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ECS

Electronic Chart System (ECS). Any combination of hardware and software used for echart navigation, using any form of echarts and display format. ECS differs from ECDIS (electronic chart display and information system) in that the latter are controlled by IMO and IHS, whereas ECS is not.

The ECS we use in our courses include OpenCPN and qtVlm. The ECS that Starpath navigators use underway include, Expedition, Coastal Explorer, and Time Zero.

We stress that this is an official definition:

“It may be noted that electronic chart systems not meeting these ECDIS specifications of IHO and IMO, or ECDIS using non-official data, are known as ECS (Electronic Chart Systems).” — IHO standards document, S-52, Section 1.2 (a)

See ECDIS


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