Overview of the RTZ File Format and Conversion to GPX/KML

This page explains the RTZ (Route Plan Exchange) file format, which is widely used in ECDIS for sharing and backing up voyage plans. While based on an international standard structure, differences often exist depending on the manufacturer and model. This page also introduces the purpose and methods for converting RTZ files into GPX or KML formats.

1. What is an RTZ File?

• RTZ (Route Plan Exchange) is a file format used for exchanging (importing/exporting) voyage plans between Electronic Chart Display and Information Systems (ECDIS).
• It is defined in Annex S of IEC 61174 Edition 4 (2015) and has an XML-based structure.
• It can structurally store elements of a voyage plan, such as route name, waypoints, turning points, Cross Track Error (XTE) limits, turn radius, safety depth, schedule, and more.

2. RTZ File Versions and Standards

With RTZ 1.0, differences in tag handling and syntax interpretation were observed among manufacturers, meaning full compatibility was not guaranteed.

In practice, manufacturers may implement custom extensions or simplifications to the RTZ format.

• Examples: Differences in tag naming conventions, element order, or latitude/longitude notation (Degrees/Minutes/Seconds vs. Decimal Degrees).

RTZ 1.2 features a more clearly defined schema and has been utilized in multiple demonstration projects.

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3. RTZ Conversion Tool on This Site

On this website, you can use the following tools to convert your RTZ files:

Convert RTZ route data to GPX

Convert RTZ route data to KML

Note 1: GPX conversions are primarily intended for import into applications like Windy. Therefore, the resulting GPX files contain the minimal information necessary for this purpose.
Note 2: This conversion program was developed and tested using RTZ files exported from FURUNO ECDIS equipment.