Bridge layout and instrumentation
Clasification Society 2024 - Version 9.40
Statutory Documents - IMO Publications and Documents - Circulars - Maritime Safety Committee - MSC/Circular.566 – Provisional Guidelines on the Conduct of Trials in which the Officer of the Navigational Watch Acts as the Sole Look-out in Periods of Darkness – (Adopted on 2 July 1991) - Annex - Draft Provisional Guidelines for Conducting Trials in which the Officer of the Navigational Watch Acts as the Sole Look-out in Periods of Darkness - Bridge layout and instrumentation

Bridge layout and instrumentation

  10 The bridge design, i.e. bridge configuration, arrangement of consoles and equipment location, should enable the officer of the watch to perform navigational duties and other functions allocated to the bridge as well as maintain a proper look-out from a convenient position on the bridge, hereafter referred to as a "workstation".

  11 A workstation for navigation and traffic surveillance/manoeuvring should be arranged to enable efficient operation by one person under normal operating conditions. All relevant instrumentation should be easily accessible from the workstation.

  12 For the purpose of performing duties related to navigation, traffic surveillance and manoeuvring, the field of vision from a workstation should be such as to enable observation of all objects which may affect safe conning of the ship. The field of vision from a workstation should be in accordance with the "Guidelines on navigation bridge visibility", as specified in MSC/Circ.403 as it applies to new ships.

  13 The instrumentation at the workstation for navigation and traffic surveillance/manoeuvring should be arranged to enable the officer of the watch:

  • 1. to determine and plot the ship's position, course, track and speed;

  • 2. to analyse the traffic situation;

  • 3. to decide on collision avoidance manoeuvres;

  • 4. to alter course;

  • 5. to change speed;

  • 6. to effect internal and external communications related to navigation and manoeuvring as well as VHF radiocommunications;

  • 7. to give sound signals;

  • 8. to hear sound signals;

  • 9. to monitor the ship's course, speed and track, propeller revolutions (pitch), rudder angle and the depth of water; and

  • 10. to record navigational data.

  14 The lighting required on the bridge should be designed so as not to impair the night vision of the officer on watch.

  15 Ships participating in trials should be equipped in accordance with relevant international instruments, but should in any case be equipped with the following:

  • 1. bridge safety system as described in paragraphs 18 to 24 and 28 to 31;

  • 2. automatic radar plotting aids (ARPA);

  • 3. electronic position-fixing systems;

  • 4. gyro compass systems;

  • 5. automatic steering systems;

  • 6. speed log systems;

  • 7. echo sounding systems;

  • 8. whistle control systems;

  • 9. internal communication systems; and

  • 10. relevant external communication systems.

  16 All of the above equipment should be functioning properly during any trial.

  17 Administrations should consider the need for and benefits of the following equipment when authorizing ships to participate in trials:

  • 1. automatic graphical position display;

  • 2. an appliance for recording VHF calls;

  • 3. a paging system and means of acknowledgement;

  • 4. a rasterscan daylight-viewing radar;

  • 5. a NAVTEX or EGC receiver, as appropriate for automatic reception; and

  • 6. a sound reception system.

Parent topic: Annex - Draft Provisional Guidelines for Conducting Trials in which the Officer of the Navigational Watch Acts as the Sole Look-out in Periods of Darkness
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