Skip to main navigation menu Skip to main content Skip to site footer

Articles

Volume 1, Number 1 (2000)

ENC Protection Schemes: Central Technology and Policy Issues

Submitted
August 9, 2013
Published
2000-01-01

Abstract

Several countries have taken steps to protect copyright data, some using judicial means and others implementing protection systems. Some Hydrographic Offices (HOs) feel that ENCs in particular, need to be protected from piracy and/or deliberate tampering. These issues are not unique to ENC (Electronic Navigational Chart) distribution but form a basic part of e-commerce infrastructure. A modern public key infrastructure system addresses the needs of data authentication, data security and non-repudiation. There are both technology and policy issues when one considers a protection system. The implementation of a tight security system along the entire distribution chain is necessary to make the system effective. Despite modern advances in encryption technology, there are some major impediments to achieving the goals of a security system. The complexities of key management and the acceptance of the user community are two of these. There is also the ethical issue of denying a ship access to ENCs once the license period has ended. The ship may have no other chart information on board. PRIMAR's Security System is currently gathering important operational experience in operating a protection system.