UKHO ECDIS Service

The Admiralty ECDIS Service is the first global system of navigation combining official vector charts with official raster charts that is safe, accurate and easy to manage from UKHO with their unrivalled reputation for quality and excellence.

Electronic Navigational Charts used in the ECDIS system are the most advanced nautical charts available in vector format using data from IC ENC and Primar; they are issued only on the authority of a national hydrographic office, and provide the most comprehensive and current chart information available.

The other component, Admiralty Raster Charts or ARCS are high quality, digital versions of the world renowned British Admiralty series of paper charts. They are widely used by the commercial shipping industry and comply with the exacting Raster Navigational Chart (RNC) performance standards set by the IMO which mandates that ARCS can be used with Flag State approval, for primary navigation where ENC’s are not yet available. Moreover ARCS is also a preferred chart for planning purposes.

The UKHO compares both coverage and scale of ARCS charts with all newly released ENCs and automatically replaces ARCS with new ENCs as their coverage increases, eliminating the apprehension of unpredictable pricing or the burden of heavy administration associated with use of ENCs.

The ENCs used in the Admiralty ECDIS Service meet SOLAS carriage requirements when kept up to date and used within an ECDIS with suitable back up. They are 100% official.

Regulations governing the use of ENCs and ECDIS

IMO SOLAS Chapter V, Regulation 19, 2.1.5

All ships irrespective of size shall have nautical charts and nautical publications to plan and display the ship’s route for the intended voyage and to plot and monitor positions throughout the voyage; an electronic chart display and information system (ECDIS) may be accepted as meeting the chart carriage requirements of this sub paragraph.

IMO resolution MSC.86(70) permits ECDIS equipment to operate in a Raster Chart Display System (RCDS) mode in the absence of Electronic Navigational Charts (ENC). However when operating in the RCDS mode, ECDIS should be used together with an appropriate folio of up-to-date paper charts. IHO Product Specification for RNC, Foreword.

The Benefits of UKHO ECDIS Service:

• Seamless worldwide coverage over 38 geographical areas.
• The first global service to provide a compliant combination of ENCs and ARCS as a single package so shipping companies can take full advantage of a superior advanced product like ENC while the coverage is still growing.
• 100% official data providing the most accurate and safest chart information available.
• Fixed Annual Cost – contributes to financial stability. No cost duplication.
• New ENCs automatically supplied as they become available and at no extra cost to keep your customers SOLAS compliant at no additional cost.
• All ENCs and ARCS charts continuously updated via the Admiralty weekly update service through the Update Cds. Updates include all Notices to Mariners, New Editions, Replacement Charts and Temporary and Preliminary Notices for all charts ensuring maximum safety.
• Peace of Mind: Unrivalled chart accuracy allows you to navigate safely and with confidence.
• Flexibility: Every Admiralty ECDIS Service customer is provided with a complete set of Base disks containing every ENC and ARCS chart available within the service. Access is provided by special folio 'unlock' (permit) keys, allowing you to carry global coverage whilst only paying for the level of folio coverage you require. Significantly, this allows the flexibility to upgrade coverage during a licence period.

Global Electronic Chart Coverage in the Admiralty ECDIS Service

ENC coverage is expanding rapidly and already the ECDIS service includes ENC coverage from the following countries together with all available ARCS charts.

ENC coverage is continuously growing and we will continue to keep you updated as coverage improves. Please note that ARCS coverage is now available in all areas other than Japanese, Ecuadorian and larger scales in Malaysian waters.

Geographic Areas

Chart coverage in the ECDIS service is provided in 38 geographic areas - each geographic area containing ENCs, where available, together with comprehensive ARCS coverage. The geographic areas have been designed to simplify both the ordering process and pricing of the new service, whilst minimising the number of ENCs and ARCS charts the shipping company must purchase.

Hyperlink Digital Catalogue.

Operational Folios.

Within each area there are up to three separate levels of chart coverage for ease of selection, use and cost effective flexibility.

1. The Transit Folio contains the ENCs and ARCS charts required for safe transit through a geographic area, including principal ports, primary routes, bunkering ports and ports of refuge and excluding all other charts.
2. The Standard Folio contains the ENCs and ARCS charts required for operational use, including all key ports and approach charts in that geographical area. Remote anchorages, ports of less than 10 meters in depth, naval bases, ports where port calls are few, bulk cargo only ports, low throughput container ports, very small crude oil loading ports and low volume oil product ports are all excluded.
3. The Full Folio contains all ENCs and ARCS charts available for the geographic area.

These folio categories have been designed to appeal to passenger liners, container ships, crude oil tankers, product tankers, chemical carriers, gas carriers and all ferries. It is anticipated that these folios will not be as well suited to naval vessels, non-SOLAS tonnage, bulk carriers, coastal traders or pleasure craft.

The ENC content in each folio is increasing rapidly as the UKHO actively seeks to extend coverage through close cooperation with other official producers of ENCs. With growing coverage there has been a 20% price increase in the price of Folios as stated here.

Additional Folios purchased during the licence period are charged at the following rates: