ARCS - HCRF Test Data Set

This Test Data Set has been produced for use when type approving ECDIS operating in RCDS mode (using data encoded in the HCRF format) as specified in the 3rd edition of IEC 61174, Annex H.

The data consists of a set of Raster Navigational Charts (RNCs) from the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office's (UKHO) Admiralty Raster Chart Service (ARCS). The data may be used when type approving ECDIS systems operating in RCDS mode using either ARCS data or data from the Australian Hydrographic Service's Seafarer service, since both of these services use the same data format and encryption mechanism.

Because ARCS and Seafarer only use encrypted data within their services, the RNC data are also encrypted in a way that is compatible with both the ARCS and Seafarer services.

For ease of distribution, the test data is contained on a single ZIP file. However, to make the data conform to the HCRF specification, it must be split up into separate CDs before use. A total of ten (10) CDs are needed to hold the entire data set. Details for creating these CDs are provided with the test data set.

The ARCS-HCRF TDS package includes a readme file which must be read before proceeding with type-approving.