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How to apply ECDIS CATZOC

to UKC calculation?

Category Zone of Con@dence (CATZOC) are

the values that used to highlight the
accuracy of data presented on charts. Before
the ECDIS era, mariners used to assess
paper chart accuracy via Source Diagram.
However, this was changed with the wider
introduction of ENC's in the industry and the
consequent introduction of CATZOC, which
is described in IHO S-4 standard. The latter
allows accessing the ship's UKC numerically
with regard to a given ZOC, which is reviewed
in this article.

Whenever I asked mariners in the class what

ZOC is, they always responded that it is the
Zone of Con@dence. They also usually
respond that accuracy of data depends on
the number of the stars. But rarely anyone
says exactly how the accuracy of charted
data depends on CATZOC.

Apparently, there are three main

factors: Sounding Depth Accuracy,
Sounding Position Accuracy and Quality
of the Survey.

Source diagram

To access the reliability of paper chart

bathymetry data mariner shall have a look at
a source diagram, it can be stated that the
earlier a survey was conducted, the less
accurate is soundings data on the chart.
Often, on the same chart, the data of several
bathymetric surveys is compiled.

It is quite obvious that if depth survey was

done in 1832 by a leadline and using visual
bearings for position @xing, you can't really
say that usual 10% of your maximum static
draft is enough for UKC, as you can't really
trust the data on the chart.

CATZOC table

There is a more accurate tool available on

ENC's in comparison to paper charts. On the
modern ECDIS S-57 compliant ENC
(Electronic Navigational Chart) you can turn
on the layer called "Accuracy", or "Data
quality", or "Accuracy pattern", etc.

ECDIS displays these CATZOC values in

ENCs using a triangular or lozenge-
shaped symbol pattern. The number of
stars contained within these symbols
denotes the CATZOC value. For example,
six stars are given to the highest level of
data quality (A1) and two stars to the
lowest (D). A single star is not used to
avoid possible confusion with a rock
symbol. Areas that have not been
assessed for CATZOC are shown as the
symbol (U) for unassessed.

This layer doesn't need to be displayed all the

time. However, during passage planning, or
when one wants to access the present
situation and possible navigational risks the
deck o_cer shall be able to understand the
meaning of the accuracy pattern. The
detailed description of these accuracy
symbols is given in a table below in a slightly
modi@ed way, basing on the REGULATIONS
OF THE IHO FOR INTERNATIONAL (INT)
CHARTS and CHART SPECIFICATIONS OF
THE IHO.

You can download the pdf version of the

CATZOC table here.

How does ZOC affect

Passage Planning, Safety
Depth setting and UKC?

First of all:

SAFETY DEPTH = MAX DRAFT + REQUIRED

UKC

So, @rstly, we are concerned about the error

in sounding given on the chart. For instance,
your route leg is going through ZOC A1, how
will it affect your Safety Depth?

You should @nd the minimum depth in the

vicinity of a planned track and apply
correction to it.

One of the components of the REQUIRED

UKC is ZOC Allowance. From the CATZOC
table for ZOC A1:

ZOC Allowance (A1) = 0.5 + 0.01 × Depth

ZOC Allowance (A1) = 0.5 + 0.01 × 18.8 =

0.688 ≈ 0.7 m

If for ZOC A1, A2 and B sounding position

accuracy is relatively high (position error is
less than 50 m for ZOC B), for ZOC C and D
this value is 500 m and bigger. In this case,
you have to access not only the ZOC
Allowance for UKC but also the positions of
soundings when you are plotting tracks on
the chart. On the picture below the wreck is
located right in the middle of the Tra_c
Separation Lane. For ZOC C:

ZOC Allowance (C) = 2.0 + 0.05 × 17.3 =

2.865 ≈ 2.9 m

Which means that the real depth may be

between 14.4 - 20.2 m anywhere in 500
m radius. Dynamic UKC may be even
less if the vessel experiences motion due
to waves (rolling, pitching or heaving) in
the open ocean area (in this case it is
West Paci@c Ocean on the approaches to
San Francisco).

In the conclusion of the above mentioned,

you should always assess the chart data
reliability. CATZOC is one of the criteria
which allows you to do that. During passage
planning and execution, you shall not only
provide the allowance for the depth
accuracy but also the position accuracy of
given hazardous soundings.

19 May 2018 41610 views

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