Update on Lloyd’s Register Requirements for BNWAS

As outlined in one of our earlier blog posts Lloyd’s Register (LR) had initially not accepted the use of passive infra red (PIR) sensors to detect movement on the ship’s bridge stating:

‘We understand these requirement as such that the reset functionality may be provided by either physical reset push buttons at Officer of the Watch (OOW)’s proper look out positions, e.g. conning position, navigation operation & watch station (radar & ECDIS workstation), wings, etc., or by input from other equipment on the bridge capable of registering operator’s action in positions giving proper look out, e.g. operation of radars or ECDIS. Movement of OOW (or other thing) detected by the motion sensors in wheelhouse is not sufficient to demonstrate the OOW’s mental alertness…’

However, more recently LR has modified their position on the use of PIRs to say:

“LR does accept the use of reset arrangements based on the detection of movement for vessels where Flag Administrations accept the use of them.  However, LR does not accept the use of reset arrangements based on the detection of movement for vessels with the additional optional ‘NAV1’ or ‘IBS’ class notations.”

So, provided that the Flag Administrator of your vessel approves of their use as a method of resetting your BNWAS and your vessel does not have additional ‘NAV1’ or ‘IBS’ notations then you are able to use PIRs as a more convenient reset method.

Read more about how the Danish experience of BNWAS shows the benefits that using a system that incorporates an activity reset method has over a manual reset system.