Navigation Equipment Services in Al Jubail.

Navigation equipment services

Navigation equipment services cover the repair, calibration and statutory testing of the bridge systems a ship uses to fix its position, keep its heading and avoid danger. These include ECDIS, gyro compasses and repeaters, AIS, echo sounders, speed and distance logs, GNSS receivers, bridge navigational watch alarm systems (BNWAS), autopilots, rudder angle indicators and integrated bridge systems. Because these sensors feed one another, a fault in one unit, such as a gyro or log, can disable radar tracking, ECDIS and the voyage data recorder at the same time.

vslSafety coordinates maker-trained navigation engineers at the vessel's port for breakdown repairs, annual AIS testing, ECDIS software updates and pre-survey checks. Radars are covered by our radar service and repair page, magnetic compasses by compass adjustment and correction, and voyage data recorders by VDR annual performance testing.

Regulatory requirements and standards

SOLAS regulation V/19 sets carriage requirements by ship size. All ships of 150 gross tonnage and upwards and passenger ships need a BNWAS, meeting resolution MSC.128(75), in operation whenever the ship is underway at sea. Ships of 300 gross tonnage and upwards need an echo sounder, a speed and distance measuring device and a transmitting heading device. Ships of 500 gross tonnage and upwards need a gyro compass with repeaters and rudder, propeller, thrust and pitch indicators. Ships of 10,000 gross tonnage and upwards need a heading or track control system, and ships of 50,000 gross tonnage and upwards a rate-of-turn indicator and a speed log measuring over the ground. ECDIS carriage was phased in under V/19.2.10 for passenger ships, tankers and larger cargo ships between 2012 and 2018. AIS is required under V/19.2.4.

SOLAS regulation V/18.9 requires AIS to be tested annually by an approved surveyor or an approved testing or servicing facility, verifying static data, sensor data exchange and radio performance, with guidelines in MSC.1/Circ.1252. ECDIS software must be kept up to date; existing systems were required to use IHO S-52 Presentation Library edition 4.0 from 1 September 2017. Revised ECDIS performance standards in resolution MSC.530(106) allow S-100 ECDIS to be used from 1 January 2026, with new installations from 1 January 2029 required to meet the new standard. Regulation V/19.4 requires all navigational equipment to be installed, tested and maintained so as to minimise malfunction.

Inspection and servicing intervals

Item	Requirement	Interval	Reference
AIS Class A	Annual test by an approved surveyor or testing facility	Annual, within the safety equipment survey window	SOLAS V/18.9, MSC.1/Circ.1252
Navigation equipment	Examination at safety equipment survey	Annual, periodical and renewal surveys	SOLAS I/8, V/19
ECDIS	Software and presentation library kept to current IHO standards; ENC and permit updates	As editions are issued	SOLAS V/19, V/27, IHO S-52
Gyro compass	Maker service, including gyrosphere and fluid where applicable	Per maker's running-hour schedule	Maker instructions
BNWAS	Function test of alarm stages and reset	Per bridge procedures and surveys	MSC.128(75)

What the service includes

• AIS annual test, including static data, sensor inputs, RF measurement and on-air test, with a test report
• ECDIS software and presentation library checks, maker updates, and chart and licence troubleshooting
• Gyro compass servicing, gyrosphere and fluid replacement, settling time checks and repeater alignment
• Echo sounder transducer, draft offset and depth accuracy checks
• Speed log calibration, including electromagnetic and Doppler logs
• BNWAS alarm sequence, dormant period, reset and alarm transfer tests
• GNSS receiver, antenna and position output checks
• Autopilot, heading control and rudder angle indicator checks
• Sensor interface tests between gyro, log, GNSS, radar, ECDIS and VDR

Equipment types covered

Providers work on standalone units and integrated bridge systems from makers such as Furuno, JRC, Kongsberg, Raytheon Anschütz, Sperry Marine, Tokyo Keiki, Simrad and Transas (Wärtsilä). Equipment covered includes gyro and fibre-optic compasses, satellite compasses, Class A AIS transponders, single and dual-frequency echo sounders, electromagnetic and Doppler speed logs, and ECDIS workstations.

Common defects and PSC deficiencies

• AIS showing wrong static data, such as ship name, dimensions or antenna position, or no valid annual test report
• ECDIS running an outdated presentation library, missing ENC updates or with unacknowledged alarms
• Gyro error not monitored or recorded, or repeaters not aligned with the master
• BNWAS switched off at sea, or dormant period set outside the 3 to 12 minute range
• Echo sounder or speed log inoperative or incorrectly calibrated
• Navigation officers not familiar with ECDIS, a focus of the 2017 Paris and Tokyo MoU concentrated inspection campaign on safety of navigation including ECDIS

Certificates and documents you receive

AIS annual testing produces a test report that must be kept on board. Other work produces service reports with measurements, parts replaced and software versions installed, and calibration records for logs and echo sounders. The ECDIS software version and presentation library edition can be confirmed in writing for PSC or vetting inspections.

How to prepare the vessel

List the equipment and faults with error codes, and share photos of the display. Make sure the officer of the watch is available, and plan any work that affects heading or position sensors when the ship is safely berthed. Keep manuals, previous service reports and licence details for ECDIS ready. Dry-dock periods are a good time for echo sounder transducer and log sensor work.

Information needed for a quotation

• Vessel name, IMO number, MMSI, flag and class
• Port, ETA and ETD
• Equipment maker, model, serial number and software version
• Description of faults or the tests required, such as AIS annual test or ECDIS update
• Date of the last AIS test and safety equipment survey
• Any PSC deficiency, class condition or vetting observation

vslSafety coordinates a suitable navigation engineer at the vessel's port and confirms scope, timing and cost before attendance.

Frequently asked questions

Is the AIS annual test mandatory?

Yes. SOLAS regulation V/18.9 requires the AIS to be tested every year by an approved surveyor or an approved testing or servicing facility. The test checks that static information is correctly programmed, data exchange with connected sensors, and radio performance by measurement and an on-air test. MSC.1/Circ.1252 allows the test to be aligned with the safety equipment survey window, and a copy of the report must be kept on board.

How do I check which ECDIS presentation library is installed?

Most ECDIS show the software version and IHO presentation library edition in a system information menu. The IHO also provides a test data set that displays the edition on screen. Since 1 September 2017, ECDIS have been expected to use S-52 Presentation Library edition 4.0. If the version is older, contact the maker for an update before the next inspection.

What does the S-100 ECDIS change mean for ships?

Resolution MSC.530(106) sets revised ECDIS performance standards covering S-100 data such as S-101 ENCs. S-100 ECDIS may be used from 1 January 2026, and new installations from 1 January 2029 must comply. Existing S-57 systems can continue in use, but owners planning replacements should ask makers about S-100 capability and upgrade paths.

What is the BNWAS dormant period?

Under resolution MSC.128(75), the BNWAS stays dormant for a period between 3 and 12 minutes after each reset. If the officer of the watch does not reset it, a visual indication appears on the bridge, followed by audible alarms on the bridge and then in the master's and backup officers' locations. Access to the dormant period setting should be restricted to the master.