Admiralty Vector Chart Service

Quick Start Guide V1.0

Admiralty Way, Taunton, Somerset, TA1 2DN, United Kingdom Tel: +44 (0)1823 723366 E-mail: helpdesk@ukho.gov.uk E-mail: Digital.Sales@ukho.gov.uk

The United Kingdom Hydrographic Office

www.ukho.gov.uk

UKHO 2008 All Rights Reserved The copyright in this document, which contains information of a proprietary nature, is vested in UKHO. The content of this document may not be used for purposes other than that for which it has been supplied and may not be reproduced, either wholly or in part, in any way whatsoever.

Table of Contents
Introduction............................................................................................................................................... 2 Purpose of this Guide................................................................................................................................2 Electronic Navigational Charts (ENCs) ....................................................................................................2 Before You Start ........................................................................................................................................2 ECDIS Containing Existing ENCs...............................................................................................................3 Step 1: Install Chart Permits.....................................................................................................................3 Step 2: Install AVCS Charts (ENCs) ..........................................................................................................4 Step 3: Update AVCS .................................................................................................................................5 Step 4: Apply Weekly Updates .................................................................................................................6 Step 5: Adding AVCS Charts (ENCs) .........................................................................................................8 Installing the Admiralty Digital Catalogue and Admiralty Updating Service ........................................9

Introduction Purpose of this Guide

This guide is designed to help you to load and maintain your AVCS data easily and quickly. It describes the basic steps necessary to use AVCS in any ECDIS. However, all ECDIS work in slightly different ways and this guide should be used in conjunction with the User Guides that were supplied with your system. For detailed installation instructions and troubleshooting information, see the AVCS User Guide and your ECDIS User Guide (supplied by the manufacturer). The AVCS User Guide can be found on the Admiralty Utilities CD.

Electronic Navigational Charts (ENCs)

AVCS is comprised entirely of Electronic Navigational Charts (ENCs) produced by Governmental Hydrographic Offices. It is designed to be used in conjunction with a type approved ECDIS to provide a primary navigation tool that meets the requirements of SOLAS Chapter V.

Before You Start

Before you begin the installation, please ensure that you have the following: 1. An AVCS Start-Up Pack containing: AVCS Quick Start Guide AVCS User Guide; AVCS Base Disks (a series of CDs or a DVD labelled Base); AVCS Update Disk (a CD labelled Update); Admiralty Utilities installation CD. 2

2. An e-mail or hard media (floppy disk, CD, etc.) containing: Schedule A (a PDF document listing the Folios and Units that you have licensed); A set of Chart Permit files (PERMIT.TXT and ENC.PMT) for each ECDIS equipment; AVCS Certificate (a PDF document showing your vessel and licence details).

ECDIS Containing Existing ENCs

If ENCs are already installed on the ECDIS it is recommended that these are removed from the system database to avoid any conflicts. If the option is available it is also recommended that users should remove any installed permits. In both instances reference should be made to the ECDIS User Guide provided with the system.

Step 1: Install Chart Permits

Before loading the AVCS Base or Update disks, the Chart Permits must be installed on the system. The Chart Permits are supplied by your Admiralty Chart Agent and consist of 2 files: 1. PERMIT.TXT 2. ENC.PMT AVCS customers with multiple ECDIS onboard, or other systems that use ENCs (such as Chart Radar, VDR etc) should be very careful to load the correct permits into the corresponding system. Each system will require its own permit. Failure to do so will result in an error being reported similar to the following: CRC failure permit could not be read Failure to uncompress ENC data file Decryption failed 3

Step 2: Install AVCS Charts (ENCs)

The AVCS data (ENCs) is supplied on a set of Base disks (CD or DVD) and an Update CD. Each Base disk contains ENCs from one or more producer nations and is labelled with the country names. Note that some countries (such as the United Kingdom) produce data world-wide so the Base disks do not directly correspond to a geographical area. The Base disks should be loaded in numerical order starting with disk 1, to ensure that all ENCs are installed correctly. The ECDIS will manage the installation of all ENC cells based on the Chart Permits that you have Installed (see step 1.) Some ECDIS will allow the user to skip Base disks which do not contain licensed ENCs. Customers should be aware that, depending on the manufacturer, ECDIS manage the import of ENCs in two different ways: 1. The ECDIS loads the ENC base data (base cell) in the first instance and then the user has to update as a separate operation; 2. The ECDIS will manage the import of ENC base data and all updates in a single operation. Customers should consult the ECDIS User Guide supplied with the equipment.

