Sovcomflot Ships Switching to Electronic Charts (Russia)

Sovcomflot is extending the use of electronic navigational charts on its ships. The transition process is being supported by use of the electronic international database provided as part of the Transas Admiralty Data Service (TADS), offered by the Transas company.

SCF originally started using electronic charts on its vessels in early 2000. At that time the company used both electronic and paper charts. The new tankers SCF Progress and SCF Prudencia will be the first vessels to be fully equipped with only electronic navigational charts.

“Now two independent electronic-cartographic navigational information systems are being installed on board of each ship which will allow us to end the use of paper charts and facilitate the work of our navigators, freeing them from the constant need to adjust paper charts manually. It is now much easier to chart a route and to determine a ship’s position at any time”, said Sovcomflot Vice-President Igor Pankov.

TADS – is an electronic database which unites the British Admiralty’s collection of maritime charts and navigational manuals. The TADS collection of electronic charts contains navigational charts in SENC and ENC formats, compatible with any types of electronic cartographic navigational systems – ECDIS and ECS. Information from the Admiralty’s Lights and Signals manual and the UK Hydrographic Society’s Radio Navigational Signals Vol.6 manual can also be overlaid on the chart data.

SCF Group of companies is one of the world’s leading shipping companies, specializing in crude oil, petroleum products and liquefied gas transportation. The fleet includes 157 vessels with a total deadweight of 12 million tonnes.

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LNG World News Staff, January 27, 2012