E-navigation is to make shipping of the future safer 

E-navigation is to make shipping of the future safer

It has become more difficult to be a navigator. The technique gets still more complex and varies from one ship to another, the number of rules has increased, and the navigator is to perform more tasks. A new navigational concept is intended to remedy the problems.

The Danish Maritime Authority has, for a rather long time, taken part in the international work paving the way for a renewal of navigation in the shipping industry. The name is e-navigation. The concept is to help improve safety at sea and reduce the burdens imposed on navigators.

E-navigation is not only about new technology, but focuses just as much on attaining common standards and rules. The long-term purpose of e-navigation is to reduce the number of tasks to be carried out by the navigator when bringing a ship from one port to another and, thereby, to prevent hazardous situations or accidents as such.

The work on e-navigation focuses on three areas:

On board: the navigational systems must be easy to use for the navigator – and he must have the best possible overview without overburdening or disturbing the watch-keeping personnel.

Ashore: shore-based services such as ship reporting systems and weather forecasts must be optimised through improved coordination and data exchange. In this way, it is easier for shore-based services to support shipping.

Communication: focus must be on the automatic exchange of information between ships, between ship and shore and between the authorities ashore.

Implementation plan ready in 2012

Many countries take part in and support the work on e-navigation. The United Nations’ International Maritime Organization (IMO) aims at having an implementation plan ready in 2012.

The work on e-navigation is coordinated by the Sub-Committee on Safety of Navigation (NAV), but includes several other sub-committees. Furthermore, a number of international organisations have been invited to take part in the work.