The Revolution and Evolution of e-Navigation Systems—Part 1

Excerpt from U.S. Coast Guard Proceedings of the Marine Safety & Security Council magazine by Mr. Bill Cairns, F.R.I.N., IALA e-Navigation Committee chairman.

The Office of Navigation Systems in the U.S. Coast Guard Marine Transportation Management Directorate is continuing to help define and shape e-Navigation through its efforts at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities (IALA) e-Navigation Committee.

Domestically, the office is the lead for developing a U.S. e-Navigation strategy for the Committee on the Marine Transportation System.

International Maritime Organization Efforts

In May 2006, the IMO Maritime Safety Committee approved a new work item on e-Navigation for its subcommittee on safety of navigation.

E-Navigation is also being considered at the subcommittees on radio communications, search and rescue, and Standards of Training and Watchkeeping.

In July 2010, the safety of navigation subcommittee endorsed initial gap, cost benefit, and risk analyses. It also approved e-Navigation user needs and invited IALA and the International Hydrographic Organization to finalize gap analyses on shore-side aspects of e-Navigation.

Subsequently, the correspondence group plans to outline further analyses for navigation and related shore-based services issues and produce a provisional draft of an e-Navigation strategy implementation plan, which will describe the data framework that will support user needs and ensure maximum interoperability.

                      Automatic Identification System aid to navigation. Courtesy of Zeni Lite. 

Find out more in part 2.

Full article is available at http://www.uscg.mil/proceedings/spring2011/.

Subscribe online at http://www.uscg.mil/proceedings/subscribe.asp.

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