The Performance of Navi-Sailor 3000 Electronic Chart Display and Information System - Assignment Example

?Introduction Rationale and Objectives Primary rationale for this project is to access and evaluate the fitness for purpose of the Transas Navi-Sailor 3000 ECDIS. Primary objectives of this project are: To furnish an appraisal for the potential and capability of the software To formulate a detailed passage plan from Southampton to Liverpool To discuss the user friendliness during operation To suggest improvements Background Electronic charts are navigational tools which serve the purpose of maritime navigation safety. These real-time navigation systems increase the efficiency of maritime navigation by integrating diverse information. From two types of electronic charts, Electronic Chart display and Information System (ECDIS) and Electronic Chart System (ECS), ECDIS is state-of-the-art electronic chart (Xiaoxia & Chaohua, 2002). An electronic chart is ECIDIS only if it adheres to the performance standards authorized by International Maritime Organization (IMO).Basic measure of IMO standard is; feature assessment, and functions for a safe utility to serve the navigation purpose (IMO, 1995).With integrated Global Positioning System (GPS), ECDIS assist and enhance navigation performance by automatically determining the position (Gould et al.2009).In this way locating position becomes a simplified task, however, according to Sauer et al. (2002)the system monitoring requirement increases with ECDIS. But ECDIS has got edge which can not be ignored. Its most important advantage is designing and monitoring. Route designing was manually done in past, ECDIS made it much easier and the process more efficient. Moreover, manual designing can damage the chart and can hide important description on the chart (Yu-xin et al. 2004). 2.1.The basic purpose of Transas Navi-Sailor 3000 ECDIS Navi-Sailor 3000 provides the navigator with all the information from different navigational sensors presented in electronic navigational chart. All the information provided at on chart assist in ensuring a safe passage. Route planning functionality is enhanced by different functions and integrations (ZORA, 2009).According to TRANSAS (2009), Navi-Sailor 3000 is developed to not only meet SOLAS convention but also to meet the requirement of IMO resolution to be implemented in all commercial vessels and Military ships. 2.2. Feature Appraisal of Navi-Sailor 3000 Software Navi-Sailor 3000 ECDIS assist the navigator in understanding marine environment by numerous functions and features. Nearly all the features that ensure safe navigation are available by the software, for instance, beacons, buoys, lighthouses, areas, and dangerous objects. Some of the functions used are: Positioning Route planning and monitoring Alarms Electronic log and Playback Function ECDIS and Navi-Sailor 3000 Integration 2.2.1. Positioning The system is fully prepared to assist the navigator by providing all the essential information. Current ship position and motion vector is displayed at top position as shown in figure 1.In addition, radar/ARPA information and AIS data is also obtained from this system. Furthermore, Navi-Sailor 3000 also provides a feature of ship contour display according to parameters and chart scale. Additional date is obtained from system’s navigational sensors. Figure 1: Current ship position (TRANSAS, 2009) 2.2.2 Route planning and monitoring Through route planning feature, Navi-Sailor 3000 ECDIS provide; geographical data, such as course and waypoints, scheduled information, such as, estimated time of arrival and departure, and average speed, weather calculations and other updated information. In addition to route planning function, ‘Check Route’ function is also available. It enables route checking from threats to navigation. There are customization options to set the mode by user according to varying safety contours and depth. Planned route can also be checked and amended simultaneously. In addition to route planning and checking, planned route can also be monitored by Navi-Sailor 3000 ECDIS. The monitoring includes continuous display of ship position and motion vector and the ship position in comparison to the plotted route. The ship position is also monitored for threatening objects in chart. It also enables additional route features, such as, cross track error (XTE), Arrival Circle, and Turning Radius. 2.2.3. Alarms Primary objective of this feature is to warn the navigator from safety hazards. The alarms are set according to safety parameters verified by navigator. Navi-Sailor 3000 system has developed major groups of alarms (Aquamarine, 2009) which include: Radar/Targets (CPA/TCPA) Anti-grounding, such as, approaching threat Chart areas Network Sensors Route, such as, ship’s diversion from route 2.2.4. Electronic log and Playback Function In addition to navigational data and charts, information input by navigator, such as, route planning, alarms, and monitoring details are automatically recorded in electronic ship logbook. The recorded information is utilized in playback function which is used to analyse post-voyage details and finally evaluate own ship route and movement parameters, target ship tracks obtained from ARIPA, AIS, and RIB, and radar image replay. 