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...

Martek lands BNWAS deal for V.Ships’ fleet

Martek Marine has secured a contract to supply its Navgard Bridge Navigation Watch Alarm System (BNWAS) to Seacom Electronics, the UK subsidiary of global ship management services giant V.Ships.

Navgard BNWAS

Southampton-headquartered Seacom has placed an initial order for a Navgard BNWAS compliance package comprising a Navgard panel with two weatherproof external resets, an internal reset, three cabin alarms and four high intensity audio visual alarms.

Martek will also deliver items including an illuminated push-button reset for the bridge, a bridge wing reset button, officer cabin alarm and a high intensity corridor audio-visual alarm.

The initial contract is expected to be followed by orders for further packages to be installed on V.Ships’ vessels during the next three years.

Martek’s Navgard system is designed to comply with SOLAS Regulation V/19 as amended by MSC.282(86), which requires a BNWAS to be installed on all new and existing cargo and passenger vessels. The system also meets the requirements of the performance standards set out by MSC.128(75) & IEC 62616.

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, and has been designed to facilitate and speed up the installation process.

Navgard is the world’s first BNWAS system fully type approved by all major classification societies, and this was a particularly important factor in Seacom’s decision to opt for Martek’s technology, according to Neil Sayce, managing director of Seacom Electronics.

“This saved us from the hidden costs and risks associated with getting additional approvals,” he said.

Under the terms of the SOLAS amendment all new cargo ships over 150gt and all new passenger ships of any size constructed after July 1 2011 have to be equipped with a BNWAS. Furthermore, all existing passenger ships and cargo vessels over 3,000gt have to be equipped not later than the first special survey after July 1 2012 and all existing cargo ships over 500gt by the first survey after July 1 2013. The final category of vessels, cargo ships over 150gt, will have to comply by July 1 2014.

“The importance of this agreement with Seacom cannot be overstated,” said Paul Luen, chief executive officer of Martek. “Seacom expects to order significant numbers of further ship sets during the mandatory compliance schedule for BNWAS.”

Based in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, Martek Marine is one of the world’s leading suppliers of safety and environmental monitoring systems to the marine industry. As well as BNWAS, Martek Marine offers systems for engine emissions monitoring, gas detection, water level detection and cargo tank monitoring.

Seacom Electronics installs and services a wide range of communication, navigation and entertainment systems for all vessel types. Its parent company, V.Ships, is the world’s largest supplier of ship management services, supporting a fleet of over 1,000 vessels. The managed fleet comprises a broad range of vessel types including tankers, bulk carriers and containerships as well as specialised ships, such as offshore vessels.
 
Find out more about Navgard - the World's No.1 BNWAS

New Egyptian Agent Gives Martek Presence in Suez

Martek Marine has recently appointed a new agent to help them meet the needs of potential and existing customers in the Suez region of Egypt.

Egyptian Bureau of Shipping (EBS) was established in 2003 in the city of Suez, a strategic location for all vessels passing via the Suez Canal. Since then they have built a reputation for quality engineering service and reliability. In addition to Suez, EBS deliver their services for ships in all the Egyptian ports by offering a team of highly skilled, experienced and knowledgeable personnel.

EBS' Nabawy Mostafa Nabawy with some of the Martek Marine team members

In addition to representing all of Martek Marine’s range of marine safety products, EBS will also act as a hub for Fastcalgas, Martek’s calibration gas supply service. Having a constant supply of our range of calibration gases in this important shipping location allows us to get calibration gas to customers in Suez on time and cost effectively.

EBS’s Nabawy Mostafa Nabawy, has recently visited Martek Marine’s head office where he met with the whole Martek team and undertook extensive training on all Martek systems including Navgard™ - the World’s No.1 BNWAS.

Hamburg Training Event Sees Martek Marine Expand BNWAS Support Network

Martek's Regional Sales Manager Jonathan Love (2nd right) with Engineers
at the BNWAS training course in Hamburg.

Following the increased demand for Martek Marine's Navgard™ - The World's No.1 BNWAS and the success of previous BNWAS training events in the UK and Singapore, Martek have held a BNWAS installer training course in Hamburg, Germany.

The event saw 16 engineers from 9 companies, representing 8 different countries.

Attending were engineers from ROKO Marine Services (Latvia), UEG Marine Electronics (Latvia), Baltic Marine Contractors (Estonia), STT International (Turkey), SIRM S.p.A. (Italy), Aage Hempel (Spain), Lammers (Germany), Electro Radio Navigational Chamber (Russia) and existing Martek representative ELMAR (Lebanon).

In addition to Navgard™, Martek’s leading BNWAS, there was also a great deal of interest in Lifeforce marine automated external defibrillator, Marine QUATTRO portable multi-gas detector and Marine EXTREME portable single gas detector.

If you are interested in becoming a re-seller or an installer for Navgard™ - the World’s No.1 BNWAS then email us at webenquiries@martek-marine.com.

See Martek’s current sales and installation/service partners.