RNC TEST DATA SET - INTRODUCTION

Following publication in 1998 of the 1st edition of the IEC Standard 61174, the IMO adopted in December 1998 an amendment [IMO resolution MSC.86 (70)] to the Performance Standards for ECDIS, permitting ECDIS to operate in a Raster Chart Display System (RCDS) mode in the absence of Electronic Navigational Charts (ENC). 

The 3rd edition of IEC 61174 (2008) makes provision for testing of the RCDS mode functionalities and calls, in its Annex H, for Raster Navigational Chart (RNC) test data sets. RNCs are currently provided using either the HCRF format or the BSB format. RNC test data sets are provided in S-64 for both formats. Equipment testing can relate to either or both of these TDS.