Martek Marine’s bridge watch and alarm system (BNWAS) Navgard has become the first system to attain US Coast Guard approval.
Navgard, which is approved by all major classification societies, was launched officially in Hamburg in September 2010 as the lowest cost, easiest and quickest system to install for avoiding navigational accidents and also to serve as a bridge security system in port.
It comes with a three-year warranty, on/off and alarm logging and password protected switch off, a dual tech motion sensor to prevent false resetting and a built-in PIR Passive Infra-Red (PIR) movement detector with a 10m range.
“Navgard is the first system approved by the US Coast Guard,” says Steve Coulson, Martek’s Sales & Marketing Director. “It gives owners, operators and crew the peace of mind that their vessel has the highest quality BNWAS installed and that it is compliant with the rigorous standards of safety and performance required by the US Coast Guard.
“US owners and managers want to ensure that the BNWAS they choose has passed their own coast guard approval process. And even if their vessels are currently operating in US waters, having a system with such a wide range of approvals will ensure that the vessels are attractive to all charterers on all trading routes, including in US territorial waters.”
Navgard involves a modular installation process, eliminating the requirement for more complex interfaces, as the alarms are linked directly to the control panel. The system can accommodate any bridge size and layout. It complies with SOLAS Regulation V/19 as amended by MSC.282(86), which requires a BNWAS to be installed on new and existing ships. The system also meets the requirements of the performance standards set out by MSC.128(75) and IEC 62616.
The system comprises a bulkhead-mounted or console-mounted control panel. For vessels under Lloyd's Register classification, the system is also available with just manual reset functionality rather than PIRs, to comply with LR Type Approval requirements. Under amendments to SOLAS new cargo ships over 150gt and all new passenger ships of any size constructed after July 1 2011 must be equipped with a BNWAS with implementation phased in over three years, making BNWAS mandatory on all existing tonnage above a certain size.
Passenger ships and cargo vessels over 3,000gt have to be equipped no later than the first special survey after July 1 2012 and cargo ships over 500gt by the first survey after July 1 2013. The final category of vessels, cargo ships over 150gt, will have to comply by July 1 2014.