It is now one year since the IMO amendment to SOLAS came into force on 1st January 2011. JRC provides an update on their activities to date.
The latest new IMO requirement has been a lot longer in the making than many others, with the first pioneering models designed as far back as 1995 when IMO adopted the initial ECDIS performance standard. Since then JRC has delivered nearly 5,000 IMO compliant ECDIS systems worldwide, with approximately half that number made up of the current ECDIS product line.
Even with the IMO vessel specific installation deadlines still to enter into force, this shows ship owners demonstrating their own pioneering spirit by fitting early, great signs that ECDIS is already a natural fit on today's and tomorrow’s bridge.
It is expected that tens of thousands of vessels will be required to install and adopt ECDIS carriage over the next 6 years, both for newly built vessels and those existing. With a minimum of one ECDIS system being required per vessel and two systems to go “paperless”, this represents a significant number of what will be a major manufactured item. With the number of units already delivered, JRC has clearly demonstrated it has the capability and the capacity to meet the demand.
The final long term commitment that JRC offers is after sales service and support. Even after the carriage requirement has been effected by all specified vessels, JRC’s support philosophy and global service network will always be at the ship owner’s disposal for many years to come.