Sea charts give way to electronics

The end of the traditional navigating table on ships and their dependence on traditional paper charts is now in sight with the development in Britain of an electronic chart and navigation system.

The first users will be 48 ships of the Royal Navy.

Under a Ministry of Defence contract, the Lockheed Martin company from Havant in southern England will design, manufacture and support what will be known as the Warship Electronic Chart Display and Information System or Wecdis.

It will be fitted to Britain's Invincible-class aircraft carriers, all Royal Navy submarines and Royal Fleet Auxiliary tankers and will make its operating debut in a Type 23 frigate later this year.

An MoD spokesman said: "The introduction of Wecdis will bring an end to the era of using traditional paper charts and the bridge's navigating table. Official paper charts have been used since 1795."