New international Electronic Chart System (ECS) regulations — including USCG NVIC 01-16 CHG 3, the RTCM-SC109 performance standard, and the UK MCA’s SV-ECS framework — are redefining navigation requirements for commercial vessels, workboats, and fishing fleets. It is essential that vessel operators and maritime professionals are fully informed and prepared.
For over a decade, TZ Professional has been developed around the same core principles now formalized in these regulations: official ENC chart management, secure updating procedures, system reliability, sensor integration, and operational safety.
TZ Professional is not software adapted to meet new rules — it is a professional Electronic Chart System built from the start to ensure both regulatory compliance and exceptional real-world performance at sea. That’s why we are fully compliant.
Understanding the New ECS Regulations
Maritime authorities in the United States and the United Kingdom have introduced updated guidance and standards to formalize the use of Electronic Chart Systems on commercial vessels that are not required to carry full ECDIS.
ECS frameworks aim to:
• Improve navigational safety
• Ensure proper use of official ENC data
• Standardize updating procedures
• Define performance and redundancy expectations
• Clarify hardware and logging requirements
Get in touch with our team to comment on concrete solutions.
At stake is more than administrative compliance
These regulations are designed to reduce navigational risk, prevent groundings and collisions, and ensure that electronic charts are accurate, up to date, and used correctly. For vessel owners and operators, this means being able to demonstrate that their navigation system is reliable, properly maintained, and installed on suitable marine-grade hardware. In practical terms, compliance protects crews, vessels, operations, and business continuity — while also meeting inspection and insurance expectations. It’s the formalization of best practices TIMEZERO software was already supporting ahead, and its users have been benefiting from it from the very first days.
For operators of small commercial vessels, these regulations provide a clear path toward compliance using professional ECS solutions like TIMEZERO software. It allows small commercial vessels (Note for the UK: up to 24m) and fishing vessels to use cost-effective electronic charts instead of paper charts.
How it works
Replaces Paper: Allows vessels to meet chart carriage rules electronically.
Cost-Effective: A practical alternative to full ECDIS for smaller boats.
Safety Focus: Aims to reduce workload and improve safety with clear, reliable digital navigation.
TIMEZERO Role (Technical information - Contact us)
USA: We declare TZ Professional meets the RTCM SC-10900.8 Standard. For US vessels operating outside Boundary Line the system must be installed on PC hardware tested to IEC 60945. Vessels under 32feet may use hardware tested to MilSpec 810. Furuno multi-function displays (MFDs) do not alone meet these rules but a TIMEZERO system can be added to these vessels to take advantage of existing Radars, Sounders and other sensors.
UK: We declare TZ Professional 5.3 fully compliant with the new SV-ECS (Small Vessel Electronic Chart System) regulations implemented by the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA). To meet regulatory expectations for reliability and operational safety, TZ Professional must be installed on IEC 60945-certified marine-grade hardware.
Updated frameworks to standardize the safe use of ECS aboard vessels not required to carry full ECDIS include:
Comply with The U.S. Coast Guard policy guidance by using TZ Professional, contact us for more information.
The U.S. Coast Guard policy guidance defines how Electronic Chart Systems like TZ Professional may be used in lieu of paper charts under specific conditions.
Key elements include:
• Use of official Electronic Navigational Charts (ENCs)
• Reliable and traceable chart updating
• Redundancy considerations
• Position sensor integration
• Appropriate hardware configuration
• Proper operational procedures
Commercial operators in U.S. waters must ensure their ECS setup aligns with this guidance to satisfy inspection and safety standards.
Make sure your set up is RTCM-SC109 compliant with TZ Professional, reach out to our team.
RTCM-SC109 establishes recognized performance requirements for non-ECDIS Electronic Chart Systems like TZ Professional.
It defines:
• Display and alarm requirements
• ENC handling standards
• System functionality expectations
• Data integrity and operational reliability criteria
RTCM-SC109 provides a structured technical benchmark that professional ECS software like TIMEZERO must meet.
Now is the time to assess your setup and make sure your vessel is ready. Controls are starting and safety at sea depends on being properly equipped. For more information about TZ Professional and how it meets SV-ECS standards, feel free to get in touch!
UK MCA SV-ECS: Compliance for Small Commercial Vessels
TZ Professional 5.3 is fully compliant with the new SV-ECS (Small Vessel Electronic Chart System) regulations implemented by the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA).
