## 6 Conclusions  
Digital navigation is replacing traditional means. Paperless navigation relies on present and future maritime navigational trends, with integrated navigational systems, e-navigation, and coordinating cloud data exchanges between vessels and the shore as most common examples. The research carried out in this paper has focused on the opinions and arguments of eligible officers as the central stakeholders in the process of the maritime navigation, elaborating their level of acceptance of new navigational means. This research aimed at addressing potential problems arising from the transition to electronic charts to improve the safety of navigation. The participants' answers have been collected and analysed during and after the transitional period, considering their response through the survey periods and their current engagement with the ECDIS system. The results have pointed out measurable differences in opinions on a particular navigational rank and trends of opinions through five consecutive years. As seen from the navigational ranks' standpoints, even though there has been a positive, increasing, and finally expected trend regarding the PNC removal from the service, except for the chief officers, there have still been more than one-fourth of the research participants who have, in one-way, been favouring the PNCs and traditional navigation means. Senior navigational ranks and overall commanding officers have still been reasonably reserved towards new technologies. The reasons can be found in existing system- and chart-related issuesand insufficient trust in electronic equipment. Here, traditional equipment has been considered as an irreplaceable support. Apart from technical issues, the updating level of knowledge is essential, adapted to the particular rank and its actual engagement with the system, rather than relying on formal, prevalent courses. The research has indirectly confirmed the unwanted possible consequences of overreliance which could lead to the lack of situational awareness. The research results brought up the complex matter referring to the particular approach of navigational ranks of different standpoints and, consequently, their mutual relationship aimed to provide a safe navigation. The discordance in accepting of navigational means could have a negative impact on conducting tasks in the ECDIS navigation and the synergy of the bridge team. Further, the integration of traditional and modern means appears to contribute to the safety of navigation. The research findings have indicated a need for further analysis of the answers given by particular respondents' groups, especially the ranks which have been less represented in the research, e.g., the third officers. A further continuation of the research has been planned in order to engage as many navigational ranks as possible, in order to maintain and improve this feedback mechanism. In pace of time and of the new generations of seafarers, it is to expect that they will categorically accept the modern navigation means. However, it has been evident that the PNCs cannot be entirely discarded. Even though the introduction of the ECDIS has not necessarily implied complete PNCs withdrawal, it can be assumed that it will happen. With the rise of new chart-creation technologies, it can be expected that the electronic charts and their appropriate accuracy will further improve. Nevertheless, it seems that the time has not yet come. Conceptualization, D.B. and M.C. ; methodology, D.B., M.C., and S.Z. ; validation, D.B., S.Z., B.S., and M.C. ; formal analysis, D.B. and S.Z. ; investigation, M.C. and D.B. ; resources, S.Z., D.B., and B.S. ; data curation, M.C. ; writing--original draft preparation, M.C. ; writing--review and editing, M.C., D.B., S.Z., and B.S. ; visualization, M.C. and D.B. ; supervision, D.B. ; project administration, D.B. and B.S. ; funding acquisition, B.S. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.