Tag: safe navigation

The previous article in our “Bridge Procedures” series focused on the necessary steps during the ECDIS setup. Since ECDIS is a complex system, at this point, it is critical to clarify what should be done in the case of a failure.

In today's shipping industry, it is beyond doubt that ECDIS has become the main tool for watchkeeping officers on board ships. As a result the Masters, navigating officers, and ship-owners should be aware of the benefits of the chart display, the safety settings, and the alarm system of ECDIS.

The Nigbo Maritime Safety Administration, China, issued guidance for fishing vessels to navigate safely in the coastal waters of Ningbo-Zhoushan Port. It is noted that there are about 5000 fishing boats along the coast of Ningbo every day, and heavy fog is frequent in the area. 

Under its $1.5 billion Oceans Protection Plan, the largest investment ever made to protect coasts and waterways and to create a world-leading marine safety system, the Government of Canada announced four new measures aiming at safer maritime navigation and emergency response.

A sudden operational failure of equipment or technical systems on board may result in a hazardous situation, that equipment or system is considered critical. In this Bridge Procedure article, we are going to explain why the steering gear is one of the most critical systems on a vessel and how to ensure vessel’s proper testing in the steering gear system. 

The previous article in our “Bridge Procedures” series focused on the necessary steps required to achieve the effective handover of navigational watch. At this point, it is of essence, to clarify the situations in which the Ship’s Master would take the control of the ship.

MeteoGroup, the global weather authority, launched a new version of its weather routing solution SPOS. The new version enables captains to safely navigate the globe with low fuel consumption and emissions, by calculating the best routes and anticipate weather. SPOS9 aims to optimize shipping routes by considering various sea conditions.

Kongsberg Norcontrol signed an agreement with the Norwegian Coastal Administration for delivery, operations and maintenance of radars to the maritime traffic service. The agreement has a potential total value of up to NOK 250 million and a duration of up to eleven years. The agreement enables the technical extension of the maritime traffic service area's service areas in the following years,

Watchstanding is a very important operation and one of the many tasks that an Officer of the Watch has to do in a daily basis. The change over has to be done in a short period of time, which is critical for the effective marine watch of the relieving OOW.

The Committee on the US Marine Transportation System issued the Maritime Transportation Extreme Weather Task Force report, providing recommendations and identified opportunities for improving industry response and policies in case of extreme weather events and preventing marine casualties from heavy weather.