Martek introduces market’s first compact BNWAS for smaller vessels

Martek Marine, UK-headquartered manufacturer of maritime safety systems, has announced
the launch of a Lloyd’s Register MED-approved BNWAS designed specifically for smaller bridges
to meet the next stage of BNWAS implementation starting in July of this year. BNWAS regulations state that existing cargo vessels between 500-3000GT must be compliant by July 2013 and vessels between 150-500GT by July 2014.

The Navgard Mini offers the same functionality as Martek’s Navgard system in a more compact all-in-one box unit. Navgard Mini is the only system available which has all IMO-compliant alarms and reset switches in a single enclosure, making it very simple to retrofit on the smaller bridges of tugs, OSVs and lower capacity passenger vessels – the system simply requires a power supply to deliver full compliance with SOLAS regulation.

Existing systems require a button to be pushed to confirm the crew’s presence on the bridge. IMO legislation dictates that BNWAS systems’ first stage alarm must sound between every three to 12 minutes. If the reset button is not pressed, the second stage will activate after 15 seconds. If the button is still not pushed, the third alarm will sound between every 90 to 180 seconds.

Although effective in theory, there have been several incidents, including the grounding of MV Karin Schepers in 2009, on vessels which have had BNWAS installed but switched off, as crew have simply found it too demanding to continue with other necessary work while being disturbed by such frequent alarms and the requirement to push a button so regularly.

Martek has addressed this issue in several ways. Firstly, with the inclusion of the market’s first passive infrared (PIR) motion sensor. This is built in to the device’s panel and detects movement on the bridge. No alarm sounds as long as movement is detected on the bridge, and crew can work undisturbed. Only when the system detects no movement for a set time, between the IMO’s mandated three and 12 minutes, will the alarms sound. Because the PIR sensor is part of the panel, no extra installation is required and no additional wiring is needed, reducing the cost, installation time and space needed.

The second important feature is the password deactivation, also built in to the panel. Where BNWAS models have traditionally been turned off by a simple key, the Navgard Mini can only be deactivated by password. This increases accountability by giving the vessel’s Master the sole responsibility for the device’s operation. The system, which comes with a two-year warranty, also uses real-time data logging, providing essential evidence in the event of an incident and recording when the system is switched on and off so that checks can be made to ensure it is being used continuously.

Download Martek Marine's BNWAS buyers' guide.

A Day at the Races

This month’s Fun Committee landed on the Sales Team’s shoulders to organise, so we ditched our usual weekends away from the gang and headed for a day out at Doncaster Races on the 1^st June.

The day was filled with us pretending to fit in with the crowd, awkwardly trying to figure out what the 7/1 odds meant, drinking prosecco and wolfing down the odd seafood platter.

The Martek team are amature gamblers at best, and most lived up to this on the day. However, Jami and Dave were feeling particularly lucky, and managed to finish with £200 and £430 profit! 

Nautical Friday in aid of Seafarers UK

The Martek team had a great day of dress up on Friday when we took part in raising money for Seafarers UK.

Our crew dug out their best pirate and sailor costumes, paying £2 for the privilege, and competed in the Nautical Friday Quiz.

We’re pleased to report we raised a total of £129 for a great UK charity, supporting seafarers and their families through times of difficulty and hardship.

Seafarers UK (King George’s Fund for Sailors) has been helping seafarers since 1917, growing to be the leading charity in the maritime field. The money raised will help maintain a reasonable quality of life to the crew and their families of the Merchant Navy, Fishing Fleets, the Royal Navy and the Royal Marines. All money raised for the charity will help to provide accommodation, clothing and education for those in need. They aim to provide training to people of any age to prepare them for work or service at sea, promote safety at sea and efficiency and effectiveness of the maritime charitable sector.

After sending our best pirate jazz hands photo to @seafarers_UK, we were ecstatic to announce we won the #NauticalFriday best photo competition! We look forward to receiving our treasure! 

When will you be adopting ECDIS?

July 2014 will come around faster than you think, and here at Martek, we’d love to know when you plan on complying with the IMO mandated regulations for ECDIS installation by completing the online poll on our homepage.

It has been a requirement to fit Electronic Chart Display and Information Systems on new build ships since July 2012, with IMO legislation coming into effect for existing passenger ships

in July 2014. This will be followed by existing tankers in 2015, and existing cargo ships from 2016 – 2018.

There are great financial and safety incentives to invest in ECDIS well before the IMO mandate.

