To be compliant with IMO requirements, ecdis should display Solas-recognised electronic navigational charts (ENCs), containing all the chart information necessary for safe navigation. ENCs may also contain supplementary information that may be considered necessary for safe navigation. This means that ENCs should be official vector charts conforming to the specifications of the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) and issued by a national authority. IHO member nations are responsible for producing ENCs of their own waters and updating them.
There are two regional ENC co-ordinating organisations responsible for validating ENCs, their formats and distribution. These are the UK-based International Centre for Electronic Navigational Charts (IC-ENC) and Primar of Norway. In areas where official vector charts are not available, ecdis can display raster navigational charts (RNCs) that are digitally scanned copies of official paper charts issued by national hydrographic offices. When using RNCs, there must be an appropriate folio of up-to-date paper charts.
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