Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS) Practice Exam 2025 - Free ECDIS Practice Questions and Study Guide

The indication of a failure in the positioning system of an ECDIS is often reflected through various anomalies in its functioning. When the ECDIS malfunctions, it may be a direct result of miscalculations in positioning data. This could lead to discrepancies in the displayed location of the vessel, resulting in a failure to accurately represent the ship's position, course, or speed.

When the positioning system is compromised, the ECDIS may incorrectly determine the vessel's location on the chart, which can drastically affect navigation safety. In this context, a malfunction of the ECDIS can stem from issues in the inputs it receives from positioning systems like GPS, which are critical for its operation.

The other options pertain to issues related to chart data or navigation parameters rather than directly indicating a failure in the positioning system itself. Information overscale refers to the chart display being unable to show certain details due to scale limitations, while a default safety contour relates to predefined parameters for safe navigation depth layers. Deviation from route typically indicates a navigational error rather than a failure of the positioning system directly. Thus, a malfunction in the ECDIS serves as a strong indicator of potential issues within the positioning system.