Feature 4 | COMMUNICATIONS & NAVIGATION EQUIPMENT The state of integration to come
Martin Richter of Raytheon Anschütz analyses some of the current key advantages and trends affecting integrated bridge and navigation systems, especially for those aboard smaller and offshore vessels
S
hips designed for operation under harsh environmental conditions and within a safety-sensitive
environment, particularly offshore and platform supply vessels (OSVs / PSVs), are equipped with sophisticated integrated bridge systems (IBS). Tese bridges are typically built in accordance with highest class notations such as DNV NAUT-OSV or equivalent. Tese classification rules list specific requirements regarding ergonomic bridge layout, redundancy and navigational function with a focus on reliability and safety during operation. In the past, to achieve compliance with
class notations and basic operational needs, equipment from a variety of different manufacturers was oſten installed on navigation bridges. With functional requirements and operational needs becoming more complex in recent years, there is an increasing demand for a higher degree of integration. Related benefits include standardised operation, automation of routines and system performance monitoring. Tis simplifies operation and empowers the crew on the one hand, but also increases system availability, reliability and, above all, safety. Te key to a higher degree of integration
is a network-based and task-oriented system architecture providing advanced system functions which are in accordance with IMO’s performance standards for integrated navigation systems (INS).
Scalable in size Te new performance standards as specified in MSC.252(83) require an INS to integrate all the navigational tasks on multi-functional displays. INS also provides integration of sensor data and other information such as MSI, AIS, charts, radar, centralised alarm management, system status display and reliability indication for important equipment. Tese are only a few features that improve availability of function and data, and thus help make navigation safer,
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Added value can be achieved when all hardware units installed at integrated consoles use the same standardised buttons, surfaces and inscriptions
as well as bridge operations simpler, without additional cost. The INS is scalable in its architecture.
Workstations can be added to the system as needed, and, once connected to the networks, they receive data, configurations and tasks automatically. Te workstations can be tailored to the needs of various ship types. Apart from installing various consoles with stand-alone radar and ECDIS with different user interfaces, inhomogenous data and alert management, ship- and boatowners can also install a multifunctional workstation providing access to radar and ECDIS (and optional conning) with standardised user interfaces and standardised handling of sensor information and alerts. Tis also increases the capability of the whole bridge system and supports efficiency on the bridge. With regard to smaller vessels, INS can
contribute to a space-saving bridge layout; depending, of course, on flag state and classification, a multifunctional workstation can reduce the need for additional consoles. Through a higher degree of integration and integrated redundancy, a standardised human-machine interface (HMI) can reduce the need for additional training, and the ‘any
function, any place’ principle of multifunctional workstations can enable small and constantly changing crews to operate the vessel safely. However, we see many small ships being
fitted with equipment produced by different manufacturers, and we also encounter a lot of older ships that require retrofitting of another manufacturer’s equipment. To serve these stand-alone solutions, shipowners could also use multifunctional workstations to provide access to all applications for additional redundancy, or providing access to radar or ECDIS only, as is required. Another solution is to add a conning compact display, which is connected to the ECDIS via a single wire connection, to show important navigational data at a glance. Tere are five particular ways in which
smaller and offshore vessels can benefit from INS: • Multifunctional workstations Te key element is the multi-function display (MFD), which can be configured to offer functions such as radar, chart radar, ECDIS, conning, or any combination enabling access to and control of different tasks from any workplace connected to the network
Ship & Boat International May/June 2013
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