The inaugural Maritime IT & Electronics Conference, and an associated pre-conference seminar Principles of ECDIS and e-Navigation, organized by the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST), is taking place in central London in October.

“This is an event designed to bring delegates up to speed and to answer the all-important question ‘what’s the current position, and what’s on the horizon,” said Fiona Morris, IMarEST’s interim CEO. “The two day conference, with its theme ‘Safe way forward with ECDIS and e-Navigation’ taking place on Wednesday 19 and Thursday 20 October will deliver e-navigation test bed results; provide perspectives from owners, ships’ captains, pilots and governments; highlight ECDIS and the lessons to be learned for e-navigation; look at systems challenges, new technology, standardization, user friendliness, and GPS and positioning challenges; and provide delegates with a class view on ECDIS and e-navigation.

“For those needing an introduction to the topic, or perhaps a ‘refresher course’, prior to the main two-day event, we have ‘Introduction to the Principles of ECDIS and e-Navigation’, a pre-conference seminar on Tuesday 18 October being led by Mark Broster, Managing Director, ECDIS Ltd. This will enable them to fully enjoy and benefit from the two day conference. This pre-conference seminar will cover the concept and capability of ECDIS, types of chart, legal aspects and equivalency, difference between ECS and ECDIS; and backup procedures – including loss of GPS.”