The SV-ECS standard is a new safety regulation specifically designed for small commercial vessels, including fishing boats and other workboats up to 24 meters in length. Its purpose is to enhance maritime safety by ensuring the use of official Electronic Navigational Charts (ENCs) that are updated weekly.
Originally developed for UK-flagged vessels, this standard offers features that we believe will also benefit a wide range of commercial and recreational users.
One of the key advantages of SV-ECS is that it offers many of the benefits of ECDIS, but in a solution that is simpler, more flexible, and significantly more affordable, making it ideal for smaller vessels that don't require the full complexity (and cost) of a traditional ECDIS system.
The UK MCA introduced the SV-ECS framework to provide a clear and practical digital navigation solution for coded vessels and small commercial operators.
The SV-ECS regulation:
• Recognizes approved Electronic Chart Systems, including TZ Professional
• Requires official ENC usage
• Defines installation standards
• Formalizes operational best practices
This regulation marks a major step forward in modernizing navigation compliance for UK workboats and fishing vessels.
TZ Professional v5.3: Built for ECS Compliance
For customers looking for a simple ECS solution to comply with NVIC 01-16 Ch 3 and the new RTCM-SC109 ECS or UK MCA rules, TZ Professional v5.3 meets both the US RTCM SC 109 ECS rules and MCA SV-ECS for the UK.
TZ Professional 5.3 system:
✅Fully supports weekly-updated official ENCs
✅Meets all the compliance requirements set by the MCA, NVIC 01-16 Ch 3, and the new RTCM-SC10900.8 ECS
✅ Offers an intuitive and powerful interface tailored to professional mariners
✅Comes at a lower cost than ECDIS, while maintaining the key safety and compliance features
For those not yet compliant, now is the time to assess your setup and make sure your vessel is ready, get in touch with our team.
Official S57/S63 ENC Support & Secure Chart Updating
TZ Professional supports official S57/S63 Electronic Navigational Charts, ensuring alignment with USCG and MCA requirements.
The system provides:
• S-57 module will download all ENCS (all NOAA ENCS for the US)
• Structured and controlled chart updating
• Clear ENC display management
• Integration with licensed chart providers
• Secure data handling
Reliable chart management has always been a foundation of TIMEZERO software development. Contact us for more information.
System Integrity & Voyage Data Recording
Modern Electronic Chart System (ECS) compliance extends beyond chart display. It requires system integrity, controlled data management, and the ability to document navigational activity.
TZ Professional is designed to support these principles through:
• Secure system architecture ensuring data stability and operational reliability
• Controlled and traceable chart update procedures aligned with official ENC requirements
• A dedicated VDR module for voyage data recording and track logging
• Reliability and redundancy principles supporting safe navigation practices
By integrating structured data management and recording capabilities, TZ Professional provides a professional Electronic Chart System aligned with the operational and documentation expectations defined by current international ECS regulations. Feel free to reach out to comment on your specific needs.
IEC 60945 Marine-Grade Hardware Requirement
To meet regulatory expectations for reliability and operational safety, TZ Professional must be installed on IEC 60945-certified marine-grade hardware (Note for US vessels: when operating outside the boundary line).
IEC 60945 defines environmental, electromagnetic, and durability standards for maritime navigation equipment, ensuring proper performance in demanding marine conditions.
Note for US vessels: Per USCG NVIC 01-16 CH3 Type approved EPFD such as the GP-170 or SC70 is also required.
This requirement guarantees system integrity, durability, and operational stability in accordance with international ECS regulatory frameworks.
Additionally, TZ Professional is compatible with both Furuno NavNet and FAR systems.
We are experienced in a variety of setup configuration, get in touch to figure out which is your best option.
Ensure Your Vessel Is ECS Compliant
Ensuring ECS compliance is essential for safety, inspections, and operational continuity.
TZ Professional is not a “dummy ECDIS” or a simplified compliance replica. It was purpose-built as a practical Electronic Chart System for real-world commercial operations. Rather than replicating the complexity of full ECDIS, TZ Professional delivers modern, intelligent navigation tools through a clean, elegant, and intuitive interface. Every function has been designed with working captains, fishermen, and operators in mind — ensuring powerful capability without unnecessary complexity. The result is a system that combines regulatory alignment with true operational usability.
Our team can help you:
• Review your current system
• Confirm TZ Professional compliance alignment
• Select compliant hardware solutions
• Implement official ENC licensing
Navigate with confidence. Operate with compliance. Choose TZ Professional.
Contact us today to discuss your compliance requirements.