Martek Marine Blog: Amendments to SOLAS Chapter V Regulation 19

On 5th June 2009 Resolution MSC.282(86) saw the adoption of amendments to the International Convention for Safety of Life at Sea 1974 (SOLAS). Among the changes was an amendment to Chapter V Regulation 19 – Carriage requirements for shipborne navigation systems and equipment. Part of these changes was the requirement for cargo and passenger vessels to install a bridge navigational watch alarm system (BNWAS).

Amended SOLAS regulations call for
BNWAS on cargo and passenger vessels

Addition to SOLAS Regulations

The changes see the following subparagraph is added to paragraph 2.2:

“.3 a bridge navigational watch alarm system (BNWAS), as follows:

.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.

The bridge navigational watch alarm system shall be in operation whenever the ship is underway at sea;

.4 a bridge navigational watch alarm system (BNWAS) installed prior to 1 July 2011 may subsequently be exempted from full compliance with the standards adopted by the Organization, at the discretion of the Administration.”

Martek’s Solution to the Amended Regulations – Navgard™ BNWAS

Navgard™
Bridge Navigational Watch Alarm System

Martek Marine has launched the Navgard™ bridge navigational watch alarm system (BNWAS) in response to the new requirements under the amended SOLAS regulations. The system has been designed specifically to comply with these newly amended regulations.