Inland ECDIS

Inland Electronic Chart Display Information Service

Inland ECDIS is an on-board computer system for the display of electronic inland navigation charts, as well as additional information on the vessel's environment. The purpose of Inland ECDIS systems is to contribute to safety and efficiency of inland navigation by reducing the workload of the skipper who is navigating the vessel and increase skippers’ situational awareness. Inland ECDIS systems combine information on River Information Services (RIS) from multiple sources such as Inland AIS equipment to a single display system (on multiple screens if available).

Pursuant to Resolution 2019-II-6 the principal missions of the temporary Working group for Electronic Chart Display and Information System for Inland Navigation (CESNI/TI/Inland ECDIS) shall be:

  • to prepare proposals for the revision of the technical specifications for the Standard Electronic Chart Display and Information System for Inland Navigation (Inland ECDIS Standard), as referred to in CESNI’s multi-annual work programme for 2019-2021;
  • to provide advice regarding the proper implementation of the standards in the field of River Information Services (RIS), in particular regarding Inland ECDIS;
  • to provide advice and analysis on standards in the field of RIS, in particular regarding Inland ECDIS.

The development tasks proposed to CESNI/TI/Inland ECDIS for the period 2019-2021 are as follows:

  • Preparation of a revision of the technical specifications for the electronic chart display and information system (Inland ECDIS Standard, Edition 2.5).
  • Preliminary draft for an Inland ECDIS Test Standard.
  • Preliminary draft amendment to the technical specifications for the electronic chart display and information system (Inland ECDIS Standard S-401).
Inland ECDIS Standard editions:

The Inland ECDIS Standard provides a uniform basis for the use of both electronic inland navigation charts and telematics applications, such as Inland AIS transponders, or other methods of identifying, tracing and tracking vessels on inland waterways. It contains the technical and operational requirements, testing methods and required test results for Inland ECDIS applications.

The technical specifications for the electronic chart display and information system (Inland ECDIS Standard) are called for in Directive 2005/44/EC on harmonised river information services on the inland waterways in the Community (hereinafter referred to as the RIS Directive), which refers to the four key technologies, including the Inland Electronic Chart Display and Information System (Inland ECDIS). The technical specifications were published by Commission's Implementing regulation (EC) n°909/2013 of 10 September 2013 and last amended on 7 December 2018 (published in the Official Journal of the European Union on 19 December 2018, Inland ECDIS Standard Version 2.4 (IES 2.4)).

Below is an overview of the supported versions of the standard through legislations:

Edition 2.4:
Edition 2.3: