Shipowners are about to find themselves under a barrage of propaganda about electronic charts and the display systems that run them. These systems have been around for some years, and are used heavily in the offshore, dredging, fishing and leisure fields. But merchant shipping, with a few exceptions, has shied away from using electronic charting, preferring to wait for a common international standard and type-approved equipment. The common standard is now in place, and the first approved ECDIS systems are entering the market. By this summer, there will be a choice of systems, some offering glossy boxes with shiny buttons and some offering facilities owners never dreamt they needed. But what is the reality?