Why Ships are Supposed to have Navigation System Onboard for Safe Navigation?

Posted by Harry Voges on May 7th, 2018

Electronic charts and integrated navigation systems are vital to the safe sea navigation. No other approach can be as significant as the sound and secure navigation system can be for the resurrection of the problem of losses due to the accidents happened because of misguided navigation. In general, the principal purpose of the marine software and electronic charts and integrated navigation system is to enhance the safety of navigation. The safe navigation can further reduce the cost, both to shipping firms and society and minimize the casualties in the commercial shipping. The digital charts are the computer-operated navigation systems that have replaced the traditional paper charts as they are easier to access and smart in operation.

More than thousands of tank and cargo ships make their way into and out of the ports and harbors of a nation having tons of load on them. And, they all varying a load of cargo and people carry a great significance for the economies of the nations. More than 90 percent of the foreign trade and petroleum consumption is carried out through ships; thus, safe sea navigation becomes an indispensable thing to maintain ensuring safety of the human, financial and economic resources.

Though there are various other key reasons for accidents, e.g., groundings, ramming, and collision that occur in the mid of water bodies, the unsafe navigation is the most prominent. This is, in fact, none other than the insecure and unsafe sea navigation. The traditional paper charts that have currently been replaced by the conventional digital navigation systems were not quite functional when it comes to ensuring safety in the mod of oceans. The new-age digital navigation technology and the marine software are handy and accessible helping us reduce the losses by preventing the accidents.

The Digital Navigation Systems are Responsive and Accurate
With the support of Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS), the navigation officers can plan the passage more readily than the paper charts. Almost all the ECDIS units are equipped with the technical features that can allow the officers to operate it manually as well. Though the information it caters is quite accurate, the manual inputs can also be made in a bizarre situation.

ECDIS can Help with Continuous Monitoring
The biggest advantage of the ECDIS units over paper chart navigation is that the digital system enables the navigation officers to monitor the real-time position of the ship without making any manual input. The independent GPS transceivers installed within the navigation system makes it easier to access the current position of the ships.

Author’s Bio: The author is an avid writer. The article is about the safe sea navigation.

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Harry Voges

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Harry Voges
Joined: April 6th, 2017
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