Tuesday 11 September 2018

Key Benefits Of Digital Charts For Maritime Industry

Digital charts are increasingly used in the maritime industry. Several types of large commercial water vessels require to use these digital ECDIS systems for the many benefits that they provide. Here are some of them.

They reduce the workload of navigators as they are not required to constantly update charts and nautical publications. Like in the case of paper charts, not much voyage planning is required in case of these systems.

By purchasing digital charts and other marine supplies online, you can make voyage smooth and easy, these charts offer navigation in real time. With the ECDIS system, the position displayed on the chart would  be the exact present location. Whereas the position plotted on a paper chart shows the position received several minutes ago. This often can cause confusion for navigators.


The actual position in case of digital charts is more accurate since there’s a lot of systems that mix together and analyze. This can never be achieved with a traditional paper chart. Moreover, you can also achieve advanced movement with these systems, meaning that as and when you move, the position will also move on the digital chart.

One of the most important feature where digital charts clearly stand out and leave behind paper charts is that they can predict special maneuvers, such as predicted path, docking mode, etc. Moreover, it also provides search and rescue functions since they are specially designed for voyages. They provide access to several other additional information sources to help navigators.

ISM Code: For The Safety At Sea

Being a sea fanatic, you may be very well versed with the number of codes and guidelines that are to be followed. These codes came into existence by all those law making bodies who left no stone unturned to make the maritime sector as powerful as ever today. One of the most important of all the codes is the ISM Code. ISM stands for international safety management and the main aim of this code is to set an international standard that all ships have to be abide by for their safe operation and to avoid pollution. It helps to ensure safety at sea and to prevent damage to personnel, property and environment.


Right from the year 1994, it has been one of the most important components of the SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea) convention. All ships are strictly guided to follow this order. For its safe implementation and to ensure maximum functionality, this code is supported by a safety management system (SMS) that has to be established by the company, shipowner or the person who is responsible for the working of ship. The SMS manual consists commitment from top management, regular management reviews, top-tier policy manual and a lot more.

If you’re not well versed with the ISM code and want to know more, a reference may help. There are several publications available out there in many online stores that have all the essential information and codes for maritime administrations, shipowners and operators, shipping companies, training providers and education institutes, shipbuilders and more. So, you can buy them at the earliest.