An Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS) is a specific form of computer-based navigation information system that complies with International Maritime Organization (IMO) regulations and can be used in lieu of paper navigation charts in some areas.
A true ECDIS system displays information from electronic navigational charts (ENC) and integrates position information from the Global Positioning System (GPS) and other navigational sensors, such as radar, fathometer and Automatic Identification Systems (AIS). It may also display additional navigation-related information, such as sailing directions.
There are many different sectors within the Marine field, referred to as Global Ocean Market sectors, which include industrial, military and recreational shipping.
This complexity is further increased by the fact that sectors overlap and one may supply to another - for example the shipbuilding industry supplies vessels to the offshore oil industry - therefore the values in Table 1 cannot be added together. However, the summation of the items that are expenditure gives a value of $747 Billion and enables one to derive a view of the global segmentation of the marine industries.
Table 1: Global Ocean Market Sectors
Global markets consist of three major regions; Europe and North America are similar in size forming 25% and 26% of the market. Asia forms the largest region at an estimated 34%, with much of this shipbuilding and shipping activity centered in Southeast Asia.
However, it is important to recognize that whilst the data relate to the location of expenditure, decisions are often made in other regions. For example, global shipbuilding is centered in Southeast Asia, but many decision-making owners are in UK/Europe. Although offshore oil activity is global, decision-making is often in Europe and the US.
Geographic Segmentation of Global Marine Market ($747 Billion USD)
(Source: Douglas-Westwood Associates )
Marine electronics has become an important sector as the electronics content of vessels grows with increasing use of vessel automation & control systems and the integrated bridge. This trend is due to reductions in vessel manning, safety requirements and the advent of the electronic chart. A number of large corporate groupings are developing worldwide. When combined with the moves into electric propulsion, even larger single-company content is possible.
There are 10 associations listed in IACS-E10 (International Association of Classification Societies E-10) and covered over 90% authentication and registration of the ships. They are ABS (American Bureau of Shipping), BV(Bureau Veritas), CCS (China Classification Society), DNV (Det Norske Veritas), GL(Germanischer Lloyd), KR (Korean Register of Shipping), LR (Lloyd's Register), NK (Nippon Kaiji Kyokai), RINA (Registro Italiano Navale), and RS (Russian Maritime Register of Shipping).
Advantech's ECDIS solution combines HMI, UNO and EKI products to create a reliable navigation solution for marine vessels of all kinds.
The key success of this solution is its versatility to be applied in several areas:
- Commercial vessels
- Recreational vessels
- Government vessels
- SAR Aircraft and Deepwater assets
Advantech's rugged, compact and fanless computing UNO platforms allow integrated solutions for communication, such as positioning/monitoring data between computers and satellite/data servers. The FPM displays used in this application are certified with the DNV certification for marine vessels.