Draft regulations to make mandatory the carriage of Electronic Chart Display and Information Systems (ECDIS) and Bridge Navigational Watch Alarm System (BNWAS), under SOLAS chapter V Safety of Navigation, were agreed by the Sub-Committee on Safety of Navigation (NAV) when it met for its, 54th session. The proposed new regulations will be submitted to the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) for approval at its 85th session in November-December 2008, with a view to adoption by MSC 86 in May 2009.

ECDIS carriage requirements
The draft amendment to SOLAS regulation V/19 would require ships engaged on international voyages to be fitted with ECDIS according to the following timetable (the dates in square brackets were agreed in principle by the Sub-Committee):

• passenger ships of 500 gross tonnage and upwards constructed on or after a proposed date of [1 July 2012];
• tankers of 3,000 gross tonnage and upwards constructed on or after a proposed date of [1 July 2012];
• cargo ships, other than tankers, of 10,000 gross tonnage and upwards constructed on or after a proposed date of [1 July 2013];
• cargo ships, other than tankers, of 3,000 gross tonnage and upwards but less than 10,000 gross tonnage constructed on or after a proposed date of [1 July 2014];
• passenger ships of 500 gross tonnage and upwards constructed before [1 July 2012], not later than the first survey on or after a proposed date of [1 July 2014];
• tankers of 3,000 gross tonnage and upwards constructed before [1 July 2012], not later than the first survey on or after a proposed date of [1 July 2015];
• cargo ships, other than tankers, of 50,000 gross tonnage and upwards constructed before [1 July 2013], not later than the first survey on or after a proposed date of [1 July 2016];
• cargo ships, other than tankers, of 20,000 gross tonnage and upwards but less than 50,000 gross tonnage constructed before [1 July 2013], not later than the first survey on or after a proposed date of [1 July 2017];
• cargo ships, other than tankers, of 10,000 gross tonnage and upwards but less than 20,000 gross tonnage constructed before [1 July 2013], not later than the first survey on or after a proposed date of [1 July 2018].

Administrations may exempt ships from the application of the requirements when such ships will be taken permanently out of service within two years after the implementation date specified.

The Sub-Committee also agreed on an amendment of existing regulation V/19.2.1.4 to reflect that ECDIS is an acceptable alternative to nautical charts and nautical publications, yet retaining the proviso that in a number of cases (for example ships not on international voyages, ships exempt from the carriage requirements because they were to be taken out of service permanently and cargo ships on international voyages but below the agreed tonnage limit), it could be appropriate to use only nautical charts and nautical publications.

To assist shipowners and operators in the implementation of the new requirement, the Sub-Committee agreed a draft SN/Circular on Transitioning from paper chart to electronic chart display and information systems (ECDIS) navigation.

The Sub-Committee also noted progress made in the availability of electronic navigational charts, a prerequisite for introducing mandatory ECDIS carriage requirements.

Bridge navigational watch alarm system regulation
The draft amendment to SOLAS regulation V/19 will require carriage of a BNWAS, complying with IMO performance standards, on ships of 150 gross tonnage and upwards and passenger ships irrespective of size, with a phased carriage requirement for existing ships, as follows (the dates in square brackets were agreed in principle by the Sub-Committee):

• ships of 150 gross tonnage and upwards and passenger ships irrespective of size constructed on or after [1 July 2011];
• passenger ships irrespective of size constructed before [1 July 2011], not later than the first survey after [1 July 2012];
• ships of 3,000 gross tonnage and upwards constructed before [1 July 2011], not later than the first survey after [1 July 2012];
• ships, of 500 gross tonnage and upwards but less than 3,000 gross tonnage, constructed before [1 July 2011], not later than the first survey after [1 July 2013];
• ships, of 150 gross tonnage and upwards but less than 500 gross tonnage constructed before [1 July 2011], not later than the first survey after [1 July 2014].

The bridge navigational watch alarm system is required to be in operation whenever the ship is underway at sea.

E-navigation strategy completed
The Sub-Committee agreed a draft strategy for the development and implementation of e-navigation, including a draft framework for the implementation process for the e-navigation strategy along with a timeframe, for submission to MSC 85, with a view to approval together with a policy decision on its implementation.

The draft strategy defines e-navigation as the harmonized collection, integration, exchange, presentation and analysis of marine information onboard and ashore by electronic means to enhance berth to berth navigation and related services for safety and security at sea and protection of the marine environment.

A comprehensive overview of e-navigation elements and objectives is given, along with proposals for its implementation. The implementation plan for e-navigation should include:

• transition planning, taking into account the phasing needed to deliver early benefits and to make the optimum use of existing systems and services in the short term. The implementation plan should be phased such that the first phase can be achieved by fully integrating and standardizing existing technology and systems (the reduced architecture identified during the gap analysis) and using a reduced concept of operations. Subsequent phases should develop and implement any new technology that is required to deliver the preferred architecture and implement the overall concept of operations;
• identification of potential sources of funding for development and implementation, particularly for developing regions and countries and taking actions to secure that funding; and
• implementation itself, in phases, perhaps based on a voluntary equipage of (integrated) existing systems to begin with, but with mandatory equipage and use of a full e-navigation solution in the longer term.

The final phase of the iterative implementation programme would be to review, lessons learned and re-plan the subsequent phases of the plan, bearing in mind the fact that e navigation is not a static concept, and that development of logical implementation phases will be ongoing as user requirements evolve and also as technology develops enabling more efficient and effective systems.

