Efficiency of ECDIS type specific education and training

The revision of the STCW-78 Convention in 1995 marked the beginning of a new quality of maritime education. The Assembly of the International Maritime Organization in Manila in 2010 continued the trend of increased requirements for the training of maritime personnel. The training of deck officers how to work with the Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS) is one of the main trainings which is directly related to the safety of shipping at all. The general course for working with ECDIS was established as mandatory, and since 2017 it is a part of the primary maritime education. But the specific training for working with the system is only a requirement of the ISM Code and it is rather optional. Although most shipowners make it necessary for their officers to undergo this training as well, the non-obligation leaves a loophole for circumventing the requirements. The purpose of this article is to investigate the attitudes of deck officers of varying lengths of seagoing service towards ECDIS type specific training. The survey covers officers of all ranks, from mates to Masters. The results of the survey conducted are summarized in tabular form and proposals for the standardization of this type of training are presented in summary form.