Grounding of Karin Schepers highlights the importance of a fully functioning BNWAS

This year sees the compliance date for cargo ships of 3,000gt and over to ensure that they have installed a type approved bridge navigational watch alarm system (BNWAS). Whilst this is yet another regulatory headache for many ship owners and managers, it is worth considering the case of the Karin Schepers to see the importance of a fully functioning BNWAS on your vessels.

Karin Schepers Grounding

Karin Schepers is a 7,852 GT, 9,340 DWT Container Ship, built in 2007, registered in Antigua & Barbuda and classed in Germanischer Lloyd. It had a crew of 12 including a master, a chief officer, a 2nd officer, 3 able bodied seamen and 2 ordinary seamen.

Karin Schepers departed Helsinki, Finland, on 20 March 2009 at 1730 bound for Teesport, England with a cargo of containers.

However, on 22 March at 0935 Karin Schepers grounded in position 55°39’44 N - 012°42’15 E, 0.9 nm north of Drogden dredged channel in the Sound. The speed when the ship grounded was 12 knots. The draft was 6.40m fore and 6.60m aft before the grounding. After the grounding the draft fore was reduced by 1.90m and the draft aft was increased by 0.80m.

At highest water in the morning of 23 March at 0820 the ship was refloated by help of a tug and towed into the Port of Copenhagen.

Causes of the Grounding

Following the grounding an accident investigation was carried out by the Danish Maritime Authority – It found that the grounding was caused be the following:

• The chief officer was incapacitated due to intoxication.
• The chief officer fell asleep during his watch.
• There was no look out on the bridge.
• The Bridge Navigational Watch Alarm System was off.
• No crewmembers reacted on the various attempts to draw attention to the dangerous path the ship was taking.

In the report the shipping company was recommended to introduce procedures ensuring that watch keeping on the bridge always is optimal in the prevailing circumstances and conditions including the use of lookout and Bridge Navigational Watch Alarm System.

In this incident it was not the fact that there was no BNWAS that contributed to the grounding, it was that the crew were able to easily turn off the installed system, making it useless.

Protect Your Vessels - Prevent Your Crew from Turning off BNWAS

Many systems available on the market use simple key switches which make it far too easy for anyone to turn the BNWAS off, removing vital protection for the vessel.

To prevent this happening on your vessels and to deter your crew from switching the BNWAS off, Navgard™ BNWAS from Martek Marine requires a master password to switch it off and also confirms continuous operation by logging to integral SD-card. Navgard™ also logs all alarm events in real time, giving you a permanent record of bridge activity.

This is just one of the many benefits that make Navgard™ the World’s No.1 BNWAS. Click here to find out more.

Read the full accident report of the Karin Schepers’ grounding.

Navgard™ BNWAS Approved by United States Coast Guard (USCG)

If your vessels operate in US waters or if your fleet is owned/managed out of the USA then when you look to install BNWAS (Bridge Navigational Watch Alarm System) you should consider selecting a system with US Coast Guard approval.

Navgard™ BNWAS

Navgard™ is the first and only system approved by the US Coast Guard (as of the time of publication). This gives you the ‘peace of mind’ that your vessel has the highest quality of BNWAS installed and that it is compliant with the rigorous standards of safety and performance required from the US Coast Guard Authority.

US owners and managers will want to ensure that the BNWAS they choose has passed their own coast guard approval process.

Even if your vessels are not currently operating in US waters, having a system with such a wide range of approvals will ensure that your vessels are attractive to all charterers for all trading routes in the future, including US territorial waters.

Navgard™ – The World’s No.1 BNWAS

• Approved By All Major Classification Societies
• Easiest, Quickest & Lowest Cost System to Install - Guaranteed!
• 3-Year Warranty - Built To Last on Your Ships
• Worldwide Service & Sales Partners

Find out more about Navgard™ BNWAS

New Singapore Office Enhances Martek's Presence in Asia Pacific Region

Martek Marine is strengthening its presence within the all-important Asia Pacific market by opening a regional office in Singapore.

New Singapore Office for Asia Pacific Region
Visit www.martek-marine.com.sg

Martek Marine (Asia Pacific) Pte. Ltd, which was incorporated in August this year, will be headed by Simon Whitaker, regional director, who has many years of experience delivering business growth in Asia Pacific. He will be supported by regional sales managers, Soon Young Tan, who will focus on South East Asia, Australia and New Zealand, and Clayton Thomas, who will be responsible for markets in North Asia.

Martek is recruiting additional members of the sales team who will be in position by the end of December, as well as a technical engineering resource to augment its technical support resources in the UK. This will provide the platform for the company to offer repair and calibration services for gas detection and other devices in Singapore.

