A Study on East Asian Regional Electronic Navigational Chart Coordinating Center Establishment Strategy

Abstract

International Maritime Organization made International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea to require all ships to carry official charts, both paper and electronic, and is especially encouraging the use of Electronic chart displayand information system (ECDIS). Recently, the argument that all Electronic Charts (ENC) displayed in ECDIS should be distributed through Regional ENC Coordinating Center is being raised within the IHO. The use of ECDIS was generalized, but the existing two RENCs in Europe are thought to be not enough. Especially, East Asian region, due to its rapid growth in economy and marine traffic, RENC is found necessary. This research establishes the legitimacy and strategy of East Asian RENC by defining the roles of RENC based on the IMO ECDIS Mandatory Carriage Requirement and RENC operation status through suggesting a Phase-In RENC model.