ClassNK Issues Certification for ECDIS Training Course Provided by TOKYO KEIKI INC.
ClassNK announced today that it had issued type specific training course approval to an Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS) course offered by Tokyo Keiki Inc. This approval, certifying the compliance of this course with ClassNK’s new Standard for Maritime Education & Training, is the first of its kind to be issued by the Society to an ECDIS manufacturer in Japan.
Under amendments to SOLAS regulations the carriage of ECDIS systems is due to become mandatory in less then six months. Related changes to the STCW convention mean that it will also become mandatory for masters and deck officers to prove their understanding and proficiency in ECDIS systems.
In response to the growing demand for not only rigorous generic ECDIS training courses, but also more stringent training programs for individual ECDIS systems, the Society developed new certification standards for type specific ECDIS training programs, that it hopes will become a de-facto standard for the industry.
Koichi Fujiwara, Executive Vice President of ClassNK presented the official certificate to Kenichi Waki, President of Tokyo Keiki Inc. at the Society’s head office in Tokyo on 31 January 2012.
Speaking on behalf of the Society, Mr. Fujiwara said “As technology comes to play a bigger and bigger role in navigation and ship operation the demand for better and better training of seafarers is on the increase across the entire industry. By developing new standards for maritime training, and working with training centers to meet these new standards, we intend to help the maritime community address this need, and in so doing contribute to safer ships and safer seas”.