Mr Whitaker says: “We have decided to set up a regional presence based in Singapore in order to get closer to our many customers in this part of the world. Asia is a market rich in potential and this direct presence will help Martek further increase its share in this region.”

Simon Whitaker
Regional Director - Asia Pacific

Currently around 65% of Martek’s business is generated by customers based in Asia Pacific, with a growth rate faster than in Europe and the Americas. Mr Whitaker adds: “The shift in business that Martek has seen in the past 18 months or so has made it vital to have a direct presence in the region. By being in the same time zone, and having sales staff who speak the same language, we will have better connectivity with our customers.”

Martek Marine (Asia Pacific),  based in western Singapore close to the Jurong port and industrial zone, will be the initial point of contact for customers across a wide geographic region, stretching from the Indian Sub Continent  to South East Asia and onto Australia and New Zealand, as well as the key North Asia markets of China, South Korea and Japan.

While the new company will offer the complete range of Martek products and services, for both newbuilding and retrofit projects, initially it will focus on two areas of business: the Navgard BNWAS system and the new Fastcalgas calibration gas supply service.

Mr Whitaker says: “With impending regulatory changes we are seeing a major upturn in interest from Asian shipowners and operators in our BNWAS technology, which we will be able to respond to much quicker from Singapore. Furthermore, we see great potential for the Fastcalgas service introduced earlier this year, for which speed of response is of the essence."

The new Martek Marine Asia Pacific team has already achieved notable success. Recently the company secured two important orders from a leading Singapore-based shipmanager. As a result Martek Marine will equip 60 vessels with the Navgard BNWAS system and will also supply up to 500 bottles of calibration gas for use across the company’s fleet.

“These business wins are just a sign of things to come,” suggests Mr Whitaker. “By having a presence on the ground in Asia Pacific we will be much better placed to capitalise on emerging opportunities and support our clients in the area.”

Visit the Martek Marine (Asia Pacific) website.

Bahamas Flag Accept PIRs for BNWAS Compliance

The Bahamas Maritime Authority (BMA) has until now held the view that passive infra-red motions detectors were not an acceptable technology for compliance with BNWAS requirements. However, following a review of the available technology, the BMA has changed its stance.

A statement from the BMA reads:

“As you will be aware, the BMA stance on PIR as a reset method for BNWAS has always been that they are not acceptable. However following a review of the performance standards of Intelligent PIR and review of IMO NAV 55/20/2 and 55/21 papers, we are now of the view that 'Intelligent' PIR are acceptable. Therefore, we will be changing the relevant Section of The Bahamas National Requirements to reflect this view and allowing BNWAS with PIR to be fitted providing that the IMO performance standards are met.” 

In a later communication the BMA advised:

“The BMA will accept motion sensors approved to industry standards or by one of our RO's as a valid reset method.”

Navgard™ BNWAS

The Navgard™ BNWAS from Martek Marine uses unique Type Approved dual technology infra-red & microwave motion sensors solving the problems of false reset by air-conditioning systems or objects moving on the bridge which affect conventional sensors.

We also use digital temperature compensation to automatically adjust sensitivity ensuring sensors maintain detection range & reset function, even when the temperature on the bridge is near to body temperature.

Find out more about Navgard™, the only BNWAS approved by all major classification societies.

Study Shows Defibrillators are Easy for Ship's Crew to Use

A study called 'implementation of automated external defibrillators on merchant ships' published in the Journal of Travel Medicine has looked into the ability of ship's officers to successfully deliver an effective defibrillation shock.

Here is a copy of the abstract from the study:

  

Background. In contrast to cruise ships, ferries and merchant ships are rarely equipped with automated external defibrillators (AEDs). Germany is the first flag state worldwide that legally requires to carry AEDs on seagoing merchant vessels by September 2012 at the latest.

Objectives. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of training ship officers in the handling of AEDs and to explore their perceptions concerning the user-friendliness of currently available defibrillators.

Methods. Using four different AEDs, 130 nautical officers performed a total of 400 resuscitation drills. One group (n = 60) used only one device before and after resuscitation training; the other group (n = 70) used all four AEDs in comparison after training. The officers' performances were timed and they were asked by questionnaire about the user-friendliness of each AED.

