable
Report Defined by The Safety Depth/Safety Contour. These
User report to be issued periodically for using the safety values should be calculated during the planning
Dynamic License method of Jeppesen phase and entered in the ECDIS by the navigator.
continuously
s-52
RL S-52 specifies the IHO standards for chart content and
Rhumb Line display aspects of ECDIS.
RM s-57
Relative Motion. A display on which the position S-57 specifies the IHO transfer standard for digital
of own ship remains fixed, and all targets move hydrographic data.
relative to own ship.
s-63
RM(R) S-63 is the IHO data protection scheme. (This scheme is
Relative Motion. Relative Trails designed to prevent unauthorised use of data by
encrypting the ENCi nformation and restricting access to
RM(T) only those cells that a customer has been licensed to
Relative Motion. True Trails use.)
Route s-100
A sequence of waypoints and legs. S-IOO is the IHO universal hydrographic data model that
provides a contemporary hydrographic geospatial data
Route monitoring (also called voyage standard that can support a wide variety of hydrographic
related digital data sources.
monitoring)
A compulsory permanent mode which is run
concurrently with the navigation mode. The
s-101
operational navigational ECDIS function in which S-101 is a new ENC product specification. (The S-IOI
the chart information is displayed, under control Edition 1.0.0 Feature and Portrayal Catalogues are
of the positioning sensor input, according to the currently being refined by the [HO.)
vessel’s present position (either in true motion or
relative motion display mode). It ensures SA Certificate file
continuous tracking, recording, log keeping, An electronic file certifying the supplier of S-63 chart.
position relative to certain objects, position Required for import/ update of S-63 chart.
relative to route, chart display scale, and retrieval
of auxiliary sensor data. SART
Search And Rescue Transponder
Route planning
The pre-determination of course, speed, Safety Contour Value used during planning stage
waypoints and radius in relation to the waters to and Route Check function
be navigated, and in relation to other relevant Safety Contour used for planning purpose and route check
information and conditions. Note: See also leg, function may not use same value which will used during
route, voyage plan, waypoint. Monitoring/Execution stage of passage especially due to
different voyage legs (open water, coastal, in port) with
RoT different UKC requirements and other factors (HoT, vessel
Rate of turn indicator on board vessels indicates speed and squat effect…) The route check should be carried
the rate a ship is turning. It indicates the rate a out using the safety contour settings based on the lowest
ship is turning in degrees per minute (°/min) permissible UKC required for the voyage. If this results in
too many alarms, it will highlight areas on passage where
RR the Safety Contour will need to be reviewed.
Range Rings
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Safety margin in route check SOG
SAFETY MARGIN to allow CATZOC accuracy (both Speed Over the Ground
vertical and horizontal) and
GNSS accuracy accordingly, as those corrections SP
are not part of AUTO ROUTE CHECK Short Pulse
Sea state TM
The average height of the wave expressed by True Motion. A display across which the own ship and
dividing into several classes. targets move with their own true motions.
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ECDIS Glossary
Time To Go. Time to next waypoint. an own ship maneuver on all tracked targets with or without
time delay.
TXRX
Transmitter-Receiver Unit True distance
Distance on the earth’s surface, based on ellipsoid
The Shallow contour calculations.
The Shallow contour is a contour that divides the
sea area between the 0 depth and the shallow UKHO
contour value set by the operator and is therefore United Kingdom Hydrographic Office
a Non-Navigable area. This is depicted with dark
Blue colour and indicates the grounding depth Update (Chart Maintenance)
(this is the depth below which the ship will go A procedure of reflecting the update data supplied by
aground). Update CD on the imported chart.
Speed Update CD
In general, the rate of motion or distance per unit Chart CD containing the chart data updated from Base CD.
of time. When used in conjunction This can be used when Base CD data has been imported.
with ECDIS, speed could be either:
• speed of advance (SOA): speed intended to be USER CODE
made along the track; A user-specific code assigned by JRC. Required in using ARCS
• speed over ground (SOG): the speed along the and S-63 charts.
path actually followed;
• speed made good (SMG): the speed along the
course made good.
UTC
Universal Time, Coordinated
standard display See display category.
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elements required to reconstruct the navigation
and verify the official data base used during the
previous 12 hours.
VRM
Variable Range Marker
Warning
An alarm or indicator.
Waypoint
In conjunction with route planning, a geographical
location (e.g., latitude and longitude) indicating a
significant event on a vessel’s planned route (e.g.,
course alteration point, calling in point, etc.).
WOL
Wheel Over Line
WOP
Wheel Over Point
WPT
Waypoint
WPT-WPT
The division of the leg specified by two points.
Displays data between two consecutive
waypoints.
XTD/Safety Corridor
The ECDIS operator will specify the XTD on
either side of the planned track to show the
boundary of the safety corridor.
XTL
Cross Track Limit
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