The Open ECDIS Forum (OEF) is dedicated to the development of Electronic Chart Display and Information Systems (ECDIS). By means of its consensus building activities, OEF promotes the vision of a maritime Geographic Information System (GIS) that supports navigation, environmental control and vessel traffic services. Through its discussion forums, meetings, promotional activities, and publications the OEF shall inform producers of digital charts, manufacturers of marine electronics and R&D organisations on issues related to ECDIS. The OEF supports the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) in its efforts to make its S-57 standard a world wide accepted exchange format for Electronic Navigational Charts (ENC).

The objectives of the Open ECDIS Forum are as follows:

* Encourage and support the development of ECDIS and its extensions
* Provide lines of communication between IMO/IHO/IEC standards users and developers
* Promote the S-57 data model in the marine environment and monitor the usage of S-57
* Examine the development proposals and advice on their validity
* Promote ENC production

To achieve these goals the Open ECDIS Forum will:

* Consider and register the user defined S-57 objects
* Consider and register private producer agency codes
* Levy nominal fees, if necessary, to avoid abuse of registration and to finance the activities of the OEF
* Distribute forum related freeware/shareware software and sample S-57 datasets
* Organsize workshops on related matters and distribute associated documentation
* Provide a link with the IHO web-site and with other organisations relevant to ECDIS

Any person or organisation interested in ECDIS is entitled to become a member of the OEF and to participate in OEF activities. Membership is simply achieved by joining a discussion forum. Currently no membership fees are raised. For certain activities such as workshops, fees may be raised from those who attend to cover costs. A Board of Advisors(BoA) monitors the activities of the OEF in:

* Conducting the affairs of the forum
* Considering and approving topics for discussion, and monitoring the discussions
* Monitoring any financial matters

For more information, please contact: .