According to DNV research, deploying ECDIS reduces the grounding frequency by 30%, the fourth highest contribution to marine fatalities. Early adoption also allows your crew a longer transition period to paperless navigation so they acquire competency and confidence before the deadline, easing pressure when ECDIS becomes mandatory.

ECDIS will also save your company money as it eliminates the need for paper charts, administration and logistics. Time is also saved as manual updates to the chart are replaced with automated updates.

ECDIS can also save fuel costs as the system will optimise and automate your route plan, taking into account weather and tidal information, ultimately cutting out transit times by plotting the shortest, safest route.

However, some companies have other reasons for holding back on purchasing ECDIS, as they are unsure about what’s required of them and the training involved. Visit our ECDIS information website to read about the implementation schedule, the training required under the IMO and FAQ’s. 

Martek Goes Outdoors

To celebrate Martek Marine achieving ‘Gold’ in the Investors in People award, last month the whole company took a day away from their desks to head to Thornbridge Outdoors, in Derbyshire.

The day was filled with whole company activities, including everyone laughing at Joe getting stuck in 3 hoola-hoops and running a ping pong ball down lengths of guttering to get it into a bucket – surprisingly harder than it sounds (we finally finished that task after several attempts)!

We then split off into 4 groups, allowing employees to work with people outside of their departments.

The day of adventure was filled with an apparent 4 mile bike ride (although we’re sure it was more like 8 miles!), abseiling off a viaduct, an Aerial Rope Course, a crawl through a marble mine, swinging through the trees on zip wires, a Jacob’s ladder and 10 meters of very difficult-to-climb netting – although Gary proved to be a pro!

The winning team (this is debatable  then received a £25 shopping voucher each and a few chocolate treats! Well done!

After a very exhausting day Team Martek reported back that 23% didn't enjoy the cycle and abseil and 7% didn't enjoy the Aerial Rope Course, but we just need to get them a little used to heights before the next visit!

However, 100% of employees agreed that they were given a chance to work with colleagues they didn't normally get a chance to work with, 97% thoroughly enjoyed the group tasks, and 90% said the event exceeded their expectations for the day!

We wound the day down with a BBQ in the sun and music from The Rogues of Rhythm. It’s fair to say there were a few sore heads in the morning! 

Oliva crash could have been avoided if the vessel had ECDIS installed

It has emerged this month that MS Oliva could have been saved using an Electronic Chart Display and Information System that could have warned the crew they were about to run aground off the shore of Nightingale Island.

The 2011 crash happened on the 16^th March at Spinners Point. According to the investigation the second mate drew up a passage plan for the first leg of the voyage which would take the 75,000-dwt bulker form the Brazilian port of Santos to China. Waypoints were then plotted on a paper chart and were intended to take the vessel 10 nautical miles south of the Tristan Da Cunha Islands.

On approach to the islands the second mate saw a large echo on the radar but assumed it to be “a rain cloud or an iceberg”, the report said. At around 5am the chief mate made the same mistake, identifying a large echo directly ahead as a “heavy storm cloud”. The hazard was in fact Nightingale Island. The ship, carrying a cargo of soya beans and 1,700 tonnes of fuel oil, then ran aground, causing serious implications for the islands and its inhabitants with widespread pollution and its important lobster-farming industry closing for nearly two years. The vessel would then eventually break up, and was declared a constructive total loss.

From the investigation, it is clear that an ECDIS on board would have prevented the devastating grounding in 2011. The ECDIS would have recognised their mandatory points causing an audible alarm to be sounded when the danger ahead was seen in the ships path.

With ECDIS on board the crew of 22 could have plotted the entire route on the chart, with visible clear instructions on where dangers lay. This disaster and many more could have been avoided.

See the iECDIS teaser video.

Martek Marine welcomes Heroes and Villains in the name of charity

The outfits certainly brightened up the working day!

On Friday the Martek team swapped their professional outfits for something more entertaining, dressing as fictional heroes and villains in the name of Comic Relief. 

Characters ranged from Jami Beech as Captain Sponge Monkey, Rachel Hufton as Haberdashery Hero and we even had Steven Bedford as ‘The Baffler???’ We didn't quite understand either!


On the day the team dived into a cupcake bake off with over 12 entries. The hard task of judging the delicious cakes was handed over to Amanda Woolley with the trophy going to Production Apprentice Daniel Wilson, although we think he might have had a little help…

The rest of the day was filled with a raffle and quiz, with a swearing ban in force throughout! The Martek team managed to raise over £175 for Comic Relief.

We look forward to our next charity challenge!