MAIN HEAD M/v Rocknes did not have latest charts DECK The m/v Rocknes, which capsized in Norwegian waters in January this year leading to the deaths of 18 seafarers, did not have the latest charts onboard, say Knut Flåthen, director general of the Norwegian Mapping Authority and Frode Klepsvik, Hydrographer of Norway BODY It emerged at the m/v Rocknes accident court hearing that key personnel involved in coastal navigation do not use the latest version of official charts, as they are required to do. The Hydrographic Service finds that practice completely incomprehensible. Norway should be the first country to impose mandatory use of ECDIS. On the basis of this accident, a regulation should be considered which requires certain ships sailing along the Norwegian coast to use an Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS) with official, updated electronic navigational charts (ENCs). Only then will the big investment made by the government [in making new surveys of the area] really pay off. It is not much help covering the coast with modern ENCs if these are not used. In a very clear statement, Det Norske Veritas has concluded that using official ENCs in an ECDIS system makes a big contribution to reducing the number of groundings. This issue is also under discussion in the IMO. As a leading maritime nation, and in the European forefront for producing ENCs, Norway should be the first country to impose mandatory use of ECDIS. The Norwegian Hydrographic Service intends to initiate a discussion with the IMO Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) in London to examine and hopefully recommend the introduction of legislation for the gradual introduction of mandatory carriage requirement for ECDIS systems and will pass these recommendations to IMO Subcommittee for Safety of Navigation (NAV) for further action. The Norwegian Hydrographic Service and the Norwegian Maritime Directorate agree this is a relevant and timely action. Nobody can draw any conclusions at present about the possible reasons for the m/v Rocknes accident. But speculation will naturally flourish about what happened, why, and who must bear the heavy responsibility. The maritime accident inquiry has just concluded its work, and the case is still under investigation. SUBHEAD Surveys The Norwegian Mapping Authority is responsible for surveying the Norwegian coast and the waters around Svalbard, preparing official nautical charts and nautical publications and keeping users continuously updated with relevant navigational information. Within the Authority, this duty rests with the Norwegian Hydrographic Service. The service is certified to the international ISO standards and has established routines for all its processes, including notification of navigational hazards. It accordingly makes a significant contribution to improving maritime safety. A comprehensive resurvey of the Norwegian coast, and preparation of modern nautical charts, is currently being pursued by the Hydrographic Service. The Storting (Parliament) has given the Mapping Authority funds to complete this important work by 2007. The whole coast from Halden south of Oslo to Vega in northern Norway has recently been recharted and covered by modern charts in both paper and electronic format. This also applies to the main navigational channel from Lødingen to Skjervøy and parts of Finnmark. Priority is now being given to the areas of northern Norway still covered by old charts. The International Maritime Organisation's Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) convention requires all ships to carry updated charts. In February 2003, the Hydrographic Service issued a new chart covering the waters where m/v Rocknes run aground. The new chart is based on surveys carried out in 1988-2001, and it is compiled to international standards. It replaced chart 21 from 1941. Its publication was announced in March 2003 in "Notices to Mariners", which is published twice a month. Section 21 of the Norwegian Navigation Regulations and rule V/20 of the International Maritime Organisation's Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) convention require all ships to carry updated charts. In March 2003, all suppliers of nautical charts were requested in writing to replace old versions of chart 21 with updated ones, free of charge. SUBHEAD Criticism The Norwegian Hydrographic Service has been criticised for failing to report an "unmarked shoal" in Vatlestraumen off Revskolten lighthouse south of Bergen. This is not an isolated rock, but a ridge which extends 55 metres from the lighthouse. All information on this ridge is shown on the new nautical chart. The whole ridge lies within the red sector of Hilleren lighthouse and off the recommended navigation channel. Ships are therefore warned against sailing there. Deep draught vessels are required to show extra care when sailing in the recommended navigational channel. If the Norwegian Hydrographic Service were to report all navigational hazards located in a red sector and close to land, the volume of information in "Notices to Mariners" would become so large that users might fail to update their charts adequately. Since the accident, the Hydrographic Service has resurveyed the Vatlestraumen sound. The surveys confirm that the measurements incorporated in the new chart issued in February 2003 are correct. SUBHEAD Charts status notification The Norwegian Hydrographic Service is working closely with the Norwegian Maritime Directorate to notify mariners about the status of nautical charts along the coast of Norway, and about the importance of navigating with updated official versions. This information effort will now be intensified to ensure that ships and navigators adopt the new charts in either paper or electronic format. It is not much help covering the coast with modern ENCs if these are not used. In recent years, the Norwegian government has devoted hundreds of millions of Kroner to new surveys and the production of accurate official nautical charts to improve safety in the waters around Norway.