International Standardization of Maritime Education, Training, Scientific Research and Technological Advances related to Development of e Navigation Strategy in Order to Enhance the Cooperation for Maritime Safety and Security and Protection of Ocean Environment
The advantage of the latest technical development in the field of nautical sciences, automation, electronics, telecommunications, informatics, telematics, geomatics and global position fixing techniques, achievement in data storing, processing, analysing, transferring and visualisation should be taken into account and applied to the maritime technology. In the paper the author tries to discuss a strategic vision of development e Navigation concept using those new technologies and the main tasks of the maritime community for the near future in international standardization of maritime education, training, scientific research and technological advances related to development of eNavigation strategy in order to enhance the cooperation for maritime safety and security and protection of ocean environment. The author believes it is now appropriate time to develop a broad strategic vision for incorporating the use of new technologies in a structured way and ensuring that their use is compliant with the various electronic navigational and communication technologies and services that are already available. The author tries to present the background to ,Why e Navigation" and its definition, the key elements which in the vision for e Navigation were covered and the IMO's strength as the co ordinator of e Navigation development, including strategy implementation plan. The underlying important principles were stated, together with the need to take user needs into account. Later presentations and comments showed just how ambiguous the term ,users" can be in the context of e Navigation. This led to a more in depth review of the components of the IMO strategy implementation plan. The author tries to answer the question of whether these assumptions, decisions and actions taken were appropriate and sufficient. Implementing technology is like a three legged stool: if any one leg is inadequate, the whole system fails. Here, one leg is the technology itself; another is the procedure for how to use the technology (gained through testing and experience) and the final one is maritime education and training, both in the operation of the technology itself but most importantly in using the technology with agreed, standardized procedures to make good decisions. The development of well balanced and highly qualified seafarers is possible. It should be one of most important objectives for IAMU members.