ECDIS Chart Management Scheme
ECDIS can operate a variety of charts. The official charts are known as Electronic Navigation Charts (ENC) and Admiralty Raster Chart Service (ARCS) . The charts are made and distributed by the hydrographic offices through a distribution network and the vessel has to subscribe to the chart service. ENC are vector charts, which are provided in the S-57 format. ARCS charts are raster charts and can be considered as being a scanned paper chart. All flag registers accept ENC charts, which is not the case with ARCS charts. You, therefore, have to check with your flag register on what charts they accept. Many ECDIS can, in addition to the official chart materials, operate private charts, which do not comply with the carriage requirement set out by IMO. The private charts are often provided in the official S-57 format. Please consult your flag register and your chart supplier when you select your electronic charts.
FEA-2107/FEA-2807
ENC
RNC
FMD-3200/FMD-3300
Electronic Navigational Chart
Raster Navigational Chart
Glossary for Electronic Charts to be used with ECDIS
| ENC | Electronic Navigational Chart: Official vector chart containing a database of individual geo-referenced objects taken from Hydrographic Offices' documentations and record, inclusive of paper charts. It is issued for use with ECDIS on the authority of national hydrographic offices. |
|---|---|
| RNC | Raster Navigational Chart: Digital copies of paper charts complying with IHO S-61 Product Specifications for Raster Navigational Chart, authorised by national hydrographic offices. Some flag states allow RNC to be used for back-up purposes in the areas not covered by ENC. |
| SENC | System Electronic Navigational Chart: ENC dataset converted into the system language of the ECDIS, which facilitates rapid chart drawing of the ENC data on the ECDIS. |
| S-57 | ENC Chart data format defined by IHO Transfer Standard for Digital Hydrographic Data |
| S-52 | IHO defined symbols and colors for chart presentation |
| S-63 | IHO Data protection (encryption) scheme for ENC against unauthorised amendment or illegal copying |
| CM-93 Edition 3 |
Distribution format for C-MAP electronic charts intended to be used in ECDIS and similar systems. |