2.2.4. ECDIS and Navi-Sailor 3000 Integration Navi-Sailor 3000 is enabled to incorporate information from Navtex system. Navtex system supplies the message and Navi-Sailor 3000 save the message on disk and alerts the navigator by alarm and message display on electronic chart. The software is also integrated with SPOS (Weather and Route Planning Tool).This integration enables the navigator to obtain weather forecast from Metoffice and to display it on electronic chart instantly (Figure 2). Figure 2: SPOS integration (TRANSAS, 2009) Furthermore, the software can also integrate with AIS that enables it to provide screen display of complete information about target, speedy research for targets by name and other information(such as IMO number),and communication with other objects of AIS system. 3. Methodology A detailed passage plan from Southampton to Liverpool is used as scenario to test and evaluate the software potential. The detailed plan is composed by processing Electronic Navigation Charts (ENCs). Below is a detailed tutorial for creating a passage plan. 3.1. Passage Plan Creation In order to change the chart to ENCs, the following steps should be taken: Go to start, all programs, and then switch on the ‘System Configuration Utility’ by clicking on Navi-Sailor 3000 ECDIS – I (Figure 3). Figure 3: Menu to switch on ‘System Configuration Utility’ By clicking on ‘System Configuration Utility’, there will appear a box (Figure 4).Switch to ‘service’ tab and then click on ‘General Setting’ Figure 4: System Configuration Utility Now, in service general setting, switch to ‘Advanced Database’. Check ENC and click ‘apply’ and then ‘ok’ (Figure 5). Figure 5: Service General Settings Switch on the `Navi-Sailor 3000 ECDIS- I from stat menu (Figure 6) Figure 6: ECDIS software, start menu Now, open the task list and select the desired task, such as Monitoring or Route (Figure 7). Figure 7: Task list Task will appear in separate pages of main window which enables the navigator to switch from one task to another if needed (Figure 8). Figure 8: Task tabs After selecting the monitoring task from tabs shown in figure 8, the appearing page is shown in figure 9 below. Figure 9: Monitoring page in ECDIS software Ship position displayed in figure 4 can be altered either by using trackball to design position on chart or by entering the coordinate in the red box (figure 4). Top tabs are used to switch the panel from “Monitoring” to Navigational Alarms” and others In order to edit safety information in chart, Select ‘Navigational Alarm’, the page shown in figure 10 will appear. Figure 10: Monitoring page The above figure explains the adjustment of safety depth (draught and safety) and safety contour. Larger charts can be obtained by adjusting the scale from previous page. Alarm can also be selected from ‘Area Alarm’ conveniently. Route Creation For route creation, select ‘Route’ from the task list (Figure 11).A page will appear as shown in Figure 12. Figure 11: Select ‘Route’ Figure 12:’Route’ page Click on ‘New’ and activate the ‘Route’ function .Now click on the ‘WP Editor’ in ‘Route’ panel and left click in order to draw the Starting WP. ‘’ is used to symbolise the WP.Then,click the left mouse button and drag it to create next WP(Figure 13). Figure 13: Route page WP’s information will be arranges as shown in red box of the above figure. Navigator can control the view of all information through ‘Extra’ panels (Figure 14). Figure 14: ‘Extra’ panel in ‘Route’ page Navigator can check the route for all the approaching threats by switching to ‘Check’ tab on ‘Route’ page (Figure 15). Figure 15: Hazard check The above diagram shows 44 alarms. Navigator can check the detailed reason for each alarm one by one through ‘Show on chart’ panel. Dangerous zone is represented in red circle in the figure 16 below. Figure 16: Danger zone’s exact position in red circle on ECDIS display In order to maintain safety and minimize alarm, route can be edited. After completing route checking (figure 17) click on the ‘save’ tab on top of ‘Route’ page (figure 18). Figure 17: Route checking complete Figure 18: Save option 3.2. Selected Vessel Information Ship name Seiner Displacement 1034 T Breadth 9.8 m Depth 8.0 m Draft 3.9 m LOA in full load 54.7 m LBp in full load 47.5 m Main Engine Type Diesel Table 1: vessel description (Manoeuvring Booklet, 2005) Figure 19: Turing circles in deep and shallow water (Manoeuvring Booklet, 2005) 3.3. Below (table 2) is a list of charts used during the route planning