Tag: navigation

Electronic Chart Display and Information System - ECDIS Electronic Navigation chart is a modern tool that can definitely save ships from possible sea accidents. Like cars and other land vehicles with GPS, marines should also have something that will guide them in the ocean. The Electronic Chart Display and Information System or ECDIS is a type of modern map for ships.ECDIS integrates radar and GPS, and uses the Automatic Identification System (AIS) which is used to broadcast their position to other ships by using radio signals, and displays an electronic map in real time with accurate readings of the weather and the local water depth.UN International Maritime Organization released a mandate to use ECDIS in 2012. International ships will be required to use electronic navigation charts to prevent accidents and unexpected incidents that may ruin the underwater world. There is no exact date released yet, but definitely, it will be implemented soon.Numerous sea accidents have ruined pristine marine lives. The most recent is the MV Rena Oil Spill killing thousands of sea birds and fishes. Coral reefs and other habitats of smaller fishes were also destroyed. The smell of the oil on the beach can also affect the health of ...

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 ...

IMO Cooperative Mechanism in Malacca Malaysia meeting to boost protection in the area BIMCO is participating at the IMO Cooperative Mechanism in Malacca Malaysia during a week of meetings aimed at improving the safety of navigation and environmental protection in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore.The first of the three meetings was the 4th Cooperation Forum opened by the Director General of Malaysia's Marine Department Y.BHG Dato' Captain Ahmad Othman on 10 October 2011. Captain Othman pointed out that the Cooperation Forum has successfully provided "meaningful opportunities for all interested parties to share their interests towards ensuring the Straits remain safe and open for international navigation."Picture above: BIMCO's Mr. Aron Frank Sørensen, Chief Marine Technical OfficerIn his welcoming address, Malaysia's Minister of Transport, YB Dato' Sri Kong Cho Ha emphasized the importance of Article 43 of United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) as the very basis for which the Cooperative Mechanism was established. "It is vital that all stakeholders embrace the meaning and intent of Article 43 to ensure the sustainability of the straits of Malacca and Singapore", said the Minister, adding that the enhanced collaborative efforts between the littoral States, the User States and the ...

Panama Maritime Authority issues Merchant Marine Circular MMC-29 The Panama Maritime Authority issues Merchant Marine Circular MMC-29 regarding Bridge Navigation Watch Alarm System.The purpose of this Merchant Marine Circular is to inform all users that the Solas Chapter V Regulation 19, as amended by Resolution MSC. 282(86), has introduced carriage requirements for BNWAS for the following ships:.1 cargo ships of 150 gross tonnage and upwards and passenger ships irrespective of size constructed on or after 1 July 2011;.2 passenger ships irrespective of size constructed before 1 July 2011, not later than the first survey after 1 July 2012;.3 cargo ships of 3,000 gross tonnage and upwards constructed before 1 July 2011, not later than the first survey after 1 July 2012;.4 cargo ships of 500 gross tonnage and upwards but less than 3,000 gross tonnage constructed before 1 July 2011, not later than the first survey after 1 July 2013; and.5 cargo ships of 150 gross tonnage and upwards but less than 500 gross tonnage constructed before 1 July 2011, not later than the first survey after 1 July 2014.For more information, click here.Source: Panama Maritime Authority

Martek Marine says it has secured a contract to supply its BNWAS Martek Marine says it has secured a contract to supply its Navgard bridge navigation watch alarm system (BNWAS) to Seacom Electronics, the UK subsidiary of major global ship management services company V.Ships.Southampton-headquartered Seacom has placed an initial order for a Navgard BNWAS compliance package comprising a Navgard panel with two weatherproof external resets, an internal reset, three cabin alarms and four high intensity audio visual alarms. UK-based Martek will deliver further items, including an illuminated push-button reset for the bridge, a bridge wing reset button, officer cabin alarm and a high intensity corridor audio-visual alarm.The company expects this initial contract to be followed by orders for further packages to be installed on V.Ships' vessels during the next three years.Martek says that its Navgard system is designed to comply with SOLAS Regulation V/19 as amended by MSC.282(86), which requires a BNWAS to be installed on all new and existing cargo and passenger vessels. The system meets the requirements of the performance standards set out by MSC.128(75) & IEC 62616. The Navgard system comprises either a bulkhead-mounted or console-mounted control panel with an onboard passive infra-red (PIR) movement detector with ...

Information letter referring to yachtsmen and pleasure fishermen at sea The Danish Maritime Authority has issued an information letter to yachtsmen and pleasure fishermen at sea about the regulations on navigation in traffic separation systems.It may be dangerous if yachtsmen are not familiar with the regulations on the traffic separation systems intended to ensure safe navigation in waters with many ships. Many yachtsmen know and follow the regulations, but the Danish Maritime Authority sees a need for increased awareness about the regulations.The information letter describes the general regulations on navigation in traffic separation systems, but also focuses on the northern part of the Sound, which is one of the most densely trafficked waters and, at the same time, an area with much recreational navigation and ferry traffic.Consequently, an area of prohibition has been established, among other things, at the ferry berth in the Port of Elsinore where recreational craft are not permitted to sail. The Danish Maritime Authority co-operates with the North Zealand Police about the enforcement of the navigational regulations.Source: Danish Maritime Authority

To carry out statutory services as a Type A inspection body Belgian accreditation body Belac has accredited Bureau Veritas Inland Navigation Management (DNI) as an organization competent to perform the classification of inland navigation vessels and to carry out statutory services as a Type A inspection body within the requirements of the NBN EN ISO/IEC 17020:2004 standard.DNI is an autonomous organization within the Marine Division of Bureau Veritas. And although BV's Marine Division is already certified according to ISO 9001 standard as well as to the standards required under the IACS Quality Scheme, the decision was taken to go further and to meet the standards initially required of delegated authorized companies by the Dutch inspection authority, Inspectie Verkeer en Waterstaat, and since then suggested by other Administrations.This international standard imposes stringent requirements on inspection bodies, including strict criteria governing quality systems, organization, personnel skills, impartiality, confidentiality, equipment, and inspection methods. All these requirements must be complied with by DNI's head office in Antwerp and by its survey centers.The scope of accreditation embraces inspections, surveys and drawings reviews for classification carried out in Belgium. It also includes statutory issues relating to compliance with relevant European directives, the Rhine Rules, ADN, and ...