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Key Facts: ECDIS Exam
40 hours
Generic Course Length
IMO Model Course 1.27 (2012)
A1 to D plus U
CATZOC Quality Categories
IHO ENC data quality
+/-5 m
CATZOC A1 Position Accuracy
IHO zones of confidence
5 subject areas
Model Course 1.27 Structure
IMO Model Course 1.27 (2012)
MSC.232(82)
2006 ECDIS Performance Standard
IMO Maritime Safety Committee
46 CFR 11.309
USCG ECDIS Training Rule
US Coast Guard
ECDIS Generic Training (IMO Model Course 1.27) is the standardised, shore-based course that qualifies deck officers to use ECDIS to maintain the safety of navigation under STCW Tables A-II/1 and A-II/2. It is a 40-hour, five-day course with a written assessment (commonly multiple choice) plus simulator/practical exercises set by a flag-state-approved centre. Core domains are the legal framework (SOLAS V/19 carriage and back-up, ENC vs RNC, RCDS-mode limits, IMO performance standards), charts and data quality (vector ENC S-57/S-101, S-52 presentation, CATZOC A1 to D and U, weekly updating), route planning and safety settings (safety contour from draft plus under-keel clearance, safety depth, XTD, look-ahead), route monitoring and the alarm-versus-indication hierarchy, sensor integration (GNSS, radar overlay, AIS, echo sounder), and errors/over-reliance (GNSS jamming, datum mismatch, alarm fatigue). The course is separate from manufacturer type-specific familiarization done onboard; without approved ECDIS training the USCG limits endorsements to 'not valid on vessels equipped with ECDIS' (46 CFR 11.309).
Sample ECDIS Practice Questions
Try these sample questions to review concepts for the ECDIS exam. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.
1Generic ECDIS training delivered to the standard of IMO Model Course 1.27 is required to support which STCW competence?
2What is the essential difference between ECDIS generic training and type-specific (familiarization) training?
3Under SOLAS Chapter V, an ECDIS that is to replace paper charts as the primary means of navigation must use which type of chart data?
4An ENC area is symbolised with a triangular pattern of two stars. What does this CATZOC value indicate?
5For CATZOC A1, the indicative horizontal position accuracy of charted features is approximately:
6The IHO transfer standard that defines the structure and format of vector ENC data currently in widest service is:
7Which IHO standard specifies the colours, symbols and presentation library used by ECDIS to portray ENC data?
8The safety contour on an ECDIS primarily serves to:
9A vessel has a maximum static draft of 9.8 m. When the ECDIS cannot match this exact value to an available ENC depth contour, the safety contour should be set to:
10On an ECDIS, the 'safety depth' setting principally affects:
About the ECDIS Exam
ECDIS Generic Training to IMO Model Course 1.27 gives deck officers the knowledge and skills to use an Electronic Chart Display and Information System safely to maintain the safety of navigation. It supports the ECDIS competence in STCW Tables A-II/1 and A-II/2 and is delivered ashore at flag-state-approved centres, typically as a 40-hour, five-day course with written and simulator-based assessment. The generic course is distinct from manufacturer type-specific familiarization, which is conducted onboard under the ISM Code for the particular equipment installed. In practice all deck officers on ECDIS-fitted vessels need this training; without it the USCG limits endorsements to 'not valid on vessels equipped with ECDIS' (46 CFR 11.309).
Exam sponsor: Flag-state-approved maritime training centres delivering IMO Model Course 1.27. The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.
Assessment
Question count not published by the exam provider
Time Limit
End-of-course assessment per the approved training centre (about a 5-day course)
Passing Score
Set by the approved training centre (commonly 70% or higher on the written component plus a practical pass)
Exam / Certification Fees
Varies by training centre (a paid 40-hour generic course)
Exam sponsor websiteFees, eligibility, and exam policies can change. Confirm them with the exam sponsor before applying or paying.
Our practice resources: topics covered
We aim to reflect publicly available exam outlines and topic information in our study resources. Coverage, format, and difficulty may differ from the actual exam, and we cannot guarantee that every detail is accurate or current. Confirm exam requirements, fees, and policies with the official exam sponsor.