Step 3: Updating AVCS

Once the Base data is installed the ECDIS should be updated to ensure that all charts loaded are fully up to date. ENCs are supplied as a base chart (the initial chart edition) and updates to the chart (equivalent to Notices to Mariners). Base disks contain all base charts and updates to the charts valid at the time of issue of that disc. All subsequent chart editions and updates are contained on the Update CD. Both Base disks and the Update CD are labelled with the week number of publication and contain all data available up to that date.

Depending on your ECDIS you now need to load the updates from all the Base disks and the Update CD, or just from the Update CD (see Step 2 above).

Step 4: Apply Weekly Updates

There are two ways of receiving your weekly updates CD Updates:
Your Admiralty Chart Agent will supply you with updates to your AVCS data weekly on an Update CD. Each CD is cumulative and only the most recent Update CD received needs to be installed. A new set of Chart Permits will also be supplied by your Admiralty Chart Agent whenever an ENC cell has a new edition or you are entitled to access additional ENCs. The new Chart Permits relate directly to the Update CD of the same week number. The Chart Permits may be received from your Admiralty Chart Agent by e-mail or on hard media (floppy disk, CD, etc.). The Chart Permits may be received before you have received the relevant Update CD. It is recommended that you should not install new Chart Permits unless they are accompanied by the appropriate Update CD. The Chart Permits will be accompanied by a Schedule A that identifies the week number for which the Chart Permits are valid. Failure to use the correct set of Chart Permits with an Update CD will result in an error being reported similar to the following: There is no valid permit for this version of the cell/chart. Edition number is not valid Permit is for an older version of the cell/chart

Online Updates
The Admiralty Updating Service (AUS) can be used to get immediate access to weekly updates over the Internet. Updates can be downloaded weekly, by Internet transfer and e-mail. When new Chart Permits are received they can be loaded in to AUS for immediate access to new ENCs and new editions. If new Chart Permits have been received, they should be loaded in to the ECDIS before the Update CD is loaded. Periodically the AVCS Base CDs are re-issued to free up space on the Update CD. Customers who already subscribe to the AVCS should treat these as though they were update CDs and load each in turn with the appropriate permits. The ECDIS will only load the additional NE and Updates necessary to bring the system database up-to-date.

Step 5: Adding AVCS Charts (ENCs)

New charts can be added to your AVCS licence at any time. Any new charts required should be ordered from your Admiralty Chart Agent, who will supply you with a new set of Chart Permits by email or hard media. When received, the new Chart Permits should be installed in your ECDIS (see Step 1), which will allow access to the new charts. Some ECDIS may require you to load and/or update the new charts (see Steps 2 and 3). Please refer to your ECDIS Guide.

Installing the Admiralty Digital Catalogue and Admiralty Updating Service

The Admiralty Utilities CD contains the Admiralty Digital Catalogue (ADC) and Admiralty Updating Service (AUS). Both are designed to be installed on standard Windows PCs. Note that these applications are not designed to be installed on ECDIS. The Utilities CD will automatically display the installation menu when placed in the CD-ROM drive. If the menu does not appear, navigate to the CD in Windows Explorer and double-click on Setup. Full details of how to use these applications are contained in the relevant User Guides on the Utilities CD. Summary details showing how to use AUS to update AVCS are contained in the AVCS User Guide.

The United Kingdom Hydrographic Office Admiralty Way, Taunton, Somerset, TA1 2DN, United Kingdom Tel: +44 (0)1823 723366 E-mail: helpdesk@ukho.gov.uk E-mail: Digital.Sales@ukho.gov.uk Web: www.ukho.gov.uk

42293