14.1 Definitions
14.1.1 Operating area is the operating compartment and those parts of the craft
on both sides of, and close to, the operating compartment which extend to the craft's
side.
14.1.2 Workstation is a position at which one or several tasks constituting a
particular activity are carried out.
14.1.3 Docking workstation is a place equipped with necessary means for docking
the craft.
14.1.4 Primary controls are all control equipment necessary for the safe
operation of the craft when it is under way, including those required in an emergency
situation.
14.2 General
The design and layout of the compartment from which the crew operate the craft should be
such as to permit operating crew members to perform their duties in a correct manner
without unreasonable difficulty, fatigue or concentration, and to minimize the
likelihood of injury to operating crew members in both normal and emergency conditions.
14.3 Field of Vision from the Operating Compartment
14.3.1 The operating station should be placed so that the operating crew positioned in
the navigating workstations are able clearly view the horizon through a horizontal arc
from the bow to 30 degrees abaft the beam on either side. Engines and propulsion
equipment should not adversely affect this field of vision.
14.3.2 Blind sectors should be as few and as small as possible, and not adversely affect
the keeping of a safe look-out from the operating station. If stiffeners between windows
are to be covered, this should not cause further obstruction inside the wheelhouse.
14.3.3 The view of the sea surface from the operating station, when the navigators are
seated, should not be obscured by more than one craft length through the arc specified
in 14.3.1 irrespective of the craft's operational mode, draught, altitude, trim and deck
cargo.
14.3.4 Where it is considered necessary by the Administration, the field of vision from
the navigating workstation should permit the navigators from this position to utilise
leading marks astern of the craft for track monitoring.
14.3.5 The field of vision any workstation used for docking, should permit one navigator
to safely manoeuvre the craft to a berth.
14.4 Operating Compartment
14.4.1 The design and arrangement of the operating compartment, including location and
layout of the individual workstations, should ensure the required field of vision for
each function.
14.4.2 The craft's operating compartment should not be used for purposes other than
navigation, communications and other functions essential to the safe operation of the
craft, its engines, passengers and cargo.
14.4.3 The arrangement of equipment and means for command, navigation, manoeuvring,
control, communication and other essential instruments should be located sufficiently
close together to enable both the officer in charge and any assisting officer to receive
all necessary information and to use the equipment and controls, as required, while they
are seated. If necessary, the equipment and means serving these functions should be
duplicated.
14.4.4 If a separate workstation for supervision of engine performance is placed in the
operating compartment, the location and use of this workstation should not interfere
with the primary functions to be performed in the operating station.
14.4.5 The location of the radio equipment should not interfere with the primary
navigational functions in the operating station.
14.4.6 The design and layout of the operating compartment and the relative positions of
the primary controls should be assessed against the essential operational manning level.
The design and layout of the primary and communication controls should form an
integrated operational and emergency control centre from which the craft can be
controlled under all likely operational and emergency events by the operating crew
without the necessity for any crew member to vacate the compartment.
14.4.7 The relative positions of the primary controls and the seats should be such that
each operating crew member, with the seat suitably adjusted and without prejudicing
compliance with 14.2, can:
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.1 without interference, produce full and unrestricted movement of each control
both separately and with all practical combinations of movement of other controls;
and
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.2 at all workstations, exert adequate control forces for the operation to be
performed.
14.4.8 When a seat at a workstation from which the craft may be operated has been
adjusted so as to suit the occupant, subsequent change of seat position to operate any
control should not be acceptable.
14.4.9 In craft where the Administration considers the provision of a safety belt
necessary for use by the operating crew, it should be possible for those operating crew
members, with their safety belts correctly worn, to comply with 14.4.8, except in
respect of controls which it can be shown will only be required on very rare occasions
and which are not associated with the need for safety restraint.
14.4.10 The integrated operating station should contain equipment which provides
relevant information to enable the officer in charge and any assisting officer to carry
out navigational and safety functions safely and efficiently.
14.4.11 Adequate arrangements should be made to prevent passengers from distracting the
attention of the operating crew.