Legal Framework & Carriage Requirements
SOLAS V/19 carriage and back-up arrangements with ECDIS as paper-chart equivalent, the difference between ENC and RNC and the limitations of RCDS mode, ECDIS versus an unapproved ECS, the STCW Table A-II/1 and A-II/2 competence, and the IMO performance standards A.817(19), MSC.232(82) and MSC.530(106)
Charts & Data Quality
Vector ENC structure (S-57 and the S-100-based S-101), the S-52 presentation library, the S-63 data-protection scheme and ENC permits, the SENC, CATZOC zones of confidence from A1 (about +/-5m) to D (about +/-500m) and U for unassessed data, usage bands, and weekly chart updating with T&P notices
Route Planning & Safety Settings
Calculating the safety contour from deepest draft plus squat and under-keel clearance (rounding up to the next deeper contour), the safety depth and sounding emphasis, shallow and deep contours, XTD corridors, look-ahead, automatic route validation, and user-chart objects such as no-go areas and parallel index lines
Route Monitoring & Alerts
Cross-track distance monitoring, the look-ahead/guard zone for dangers, the alarm-versus-indication hierarchy and the crossing-safety-contour anti-grounding alarm, alarm fatigue and alert management, watch-handover checks of settings, and passage documentation with track/alarm playback for incident review
Sensors & Integration
GNSS as the primary position source with dead-reckoning fallback and loss-of-position alerts, gyro heading and speed-log inputs, the radar/ARPA overlay used to verify position against charted features, AIS targets treated as supplementary data, echo-sounder depth checks, and recognition of sensor failures
Errors, Limitations & Over-reliance
GNSS jamming and spoofing awareness, datum (WGS-84) mismatch, chart and survey errors revealed by depth checks, overscale and under-scale indications, the hazard of over-decluttering below the Standard Display, automation complacency, and back-up procedures when ECDIS fails
Preparing for the ECDIS Exam
What You Need to Know
- Passing score: Set by the approved training centre (commonly 70% or higher on the written component plus a practical pass)
- Assessment: Question count not published by the exam provider
- Time limit: End-of-course assessment per the approved training centre (about a 5-day course)
- Exam / certification fees: Varies by training centre (a paid 40-hour generic course) Official sources
Using Our Practice Resources
- Work through all 100 available questions
- Review every answer and explanation
- Track weak areas and revisit them
- Use our AI tutor for tough concepts
ECDIS: Suggested Study Strategy
Frequently Asked Questions
What is ECDIS generic training (IMO Model Course 1.27)?
It is the standardised shore-based course that teaches deck officers to use any Electronic Chart Display and Information System safely to maintain the safety of navigation. It supports the STCW Table A-II/1 and A-II/2 ECDIS competence and is typically a 40-hour, five-day course with written and simulator assessment.
How is generic ECDIS training different from type-specific familiarization?
Generic training covers ECDIS principles common to all systems and ends with a standardised assessment at an approved centre. Type-specific familiarization is conducted onboard under the ISM Code for the particular make and model installed; it has no standardised exam. Officers normally need both.
Is the ECDIS generic course assessed by multiple-choice exam?
Each approved training centre sets its own end-of-course assessment, which commonly includes a written multiple-choice component plus simulator or practical exercises. The IMO does not publish a single fixed question count for the course.
What are CATZOC and the safety contour?
CATZOC (category zone of confidence) rates ENC survey data quality from A1 (best, about +/-5m position accuracy) down to D (about +/-500m) and U for unassessed. The safety contour separates safe from unsafe water for the ship and drives the crossing-safety-contour anti-grounding alarm; it is calculated from draft plus under-keel clearance.
Why is RCDS mode limited compared with full ECDIS mode?
RCDS mode uses raster charts (RNCs), which are images with no embedded object data, so chart-based safety alarms such as crossing the safety contour are not available. IMO guidance requires an appropriate, up-to-date folio of paper charts to be carried for areas covered only by raster charts.
Do US deck officers need ECDIS training?
Without approved ECDIS training, the USCG places the limitation 'not valid on vessels equipped with ECDIS' on an officer's endorsement under 46 CFR 11.309. In practice, deck officers serving on ECDIS-fitted vessels need the generic course plus type-specific familiarization.
Which IMO performance standards apply to ECDIS?
Depending on installation date, an ECDIS complies with Resolution A.817(19), MSC.232(82) of 2006, or MSC.530(106) of 2022. Chart data follows IHO standards: S-57 (and the newer S-101) for data, S-52 for presentation, and S-63 for data protection.