The International Maritime Organization (IMO) defines e-Navigation as: "Harmonized collection, integration, exchange, presentation and analysis of maritime information, on board and ashore, by electronic means, with the purpose of improving navigation from cradle to berth of the pier and related services, for the protection and safety at sea, as well as the preservation of the marine environment".
e-Navigation is not a type of equipment, but rather a "concept" that encompasses a wide range of integrated information systems and services related to navigation. The concept is based on the harmonization of navigation systems and ground support services.
The purpose is to reduce errors, making navigation in maritime areas and inland waterways more reliable and simpler.
As part of the basic requirements, it was agreed that the deployment and operation of e-Navigation should be based on user needs and not driven by technology.
A list of user needs was identified and approved (user needs on board, on land and Search and Search Services authorities).
Rescue - SAR):
- The global architecture for e-Navigation;
- A proposal for the development of a Common Maritime Data Structure (CMDS); It is
- The use of the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) S-100 standard as a basis for creating a framework for data and service access under the SOLAS Convention.
Based on the identified needs of users and after complying with IMO's own system, five solutions for e-Navigation were prioritized:
S1: improved, harmonized and functional walkway design;
S2: standardization and automation of reports;
S3: improving the reliability, resilience and integrity of bridge equipment and navigation information;
S4: integration and presentation, on display, of information received via communications equipment; It is
S5: improving communications across the VTS services portfolio (not limited to VTS stations).
The S2, S4 and S5 solutions focus on the automatic transfer of information and data between all users (ship-to-ship, ship-to-shore, shore-to-ship and shore-to-shore) while the
S1 and S3 promote the functional and practical use of onboard information and data.
The needs for harmonization and standardization of land services resulted in the elaboration of the Maritime Services Portfolio (MSP), which categorized these services by geographic areas, in order to facilitate the determination of the type and quantity of information to be transmitted and considering the communication system to be used, as well as the identification of the entities or organizations responsible for disseminating the information.
In November 2014, the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC 94) approved the e-Navigation Strategy Implementation Plan (SIP), whose main objective is to implement the five prioritized solutions.
In 2017/2018 the first review of the SIP was carried out and in May 2018 MSC.1/Circ.1595 was issued approving and disseminating the e-Navigation Implementation Plan – update 1.
With the purpose of coordinating the implementation of the e-Navigation concept within the scope of this Directorate, DHN prepared in 2017 the document "Strategy for implementation within the scope of the Hydrography and Navigation Directorate of the e-Navigation concept"
Read More:
- Review of the description of maritime services in the context of enavigation
- MS 5 – Maritime Security Information Service (Part 1)
- MS 5 – Maritime Security Information Service (Part 2)
- MS 5 – Maritime Security Information Service (Part 3)
- MS 5 – Maritime Security Information Service (Part 4)