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www.sea-technology.com November 2015 / st 41 E -Navigation is an International Maritime Organization (IMO)-led concept based on the harmonization of ma- rine navigation systems and supporting shore services, and is driven by user needs. E-navigation is defned as: "the harmonized collection, integration, exchange, presentation and analysis of maritime information on board and ashore by electronic means to enhance berth-to-berth navigation and related services, for safety and security at sea and pro- tection of the marine environment." The term e-navigation is also often used in a generic sense by equipment manufacturers and service providers. With maritime navigation systems, design problems can often be found that impact the performance of the human- technology systems. Common design issues include a lack of standardization and poor system usability. A reason for these issues can be traced to insuffcient or minimal end-us- er involvement in the design and build process, especially if the systems are highly complex. Designers need to remem- ber that all people make mistakes and that their designs should aim to reduce the chances of human error result- ing in accidents or incidents. Even though errors cannot be eliminated entirely, systems and their operating procedures should ideally be developed to help users operate safely. Given the ever-increasing use of software in navigation systems, it is important that robust processes are in place to guide the software's development. Until recently in the maritime feld, the prominence of software was low and, hence, the importance of software quality may have been undervalued. However, the uptake of e-navigation initia- tives will increase the necessity for sound software quality assurance processes. Older-generation equipment had little if any reliance on software, but the use of software has been growing fast in modern equipment and systems, including information sys- tems coupled with the automated communication of data. An overarching approach to the proper handling of soft- ware issues during the design stages of modern maritime software applications is encouraged. Over the past sev- eral years, and in the context of e-navigation, three areas of guidance were developed by the IMO: Software Qual- ity Assurance (SQA), Human-Centered Design (HCD) and Usability Testing (UT). When fnalizing this guidance, the Harmonizing Guidance for Future Ship Navigation Systems Developing Guideline for Software Quality and Human-Centered Design By Dr. Seojeong Lee • Nick Lemon • Dr. Margareta Lützhöft E-navigation services.