NAV 44/7/8
Hydrographic Offices, for which that
Government assumes responsibility, RCDS should be accepted as
a solution to the problem of ENC coverage and that a
Performance Standard be approved.
4 The initial proposal to NAV 43
provided for a separate Performance Standard for RCDS but
many of those attending the IHO Meeting on HGE matters held
this meant that there was, of necessity, repetition of the
ECDIS Performance Standard and that this could cause
confusion. It was therefore proposed that a RCDS Performance
Standard should form a part of the ECDIS Performance
Standards where it would logically fit. This is submitted as
Appendix A, including the required amendment to the ECDIS
Performance Standards.
5 The views of the IHO Member
States, on the proposal in Appendix A, are attached as
Appendix C and are summarized in Appendix B.
6 A draft SN/Circular outlining
the differences between RCDS and ECDIS, was developed at HGE
18 (document HGE 18/11 rev.1) and is attached as Appendix D.
7 An RNC Product Specification is
being developed by the IHO. The current draft is at Appendix
E for information.
8 The Draft Guidelines for ECS
were considered by the IHO Meeting on HGE Matters and an
opinion by the Australian Government Solicitors Office, in
this connection, was tabled. As this opinion expressed
concern over the legal liability that Member States of a
group retained should they be party to the approval of
technical requirements in the form of guidelines, the
delegates were of the opinion that their respective
Governments would have to be consulted on the matter. They
felt, however, that if the Draft Guidelines were retitled as
"Advice" and were in the form proposed (Appendix F)
they could probably support the submission of such a document
to IMO.
9 The views of HGE Members on
documents at Appendices A and D have been sought and are
summarized in Appendix G. Comments expressed have been taken
into account in the concerned documents.
10 It should be noted that reflecting
HGE views paragraph 10.5.7 of the draft RCDS Mode of
Operation in Appendix A says, in its first sentence, that
"RCDS should provide an alarm when the input from the
positioning-fixing system is lost". Paragraph 10.5.7 of
the ECDIS Performance Standards makes provision for an
indication only in that case. If the proposal in Appendix A
is approved, it would appear necessary to amend the ECDIS
Performance Standards and the draft RCDS Mode of Operation as
in Appendix H.
Action requested of the Sub-Committee
11 It is requsted that the following
proposals be considered by NAV 44:
.1 The attached RCDS Mode of
Operation, as Appendix 7 to the ECDIS Performance
Standards, and the amendment to the ECDIS PS (Annex A),
be approved.
.2 The attached Advice on ECS
(Annex F) be approved as the basis for ECS production and
distribution.
I:/NAV/44/7/8.WPD
