One-man bridge operation

Ulstein Bridge Alarm System (Ulstein BAS) has just achieved the type approval certificate from Det Norske Veritas’ (DNV) rules for classification of maritime vessels.

The product is developed by Ulstein Elektro who is on front edge in the market, and
stand alone with the type approval certificate on this type of product.


Ulstein BAS is designed to monitor the bridge activity and alert the master and other
qualified navigators if the bridge becomes unattended or a situation occurs that
needs attention from other officers.


- The system first alerts the officer of the watch through a prewarning alarm indication
at the bridge. If the officer on watch does not respond, the system then alerts the
master or other qualified officer, says development manager for Ulstein BAS
Roar Kjærstad Husby.


Ulstein BAS is very flexible and customer adaptable. All configurations are executable
in operator panels. Cabinets are very compact, and cabinet front is well arranged for
finding connection points. Pluggable connections result in easy fault finding and
installation.



The purpose of the Ulstein BAS
The central bridge alarm panel provides visual and audible alarms. The alarms are
initiated by systems and individual navigation equipment on the bridge. All equipment
on the bridge making an audible alarm shall be connected to Ulstein BAS, says
Kjærstad Husby and continues.


- Another purpose of the bridge watch monitoring is a “dead man” system for detection
of unattended bridge or operator disability based on interval checking.


The alarm transfer to specific locations outside the bridge to alert and call the
master and back-up navigator(s), automatically initiated in case the bridge alarms
are not attended to or an operator disability is detected. It will also call back-up
navigator for the purpose of manually and instant initiation of alarm from bridge for
alert and call of master and back-up navigator(s).



First with this type of approval certificate
The system conforms to the requirements of IMO resolution and performance standards
for a bridge navigational watch alarm system (BNWAS), and the bridge class notations
for ”one-man bridge operation”. - A new standard according to IEC will appear later
in 2009, and the type approval certificate for Ulstein BAS already satisfies this,
Kjærstad Husby concludes.



The electrical and control systems onboard or in onshore industry are critical for
achieving profitable operations. The Ulstein Group designs and integrates systems
for electronics, automation and power control that strike an effective balance between
cost and performance.