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During the past three decades, the Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS) evolved from its initial purpose to a complex navigation support tool. The transition from paper to electronic charts represents a substantial step in navigation, contributing to the reduction of the navigator's workload, ease of execution of navigational tasks and integrated information and data fusion. In the system handling, Masters and Officers of the Watch (OOWs) are experiencing various issues ranging in their nature. The proposed paper represents a segment of a systematically carried out research among ECDIS stakeholders. The aim of the ECDIS EHO (Experience, Handling and Opinion) research is the development of an educational framework and the improvement of the Maritime Education and Training (MET) processes. This is to be achieved through a specific approach, proper communication and subtle educational, practical and research activities that have developed through time and research segments accomplishment, always striving at the user-centred, often neglected issues and their solving. The research methodology has been described in the respective chapter, together with the questionnaire which represents one of the main research tools. This segment of the research refers to opinions and attitudes of Masters and OOWs towards ECDIS mandatory implementation period completion, as collected from the ECDIS EHO questionnaire. The answers to the questions regarding the system role as a justified replacement of paper charts and the features of the means of navigation when compared with another have been categorised and discussed. Individual knowledge has been examined concerning new technology perception and understanding of the ECDIS system. The analyses and answers processing and accompanying comments have revealed certain illogicalities referring to the acceptance of the system as a mandatory, primary and often only, means of navigation. The level of acceptance and opinions regarding two means of navigation features have differed among respondents, irrespectively of their seagoing experience, navigational rank, ECDIS experience and the level of education. The analyses have revealed the need for the adaptation of ECDIS Education and Training to a particular navigational rank regarding engagement with the system. A new approach of the targeting methodology has been introduced and conducted. Critical groups of respondents have been identified and elaborated further. The research has resulted in the organisation of a new ECDIS MET course at the Faculty of Maritime Studies of the University of Rijeka. Considering the obtained results and the ongoing system development, findings and solutions have been presented in the conclusion chapter, together with the means of their achievements and the further work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global maritime digitalization reflects on navigation and paperless vessels with Paper Navigational Charts (PNC) nowadays superseded by Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS). Considering the system implementation and its acceptance as a sole navigational means, opinions of navigators differ. Although the ECDIS mandatory implementation ended in 2018, some navigators have been still favouring PNCs, pointing out their advantages over ECDIS navigation. These standpoints may have an impact on the safety of navigation in terms of acceptance, interpretation, and understanding of the system as well as on conflict of standpoints of decisive navigational ranks, the latter reason being found as one of the real problems. The presented study has focused on a specific period, soon after the transitional period completion, aiming to determine the views of traditional navigation advocates, their arguments in the present maritime navigation paperless era and to identify potential problems emerging from the conflict of two navigational means. The research has induced two independent, internationally distributed questionnaires, dedicated to navigational ranks. The first survey has referred to the period from 2012 to 2018, marking the transition to ECDIS navigation. The second survey was conducted after the implementation period completion date. The answers were analysed and discussed from the navigational ranks’ perspective, considering their competitiveness and the level of ECDIS education. The research results have indicated and confirmed that PNCs could not entirely be ruled out, at least at this stage. Besides definitive questionnaire answers, the findings have been supported with categorised comments as interpreted from the first survey questionnaire results. The paper aims to present the future of the PNCs, including possibilities of fusion with modern means. The proposed suggestions have been directed towards the benefits of maritime navigation safety, referring especially to disagreement between navigational ranks in terms of particular means acceptance.

The transitional period of implementation of the Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS) expired on July 1st, 2018. As for this date onward, vessels of 3000 GT or more subject to the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention and engaged in international voyages, must be fitted with an official ECDIS system. The Convention furthermore requires mandatory possession of navigational equipment as an adequate back-up. In case that independent system is used for this purpose, there is no further obligation for a vessel to possess traditional paper navigational charts and it can be considered as paperless. Beside paper charts, this term also implies digital nautical publications and probably an electronic ship's log in the foreseeable future. The interpretation of ECDIS differs considering particular rank of an Officer of the Watch (OOW) and its engagement towards the system. The system should be accepted by OOWs as true end-users. The proposed paper elaborates opinions and standpoints of decisive end-users towards the system, its role as a primary navigational means, and the fact that traditional navigation conduct is replaced by digital means. For this purpose a survey between OOWs was conducted focusing on their answers to respective questions. The sample size allowed for the observation of opinions over several years and the definition of the ECDIS acceptance level. Results are presented and discussed together with proposals of new activities which have to be carried out to improve the safety of navigation by the ECDIS system and its further development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global maritime digitalization reflects on navigation and paperless vessels with Paper Navigational Charts (PNC) nowadays superseded by Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS). Considering the system implementation and its acceptance as a sole navigational means, opinions of navigators differ. Although the ECDIS mandatory implementation ended in 2018, some navigators have been still favouring PNCs, pointing out their advantages over ECDIS navigation. These standpoints may have an impact on the safety of navigation in terms of acceptance, interpretation, and understanding of the system as well as on conflict of standpoints of decisive navigational ranks, the latter reason being found as one of the real problems. The presented study has focused on a specific period, soon after the transitional period completion, aiming to determine the views of traditional navigation advocates, their arguments in the present maritime navigation paperless era and to identify potential problems emerging from the conflict of two navigational means. The research has induced two independent, internationally distributed questionnaires, dedicated to navigational ranks. The first survey has referred to the period from 2012 to 2018, marking the transition to ECDIS navigation. The second survey was conducted after the implementation period completion date. The answers were analysed and discussed from the navigational ranks' perspective, considering their competitiveness and the level of ECDIS education. The research results have indicated and confirmed that PNCs could not entirely be ruled out, at least at this stage. Besides definitive questionnaire answers, the findings have been supported with categorised comments as interpreted from the first survey questionnaire results. The paper aims to present the future of the PNCs, including possibilities of fusion with modern means. The proposed suggestions have been directed towards the benefits of maritime navigation safety, referring especially to disagreement between navigational ranks in terms of particular means acceptance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]