In
conjunction with the authors, Imrays have made available a special version of
their PC chart-plotter software, incorporating information from 'East Coast
Pilot'. Currently this is only available for the first edition of ECP.
IDP1 comes as a CD with Imray chart coverage from Lowestoft to Ramsgate, including large scale coverage of the rivers of the East Coast. The integrated GPS plotter software allows all the usual electronic navigation functions that are available on Imray's other digital chart packages. The unique feature of IDP1 is the icons on the charts, which can be used to bring up pilotage notes, photos, listings and cautions extracted from the book.
An example is shown below, where an icon on the chart outside Brightlingsea Creek brings up a photograph of the view from that spot, preparing the navigator in advance and helping him to quickly recognise landmarks.
The intention is that IDP1 should be used in conjunction with the book - it does not replace it in any way. The additional information included in IDP1 is a useful aid to to the chart-plotter user, but obviously the book contains vastly more detail.
This linking of a pilot book to a software package is an innovative step which may be extended to other pilots and PC plotters available from Imray.