23Nautical charts and nautical publications

23 Nautical charts and nautical publications

[SOLAS V/27]

(1) The owner of a vessel embarking on a voyage must ensure nautical charts and nautical publications on board for the intended voyage are adequate and up to date.

(2) The owner of a vessel must ensure that any electronic version of a nautical chart or nautical publication mentioned in subsection (1) is:

(a) a version officially issued by an administration, authorised hydrographic office or other approved organisation; and

(b) accessible using a computer that is:

(i) located on the bridge; and

(ii) available at all times to the officer of the watch; and

(iii) connected to the vessel’s main and emergency power supplies.

(3) For an electronic nautical publication, the owner of a vessel must ensure that a back up version is available:

(a) as an up to date printout; or

(b) on at least 1 other computer or in digital format (eg portable mass storage device or compact disc) that can be made available to the officer of the watch within 5 minutes.

(4) For an electronic nautical chart, the owner of the vessel must ensure that:

(a) the chart is displayed on an ECDIS that complies with Regulation 19 of Chapter V of SOLAS; and

(b) a back up version is available:

(i) on a second ECDIS that complies with Regulation 19 of Chapter V of SOLAS; or

(ii) as a folio of adequate and up to date paper charts relevant to the voyage.

(5) The owner of a vessel must ensure that all software and hardware used for accessing official electronic versions of nautical publications complies with the recommendations of IMO Circular MSC/Circ.891 Guidelines for the onboard use and application of computers.

(6) The master of a vessel must ensure that the information mentioned in subsections (1) and (2) is on board before embarking on a voyage.