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A comprehensive digital solution for maritime training assessments, offering multi-user access and responsive design for global accessibility.
Engineering cutting-edge applications that combine advanced data integration, seamless authentication, and exceptional user experiences to create reliable and scalable systems.
International maritime regulations require seafarers to demonstrate competency with Electronic Chart Display and Information Systems (ECDIS) - the digital navigation standard that has replaced paper charts on modern vessels. NorthStandard, one of the world's leading P&I clubs with members across the global shipping industry, needed a way to assess ECDIS knowledge across thousands of seafarers on member vessels worldwide.
Traditional paper-based assessments were logistically impossible at this scale. Existing solutions could not operate in maritime environments where internet connectivity is unreliable or unavailable. NorthStandard needed a platform that worked offline at sea, provided anonymous assessments to encourage honest responses, and delivered actionable competency reports to shipping company administrators.
We built the E.T.A. (ECDIS Training Assessment) platform as a Progressive Web App with full offline capability. The system supports three user roles: Content Admins who manage question pools and course materials, Shipping Company Admins who manage their seafarers and view competency reports, and Learners who complete the assessments.
Assessments cover four core ECDIS competency areas - Appraisal, Planning, Execution, and Monitoring - with 16 subsections and randomised questions drawn from configurable pools. This prevents answer sharing between crew members. On completion, learners receive a PDF certificate and administrators get detailed reports highlighting specific knowledge gaps across their fleet, with colour-coded urgency ratings for each competency area.
The platform integrates with NorthStandard's SSO authentication system, supports batch management for scheduling assessments across crews, and includes automated reminders to ensure timely completion.
The E.T.A. platform is deployed across NorthStandard's global membership, enabling compliance assessment at a scale that was previously impossible. Any seafarer on any member vessel can complete their ECDIS assessment regardless of their location or connectivity.
The anonymous assessment approach revealed genuine knowledge gaps that traditional supervised methods missed, giving shipping companies real insight into where their crews need additional training. Administrators can now identify fleet-wide competency patterns and target training investment where it has the most impact on safety.
In October 2026, NorthStandard's ECDIS Training Assessment won the Training award at the SAFETY4SEA Awards. The project also established a long-term technology partnership between MCD and NorthStandard.
“Working with MCD is like having an extension of our own team. They genuinely care, consistently go above and beyond, and it's why we've continued working with them for so many years. They take the time to truly understand our business and what we're trying to achieve, and we're always impressed by the quality of the digital products they deliver. You can tell they genuinely love what they do, and it shows in every interaction.”
Loss Prevention Director, NorthStandard
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