With the ever-growing Marine Electronics industry pioneering new technologies and leading the way with AMS systems and centralised control systems, allowing the whole vessel to be controlled from the helm, the “Glass Bridge” is the new normal for superyachts.

Integrating Navigation systems, Including ECDIS, with Tank Levels, Media Controls, CCTV & Security and a whole host of ancillary systems such as Thrusters, Tender monitors & lighting controllers, The Bridge of a vessel can quickly become overrun with switches and screens.

Years of experience in the industry, coupled with great attention to detail and understanding what a captain actually needs from the bridge, allows E-Touch Navcom to offer the best possible solution for your bridge, whether integrating a single piece of equipment, a new AMS System or a full bridge installation, like the one below, the team at E-Touch Navcom can assist you from initial planning, through installation and commissioning, right up to crew training. 

 Why ECDIS?

The Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS) is a development in navigational chart systems, allowing assured accuracy using digital charts and electronic instruments to calculate the exact position of the vessel. Besides enhancing navigational safety, ECDIS greatly eases the navigator’s workload with its automatic capabilities such as route planning, route monitoring, automatic ETA computation and ENC updating. In addition, ECDIS provides many other sophisticated navigation and safety features, including continuous data recording for later analysis. The combination of ECDIS with a Glass Bridge layout allows for a modern, clear, concise bridge, displaying all the information required by the crew, at a glance, reducing mental workload and improving the general flow of critical information.

What Are the Advantages of Using ECDIS Technology?

Aside from the heightened safety information, there are a lot of advantages to using ECDIS technology on a Superyacht bridge.

Here are just a few of them:

Real-Time Monitoring

ECDIS allows for the utmost accuracy when it comes to real-time monitoring. Navigators receive up-to-the-minute updates regarding their current route trajectory. In the event of a potential security or safety risk, the system will present them with a number of possible route alternatives that are much safer.

User-Friendly Interface
Even though Captains and crew should be highly trained in the latest navigational technology, it’s still important to ensure that the interface is as user-friendly and easy to comprehend as possible. This is especially true in light of potential danger when convenience and expediency are huge assets.

To make operations quick and convenient, ECDIS uses a number of other navigational equipment and softwares including Echo Sounder, GPS, RADAR, Gyro, and ARPA.

Alarms and Warning Signals
In addition to providing the ships navigator with visual and audible indications that the vessel is headed in a dangerous direction, loud alarms and warning signals will also notify the rest of the crew so that they can act quickly in the event of an emergency. This feature also relieves the ships navigator from the stressful task of having to individually notify other crewmembers, allowing them to focus on swiftly mapping out a new route.

Unparalleled Accuracy
Aside from being able to provide safe travel alternatives for Superyachts, rugged displays like ECDIS should have the capacity to accurately predict the estimated time of arrival to their destinations so that crewmembers can aptly prepare for disembarkation.  Another important point is that sometimes traditional charts might mistake large sea creatures or inanimate objects like debris for potential threats. To prevent an unnecessary rerouting from happening, ECDIS uses precision-enhanced technology to help navigators identify these objects from great distances.