Minimum requirements
The Estonian Maritime Administration has issued Guidelines for ROs when recommending an exemption for a BNWAS installed prior to 1st of July 2011 requirement which are not in full compliance with the MSC.128(75) when the following minimum requirements are fulfilled:
1. The BNWAS operational modes can be selected between
Manual ON (in operational constantly) and
Manual OFF (does not operate under any circumstances);
2. The selection of the operational modes is protected by a key switch or password;
3. Once operational the system remains dormant for a period between 3 and 12 min;
4. At the end of this dormant period a visual indication is initiated on the bridge;
5. If not reset, the system sounds additionally a first stage audible alarm on the bridge 15s after the visual indication is initiated;
6. If not reset, the system sounds additionally a second stage remote audible alarm in the back-up officer and/or Master’s location 15s after the first stage;
7. If not reset the system sounds additionally a third stage remote audible alarm at the locations of further crew members min. 90s and max. 180s after the second stage;
8. The audible alarm for the third stage is easily identifiable by its sound and indicates urgency. Moreover the sound must clearly distinguish itself from the fire alarm, general alarm etc;
9. The reset push buttons are only available in positions on the bridge giving proper look out, i.e. conning position, workstation for navigation and maneuvering, the workstation for monitoring and the bridge wings;
10. The BNWAS is connected to a distribution panel supplied from Main Switchboard.
Source: Estonian Maritime Administration