One annex provides a list of existing components of e-navigation, i.e. existing navigation and radiocommunication equipment, which need to be evaluated in order to explain how they could be implemented in the e-navigation strategy or how it or the associated standards might need to be amended before it can be integrated. Other annexes give a list of responsibilities for ownership and control of the e-navigation concept and preliminary lists of e-navigation users classified into shipborne users and shore-based users.

The proposed time line for implementation of the e-navigation strategy foresees:

• by 2009 - identify initial user needs, review them and prioritize them;
• by 2009 - coordinated review of system architecture, which should include the hardware, data, information, communications technology and software needed to meet the user needs. The review should be completed by 2010;
• by 2010 - complete initial gap analyses. A preliminary gap analysis has already been started by the Sub-Committee. Taking into account the human element throughout the process, further gap analyses should focus on technical, regulatory, operational and training aspects;
• by 2011 - complete cost-benefit and risk analyses, which should be used to support strategic decisions as and when certain functions need to be enabled. The analyses should address financial and economic aspects as well as assess the impact on safety, security and the environment;
• 2012 - implementation of the e-navigation plan could begin in 2012 and should include identification of responsibilities of the appropriate organizations/parties; transition planning; and a phased implementation schedule along with possible roadmaps to clarify common understanding necessary for implementation.

General Provisions on Ships' Routeing amendments agreed
Amendments to the General Provisions on Ships' Routeing were agreed, to align them with the specifications for routeing measures boundary symbology and charting of archipelagic sea lanes adopted by the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO). The draft amendments will be submitted to the MSC for adoption, subject to confirmation by the Assembly.

Ships' routeing and ship reporting measures approved
The Sub-Committee approved the following new and amended ships' routeing and ship reporting measures for submission to the MSC for adoption:

Traffic separation schemes (TSSs)

• new traffic separation scheme "In the Approaches to the port of Thessaloniki" (Greece);
• new traffic separation schemes, "North Åland Sea", and "South Åland Sea" (Finland and Sweden);
• new traffic separation scheme "In Liverpool Bay" (United Kingdom);
• amendments to the north-south leg of the existing traffic separation scheme "In the approach to Boston, Massachusetts" (United States);
• amended traffic separation scheme "Off Land's End, between Seven Stones and Longships" (United Kingdom);
• amended traffic separation scheme "In the approaches to the River Humber" (United Kingdom);
• amended traffic separation scheme "At Hatter Barn" (Denmark).

Routeing measures other than traffic separation schemes (TSSs)

• new recommendatory seasonal Area to be Avoided "In the Great South Channel" (United States);
• new Area to be Avoided and two mandatory No Anchoring Areas in the vicinity of the proposed "Excelerate Northeast Gateway Energy Bridge Deepwater Port" (United States), which has still to be built;
• new deep-water routes inside the borders of the "North Åland Sea" and "South Åland" TSSs;
• new two-way route leading to the "Åland Sea" (Finland and Sweden);
• new Area to Be Avoided "In Liverpool Bay" (United Kingdom).

Mandatory ship reporting systems

• new mandatory ship reporting system "Off the Coast of Portugal - COPREP";
• amendments to the existing ship reporting system for the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument, "CORAL SHIPREP" (United States).

Guidelines for Integrated Bridge Systems (IBS)
Draft guidelines for Integrated Bridge Systems (IBS) and draft performance standards for bridge alert management were reviewed and the Sub-Committee agreed to broaden the scope of the proposed guidelines to Guidelines for bridge equipment and systems, their arrangement and integration. A correspondence group was re-established to finalize the draft guidelines and draft performance standards for submission to the next session, and to liaise with the Sub-Committee on Ship Design and Equipment (DE) to ensure consistent treatment of alerts, including alarms and indicators.

Meanwhile, the Sub-committee agreed a draft SN/Circular on guidelines for the application of the modular concept to performance standards, which are intended to assist in the consistent and logically structured drafting of new and revised performance standards for systems and equipment according to the modular concept. With the modular concept, operational/functional and sensor/source modules are specified, allowing clear separation between operational requirements for the task orientated use and presentation of information on equipment and systems, and between the sensor specific technical performance requirements.

Assuring safety during demonstrations on the high seas
The Sub-Committee agreed a provisional draft MSC resolution on Assuring safety during demonstrations on the high seas, as a work in progress, and invited the Sub Committee on Flag State Implementation (FSI) to consider the text for advice, so it can be finalized at NAV 55 in 2009.

Pilot transfer arrangements
A correspondence group was established to develop amendments to SOLAS regulation V/23 and resolution A.889(21) on Pilot transfer arrangements, to improve the safety aspects for pilot transfer. The correspondence group will present an interim report to DE 52 and itis expected that the issue will be reviewed again at NAV 55.

Impact of revised MARPOL Annex II on guidelines for AIS shipborne installations
The Sub-Committee agreed an amendment to annex 2 (type of ship table) of the Guidelines for the installation of a Shipborne Automatic Identification System (AIS) (SN/Circ.227), to reflect the entry into force, on 1 January 2007, of the Revised Annex II of MARPOL 73/78, including the change in the categorization and listing of Noxious Liquid Substances and other substances. Taking into account the fact that the number of categories to be reported remained the same, the Sub-Committee agreed that as a cargo re-evaluation had led to a substantive change from an operational perspective, there was a need to make users aware that the categories nomenclature A, B, C and D had been changed to X, Y, Z and OS.

New symbol for AIS-SART
The Sub-Committee agreed a presentation symbol for an AIS Search and Rescue Transmitter (AIS-SART), including an amendment to SN/Circ.243 for approval by MSC 85.

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