This paper and the following six papers were presented at the NAV95 Conference held in London, November 199j. The full proceedings, under the title containing 30 papers, can be obtained from the Director (£25 to Members, £35 to Non-Members).

The AN/SSN-6 Navigation Sensor System Interface (NAVSSI) Project is a new system being designed with two primary objectives; to serve as the central distribution computer for navigation data to shipboard combat/weapon systems and to serve as the electronic chart display and information system (ECDIS). The NAVSSI will operate the digital nautical chart (DNC) database being developed by the Defense Mapping Agency (DMA). Our goal is for the digital nautical chart to replace the paper chart as a legal means of ownship navigation plotting. This paper will introduce the project and will primarily explore the use of digital nautical charts for ownship navigation with NAVSSI.

This paper presents a prototype ECDIS as developed by the Research Group on ECDIS (RGE) of Dalian Maritime University (DMU). It describes the configuration, the functions and the characteristics of the system. The results of sea and land trials are also presented.

In 1989 the International Maritime Organization (IMO) published its Provisional Performance Standards (PPS) for ECDIS (Electronic Chart Display and Information Systems) and asked member governments to assess these standards and submit their findings to the Sub-Committee on Safety of Navigation. IMO intends to finalize the standards in 1993.

This paper was presented on 20 February 1991 at a half-day meeting on haven charts for yachtsmen. The meeting was organized by the RIN in association with the Honourable Company of Master Mariners, the Royal Cruising Club and the Cruising Association. Adam Kerr is a Director of the International Hydrographic Bureau, but the opinions provided in this paper are his own and should not necessarily be construed to be those of his organization.