14.5 Instruments and Chart Table
14.5.1 Instruments, instrument panels and controls should be permanently mounted in
consoles or other appropriate places, taking into account operation, maintenance and
environmental conditions. However, this should not prevent the use of new control or
display techniques, provided the facilities offered are not inferior to recognized
standards.
14.5.2 All instruments should be logically grouped according to their functions. In
order to reduce to a minimum the risk of confusion, instruments should not be
rationalized by sharing functions or by inter-switching.
14.5.3 Instruments required for use by any member of the operating crew should be
plainly visible and easily read:
14.5.4 Instruments essential for the safe operation of the craft should be clearly
marked with any limitation if this information is not otherwise clearly presented to the
operating crew. Emergency controls such as for the launching of liferafts and the
monitoring of the firefighting systems should be in separate and clearly defined
positions within the operating area.
14.5.5 Instruments and controls should be provided with means for screening and dimming
in order to minimize glare and reflections and prevent them being obscured by strong
light.
14.5.6 Surfaces of console tops and instruments should have dark glare-free colours.
14.5.7 Instruments and displays providing visual information to more than one person
should be located for easy viewing by all users concurrently. If this is not possible,
the instrument or display should be duplicated.
14.5.8 If considered necessary by the Administration, the operating compartment should
be provided with a suitable table for chart work together with lighting appropriate for
that purpose. Chart-table lighting should be screened.
14.6 Lighting
14.6.1 A satisfactory level of lighting should be available to enable the operating
personnel to adequately perform all their tasks both at sea and in port, by day and
night. There should be only a limited reduction in the illumination of essential
instruments and controls under likely system fault conditions.
14.6.2 Care should be taken to avoid glare and stray image reflection in the operating
area environment. High contrast in brightness between work area and surroundings should
be avoided. Non-reflective or matt surfaces should be used to reduce indirect glare to a
minimum.
14.6.3 A satisfactory degree of flexibility within the lighting system should be
available to enable the operating personnel to adjust the lighting intensity and
direction as required in the different areas of the operating compartment and at
individual instruments and controls.
14.6.4 Red light should be used to maintain dark adaptation whenever possible in areas
or on items of equipment requiring illumination in the operational mode, other than the
chart table.
14.6.5 During hours of darkness, it should be possible to discern displayed information
and control devices.
14.6.6 Reference is made to additional provisions on lighting in 11.3.13 and 11.3.14.
14.7 Windows
14.7.1 Divisions between windows, located in the front, on the sides and in the doors,
should be kept to a minimum. No division should be installed immediately forward of the
operating stations.
14.7.2 Administrations should be satisfied that a clear view through the operating
compartment windows is provided at all times regardless of weather conditions. The means
provided for maintaining the windows in a clear condition should be so arranged that no
reasonably probable single failure can result in a reduction of the cleared field of
vision such as to interfere seriously with the ability of the operating crew to continue
the operation and bring the craft to rest.
14.7.3 Arrangements should be provided so that as far as practicable the forward view
from operating stations is not adversely affected by solar glare or unwanted reflection.
Neither polarized nor tinted window glass should be fitted.
14.7.4 The windows should be made of material which will not break into dangerous
fragments if fractured.
14.8 Communication Facilities
14.8.1 Such means as are necessary should be provided to enable the crew to communicate
between, and have access to, each other and with other occupants of the craft in both
normal and emergency conditions.
14.8.2 Means to communicate between the operating compartment and spaces containing
essential machinery, including any emergency steering position, irrespective of whether
the machinery is remotely or locally controlled, should be provided.
14.8.3 Means for making public address and safety announcements from control stations to
all areas to which passengers and crew have access should be provided.
14.8.4 Provisions should be made for means to monitor, receive and transmit radio safety
messages at the operating compartment.
14.9 Temperature And Ventilation
The operating compartment should be equipped with adequate temperature and ventilation
control systems.
14.10 Colours
The surface materials inside the operating compartment should have a suitable colour and
finish to avoid reflections.
14.11 Safety Measures
The operating area should be free of physical hazard to the operating personnel and have
non-skid flooring in dry and wet conditions and adequate handrails. Doors should be
fitted with devices to prevent them moving, whether they are open or closed.