Results. Without resuscitation training, 81.7% of the first mentioned group delivered an effective defibrillation shock. After a 7-hour resuscitation training with special regard to defibrillation, all ship officers (n = 130) used the AED correctly. Among all AEDs, the mean time until start of analysis decreased from 72.4 seconds before to 60.4 seconds after resuscitation training (Wilcoxon test; p < 0.001). The results of the questionnaire and the differences in time to first shock indicated a different user-friendliness of the AEDs. The voice prompts and the screen messages of all AEDs were well understood by all participants. In the second mentioned group, 57.1% regarded feedback information related to depths and frequency of thorax compression as helpful.

Lifeforce Marine AED

Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is the world’s biggest killer, killing over 3 million people worldwide every year. Even on land the chances of the emergency services reaching a victim in time are slim, at sea the chances are zero.

The only proven way to treat SCA is by delivering an electric shock to the heart to restore a normal heart rhythm. This is called defibrillation and can make the difference between saving a life and having a victim die. If a victim receives defibrillation within the vital first 3 minutes the chances of survival are increased by up to a staggering 70%.

The Lifeforce Marine AED is the easiest to use defibrillator on the market and is the only defibrillator tested and Type Approved for use in the hostile marine environment.

Find out more about Lifeforce Marine AED. 

MOL commits to Martek BNWAS

Mitsui OSK Line has made a firm commitment to install Bridge Navigational Watch and Alarm Systems (BNWAS) on board its ships ahead of regulatory requirements.

MOL to install Martek Marine's Navgard BNWAS

The company has taken the opportunity of the drydocking of 17 of its vessels so far this year to install the Martek Marine Navgard BNWAS. 

MOL said it was likely that all of its existing vessels would be fitted with BNWAS before the end of 2011.

Under the terms of the revised SOLAS regulations new passenger vessels and cargo ships greater than 150gt have had to implement BNWAS since July 2011. However, existing passenger ships and cargo vessels greater than 3,000gt can wait until July 2012 before BNWAS becomes mandatory, while existing cargo ships of between 500gt and 3,000gt can wait until July 2013, and those between 150 and 500gt until July 2014.

Alan Stewart, MOL Tankship Management (Europe) Ltd Deputy General Manager explained that the carrier had already witnessed an increasing frequency of comments by SIRE inspectors regarding whether or not a BNWAS was fitted. He said that MOL had decided on a course of “being proactive and not waiting until the last minute, as is usual in the marine industry”. 

Navgard BNWAS

Martek’s Navgard system was able to demonstrate that it had all necessary approvals, Mr Stewart said, while the company had been able “to solve any challenges that arose”.

The latest deal follows hard on the heels of a contract through which Martek is supplying its Navgard BNWAS to Seacom Electronics, the UK subsidiary of global ship management services giant V.Ships.

A number of serious maritime accidents continue to be attributed to issues relating to tiredness, and to the situational awareness of officers on the bridge, leading to widespread calls for owners and operators to act well before they must install BNWAS.

The International Chamber of Shipping has carried out a detailed investigation into accident reports in the Malacca Straits which are transited by more than 70,000 vessels each year. It identified ‘loss of situational awareness’ as one of the most significant factors that need to be addressed as a cause of accidents. Of the incidents examined, 68% resulted in collisions and all could have potentially caused harm or pollution incidents.  

BIMCO has issued advice to its members urging them to consider fitting systems at drydockings before the mandatory implementation date, and not to wait until annual surveys within the compliance window.

A BNWAS monitors bridge activity and detects any operator disability that could lead to shipping accidents. Under revisions to SOLAS, the regulations specify that the system has to be reset either manually or automatically through motion sensor devices at intervals of between three and 12 minutes.

Paul Luen, Martek Chief Executive, said: “There have been a number of incidents recently which show a lot can happen in three minutes, let alone 12 minutes, and so it is vital these systems are installed on vessels as soon as possible. Owners delaying implementation until the last minute are risking the lives of their crew and the safety of their vessels. Where is the sense in that?”

The Navgard system comprises either a bulkhead-mounted or console-mounted control panel with an onboard Passive Infra-Red (PIR) movement detector that offers a 10m range. The system is highly modular, enabling it to accommodate any bridge size and layout. Navgard is the world’s first BNWAS system fully type approved by all major classification societies. 

Mr Luen says: “The vessel’s next dry docking is an ideal time to install BNWAS. But, such is the ease of installation of Navgard that the work could be done while alongside or during passage.”

Find out more Navgard - the World's No.1 BNWAS - and its benefits to you.

Guidelines for ROs when recommending an exemption for a BNWAS installed 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.

Navgard - The World's No.1 BNWAS

If your current system does not meet the minimum criteria or you do not have a system in place then the Navgard BNWAS from Martek Marine can provide you with the easiest and most cost effective route to compliance. Find out more...