Tag: ship bridge

Recent accidents at sea have demonstrated there is considerable room for improvement on the bridges of U.S. Navy warships, according to Lieutenant Commander, Michael Kiser. Apart from the crew's skills, knowledge and compliance with the “Rules of the Road”, which are highly important for keeping ships safe, Mr Kiser suggests three changes, in order to prevent collisions at sea.

The Britannia P&I Club has highlighted the daily behaviour of a bridge team and their interaction with third parties during a routine operation that ends in disaster through a video release which raises awareness that everyone has a role to play in creating a safety culture within their organisation.

Mark Bull, Trafalgar Navigation, says that the provision of ECDIS on board today’s merchant ships is causing a ‘revolution’ in the way they are navigated. Like all revolutions, issues that were never considered crop up, and ECDIS is no exception. Above all, he notes, an ECDIS mindset is required.

Two major bridge refit contracts have been completed by Radio Holland USA on Holland America Line’s cruise ships Oosterdam and Prinsendam.

Australian Maritime Safety Authority has issued a marine notice on Bridge Resource Management (BRM) and Expected Actions of Bridge Teams in Australian Pilotage Waters with the purpose of remindingseafarers, shipowners/operators and pilots of the importance of well-planned Bridge Resource Management (BRM) techniques, efficient watchkeeping arrangements and passage planning requirements which enhance safety and reduce errors when navigating ships.

The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) has published a new edition of the ICS Bridge Procedures Guide, widely acknowledged as the principal shipping industry guidance on best practice for safe navigation, which is used by seafarers and training institutes worldwide.

Kongsberg Maritime has completed the delivery and installation of a suite of new bridge simulators for Indonesia's Ministry of Transportation. The new simulators at the Ministry's Maritime Training Centre, located at its headquarters in Jakarta, will be used for the assessment of Indonesian seafarers applying for seagoing certification, for local and international operations.

A joint study by UK P&I Club and Solis Marine Consultants found ‘human error’ and the breakdown of communications on the bridge is a major contributing factor in claims and advises that communication and team work vital during pilot operations.

The UK P&I Club has issued the second of a series on current risk topics with a focus on Master Pilot Exchange highlighting that good communication and team work are vital during pilot operations.