Waypoints (wp) Chart number From the starting point (Southampton Empress Dock) to wp 3 gb50242j From wp 3 to 10 gb50242v Wp 10 gb40242b From wp 10 to 15 gb4024c Wp 15 gb302420 From wp 15 to 16 gb202400 From wp 16 to 17 gb202200 From wp 17 to 18 gb301840 From wp 18 to 19 gb301820 From wp 19 to 20 gb301860 Wp 20 gb201600 Wp 21 gb308480 Wp 22 gb308460, gb208400, gb308420, From wp 22 to 23 gb308280 From wp 23 to 24 gb40806 From Wp 25 to 28 gb308260 Liverpool Gladstone Dock gb40826 c Liverpool Gladstone Dock gb50826 e 3.4. Navi-Sailor 3000 features According to Austin (2003), main features of Navi-Sailor 3000 are given below (table 3). System Features Advanced Features HTML Help Application Use of the world-collection of Transas TX-97 charts User configurable GUI Radar Overlay Multiunits support (Distance, Speed, Wind, Depths and Heights, Temperature) Comprehensive Route Planning Screen resolution: 1280x 1024, 1024 x 768 Integrated Navtex information Integrated weather information UAIS Interface User-adjustable interface Table 3: Navi-Sailor 3000 Navigation tools Chart related features Alarms Chart formats Antigrounding Vector ENC (S-52 presentation) Sensors vector TX-97 Route raster ARCS Network raster BSB/NDI Radar/Targets (CPA/TCPA) raster Seafarer Chart Areas Manual update Others "professional" level (colors) Ship's motion data user's charts (colors) ERBL Chart orientation (North Up, Head Up, Course Up) True/ relative motion INFO Split screen (2 chart panels) Chart control: layers control, auto load, auto scale, auto scroll, zoom, chart formats priority (ARCS/ECS) Mob 6 colour palettes Multi-chart loading (up to 6) Table 4 Navigational Database Sensors Tides and tidal currents Positioning Seasonal currents Primary positioning Weather forecast chart overlay Secondary positioning Display of RMS position error dependent on sensor ARPA interface (Input/ Output) ARPA (2nd ARPA) interface Echo sounder interface Output navigational data autopilot data current course segment transmission Gyrocompass Magnetic compass interface Speed Log Wind interface Drift calculation Temperature Yeoman digitizer Table 5 4. Analysis and Evaluation of user friendliness Navi-Sailor 3000 ECDIS is a valuable navigational tool that can be very productive for ensuring maritime navigation safety. In addition to fulfilling SOLAS convention and IMO resolution requirements, aims and objectives of TRANSAS Company behind developing this software are also successfully achieved. Analysis and evolution in this test scenario revealed numerous benefits as well as some limitations of the software. The evaluation parameters are author defined and include; positioning, route planning and monitoring, and alarms. 4.1. Positioning Positioning feature’s performance is reasonably acceptable. Perfect accuracy of positioning is hindered by few errors. TRANSAS Company and users both take account of the problems associated with Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), for instance, GPS availability and accuracy. There should be a recommended back up action for the instances when GNSS accuracy is compromised. It is vital to monitor the system to keep a check on errors. 4.2. Route Planning and Monitoring The Navi-Sailor 3000 ECDIS is unique and productive in comparison to the paper chart. It provided all the essential information for route planning, for instance, average speed, waypoints, ETD, and ETA. It is efficient and decreases the tie and work involved in route planning and checking. Contrary to paper charts, waypoints and other details are easily edited without damaging the details. However, it is important to notify the user that route creation may not be easier and take more time for the beginners. The process is explained in user manual, but the language used is complicated which makes it difficult to understand. It needs continuous practice because only trial and error can teach the user to finally create a safe passage. Among some of the other limitations of this function, chart accuracy is highly compromised because user’s ability to zoom in/out on a scale that can go beyond the accurate measurements. Route monitoring and safety measures have been analysed and fixed during the case scenario created. Safety parameters are chosen in accordance with the vessel attributes. This evaluation must be accurate because wrong use or over dependence on inaccurate information can result in threatening circumstances, for instance, groundings. 4.3. Alarms Alarms were developed to warn the navigator from approaching threats and ensure navigational safety. The tool is valuable, but the presence of numerous alarms can lead to navigator’s ignorance in some areas. The alarms should be organized in terms of priority and threat sensitivity; it will save navigator’s time and keep him alert for real threats. 