18 October 2005
There is good news for world shipping today as the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and the UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO) announce the inclusion of the Official Singapore Electronic Navigational Chart (ENC) into the UKHO Admiralty Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS) Service. As the ENCs come online, access to official navigational data for major shipping routes will become available for mariners worldwide.
"The inclusion of Singapore ENC into the UKHO's ECDIS service marks a milestone in the development and promotion of ECDIS. It strongly illustrates the commitment of both MPA and UKHO to increase worldwide access to official ENCs", says Dr Wyn Williams, UK National Hydrographer and Chief Executive of the UK Hydrographic Office.
Similar thoughts are echoed by BG Tay Lim Heng, MPA Chief Executive: "I am delighted that the MPA is working in such close co-operation with the UK Hydrographic Office to improve the safety of professional mariners and their vessels worldwide", he says. "The collaboration of the two organisations will boost MPA's efforts in placing Singapore on the international ECDIS podium and strengthen our attraction as a safe port for navigation."
ECDIS Today - The Story So Far, hosted by the two organisations at the Fullerton Hotel, Singapore this evening, will not only celebrate another important step towards promoting worldwide official ENC but will also be an opportunity to update representatives from some of the major players in world shipping on other key developments and progress on this front. Speakers for this event include BG Tay Lim Heng, Dr Wyn Williams and Gert B��ttgenbach, Managing Director of 7Cs.
"Now, and only now, ECDIS makes sense. For the first time it is possible to sail from Europe to Asia on a seamless ENC coverage", says Mr B��ttgenbach.
Since the ECDIS Conference held in Singapore in 2003, the UKHO and MPA have spearheaded a campaign to help remove the barriers which impede the universal adoption of ECDIS. Research into the use of ECDIS, commissioned by both organisations, resulted in the Hailwood report, which highlights limited ENC coverage as one of the major stumbling blocks.
As frontrunners in the development and promotion of the ECDIS/ENC technology, the MPA and UKHO have shared the findings of the Hailwood report with the global hydrographic community, calling for closer international co-operation to provide seamless worldwide ENC coverage. Considered the "jewel in the crown" of the Admiralty ENC service, Singapore's ENC is a significant step forward.
End of Release
Note to Editors:
ENCs for South China Sea
Singapore, together with other member States of the East Asia Hydrographic Commission (EAHC), worked closely in the production of ENCs for the South China Sea. These ENCs were released commercially in March 2005.
MOU on Marine Electronic Highway (MEH)
In September 2005, Singapore signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Indonesia, Malaysia, the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and International Hydrographic Organisation (IHO) on the MEH. The ECDIS is the backbone of the precision navigation system in the MEH. The MEH utilises a network of official ENCs together with the Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS) and Automatic Identification System (AIS) to provide vital information e.g. real-time tide and current readings to ships and allows integrated digital electronic navigation.
ENCs for Malacca and Singapore Straits
Singapore continues to play an active role in the development and promotion of ECDIS and ENC technology at the multilateral level. We are working closely with Indonesia, Malaysia and Japan to produce and release ENCs covering the Malacca and Singapore Straits by the end of 2005.
