U.S. Coast Guard Issues New Training Requirements For Electronic Chart Display Information Systems

Gloucester, Va. December 01, 2012 - The U.S. Coast Guard now requires mariners with STCW (standards of training, certification and watch keeping) Deck Officer endorsements to complete Electronic Chart Display Information Systems (ECDIS) training.

"Certain officer endorsements will now indicate ECDIS limitations when evidence of ECDIS training has not been provided," according to the U.S. Coast Guard, which published the policy change on its Mariner Credentialing page here.

"In order for an STCW endorsement for officer in charge of a navigational watch (OICNW), chief mate, or master to remain valid for service on vessels equipped with electronic chart display information systems (ECDIS) after December 31, 2016, you must complete a Coast Guard approved or accepted ECDIS course."

Chesapeake Marine Training Institute offers Coast Guard-approved ECDIS courses throughout the year.

Mariners who have completed Coast Guard approved or accepted ECDIS courses in the past will not need to take additional training.

According to the Coast Guard, all applicants for an STCW deck officer endorsement who have not provided proof of approved ECDIS training will receive the following limitation - not valid for service on ECDIS equipped vessels after December 31, 2016.

Mariners who have already submitted the course completion certificate to the Coast Guard with a previous application package should include that information in their application package.

Mariners issued an STCW deck officer endorsement with this limitation may continue to serve on ECDIS equipped vessels until December 31, 2016 and can have the limitation removed at any time, free of charge, by requesting a modification and including a course completion certificate, according to the Coast Guard.

At Chesapeake Marine Training Institute, the ECDIS course provides training in the basic theory and use of ECDIS for mariners in charge of a navigational watch. The training includes all safety-relevant aspects and - for this reason - aims beyond the use of operational controls.

The course exam includes 25 questions and requires a passing score of 70 percent. It includes, among other testing, creating a navigation route using both waypoints and charted locations. The final route will be checked for navigational safety by the instructor.

Chesapeake Marine Training Institute's credentialing experts are available to guide professional mariners through the process of ensuring readiness for this new license requirement.

ABOUT CHESAPEAKE MARINE TRAINING INSTITUTE: Established in 1992, Chesapeake Marine Training Institute (CMTI) provides professional marine educational services to military and civilian mariners. While its modern classrooms and outdoor training area is located on George Washington Memorial Highway near Gloucester Point in Hayes, CMTI proudly also offers on-site training and online study programs.

In 2002, Marine Log magazine called CMTI one of the top maritime educational, recruitment and training resources in the nation.

Its instructors are seasoned mariners, holding a current U.S. Coast Guard License as Master with a minimum of five years at sea experience. CMTI’s staff also includes Licensed Consultants trained by the Coast Guard’s National Maritime Center as Mariner Credentialing Agents. These agents serve as experts to help each mariner sail smoothly through their licensing application process.