Can data be interrogated with RCDS as it can with ECDIS?
No. RCDS cannot directly interrogate an RNC which is merely an electronic picture of a paper chart. However, since the RNC displays all of the paper chart, most information is already displayed and the RNC does not need to be interrogated. Additional data which may accompany an RNC, such as operator-entered items or other data bases can be interrogated in real-time and used to trigger alarms or perform other operations. For example, a mariner may designate hazards on or near his route. RCDS would then trigger alarms when these hazards were approached, even if the relevant chart was not being displayed at the time.