4.4. Other limitation Other limitation include information overload which can cause ECDIS to display over crowded screen at some stages which can lead to ignoring the important information seeking immediate attention. Presence of numerous functions may lead to user confusion and result in errors. It is crucial for navigator to thoroughly understand the software in order to make the process efficient and error free. Other limitations involve computer virus and hardware or software risks. User manual is not easy to understand, however, with proper familiarization to the software and hardware, it becomes comparatively easier. Controlling mouse or trackball during passage creation is difficult and needs attention. It is recommended for navigator to discuss the functions with other users and practice thoroughly in order to create safe passage. Last but not the least, Navi-Sailor 3000 ECDIS is a unique navigational tool that assists in safe navigation. However, like every piece of software, it has certain limitation and overlooking them can lead to disaster. 4.5. Recommendations There is no doubt about the efficiency and productivity of Navi-Sailor 3000 ECDIS when it comes to safe navigation. But, it has the potential to be accepted as standard system if certain limitations are removed. Author (2009) suggests certain improvements which are listed below: Improvements The advantage of this improvements ECDIS version in different languages. Supports non English speaker, helps to spread out the system around the world. Undo function in route planning. Develop the planning function and save time. Automatic fixing of the sensors errors. Improve the navigation safety and minimize the systematic errors. Recommended routes designed by professional navigators. The navigator will be able to check his planned route or used any recommend routes to save time and power. High quality video tutorials of the functions of the software. Easy to follow and apply different functions. Reduce the needs of Training courses. Search and Backup buttons. Would make the software flexible and easy to find the specific function. Backup button would save the user’s work every one hour in case of any failure associated with the system. Table 6 5. Conclusion Developed by TRANSAS Company, Navi-Sailor 3000 is a modern form of Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS).Fundamental objective to develop this piece was to provide the navigator with all the necessary information from various navigational sensors displayed in Electronic Navigational Chart. With several features and functions, such as, positioning, Route planning and monitoring, it assists the navigator in getting the clear and accurate picture of marine environment. The software maintains the standards of SOLAS convention and IMO Resolution. This project analyses and evaluates the software by creating a passage plan. The results reveal several advantages and certain limitations of the software. Some of the limitations include reduced accuracy of positioning, possibility human error, system errors (virus attack), and chart accuracy. The project conclude that Navi-Sailor 3000 is a one-of-a-kind and efficient tool which can ensure safe navigation to some extent. However, over-reliance on Navi-Sailor 3000 is not recommended because of the conceived errors and drawbacks. Work cited Aquamarine. 2009. Navi-Sailor 3000 electronic chart system. [Online].Available at: http://www.aquamarine.gr/media/pdf/NS3000.pdf [accessed 20 January 2009]. Austin. 2003.Navi-Sailor 3000 ECDIS.[Online].Available at: http://www.austin-insulators.com/nav/ns3d.html [accessed 20 January 2009. Gould, K.S., Roed, B.K., Evelyn-Rose Saus., Koefoed, V.F., Bridger, R.S., & Moen, B.E., 2009. Effects of navigation method on workload and performance in simulated high-speed ship navigation. Applied Ergonomics. 40, pp. 103–114. International Maritime Organization (IMO).1995. Performance standards for electronic chart display and information systems (ECDIS), IMO Resolution A. 817 (19). International Maritime Organization. London. Manoeuvring Booklet. 2005. Mathematical Model of Seiner. UK: TRANSAS Marine Ltd. Sauer, J., Wastell, D.G., Hockey, G.R.J., Crawshaw, C.M., Ishak, M., & Downing, J.C., 2002. Effects of display design on performance in a simulated ship navigation environment. Ergonomics 45, 329–347. TRANSAS. 2009. NaviSailor 3000. [Online].Available at: http://www.transas.com/products/onboard/ecs/ecdis/navi-sailor3000/technical_characteristics/ [accessed 20 January 2009]. Xiaoxia, W., & Chaohua, G., 2002. Electronic Chart Display and Information System. Geo-spatial Information Science. 5(1), pp. 7-11. Yu-xin, Z., Ji-qiang, T., Gang, L., & Chao, G., 2004. Route design and automatic check in electronic chart display and information system. Journal of Marine Science and Application. 3(1), pp. 33-36. ZORA. 2009. NaviSailor 3000. [Online].Available at: http://www.zora.ru/eng/?a=show&id=49&nodec=1[accessed 20 January 2009]. Read More