Technical Specification

1. General System Compliance & Performance:

• IMO Compliance: Fully compliant with IMO Performance Standards for BNWAS (Resolution MSC.128(75)), SOLAS Chapter V, Regulation 19.2.2.3.
• IEC Standards:
  • IEC 62616 (2010) incl. IEC 62616 Corr. 1 (2012) – Specific to BNWAS
  • IEC 60945 (2002) incl. IEC 60945 Corr. 1 (2008) – General Maritime Nav. & Radio. Equipment
  • IEC 61162-1 Ed.4.0 (2010-11) and Ed.5.0 (2016-08) – NMEA 0183 Interface
  • IEC 62288 Ed. 2.0 (2014-07) – Presentation of Navigation Related Information
  • IEC 62923-1/2 (likely, for bridge alert management integration)
• Type Approval: MED (Wheelmark) Type Approved by major classification societies (e.g., DNV GL, LR, ABS, BV, CCS – specific to certificate).

2. Operational Modes:

• Automatic Mode: Activates when heading/track control system is engaged.
• Manual ON: Manual activation (password-protected).
• Manual OFF: Manual deactivation (password-protected, typically Master’s access only).

3. Dormant Period:

• Duration: Selectable by Master, typically 3 to 12 minutes (adjustable in 1-minute increments).
• Accuracy: $\pm 5\%$ or $\pm 5$ seconds, whichever is less.
• Reset: Single operator action resets the timer to its full duration.

4. Alarm Stages & Timing (relative to dormant period (Td) expiry):

• Stage 1 (Visual Indication):
  • Trigger: End of dormant period (Td).
  • Location: On the bridge (main operating device).
  • Duration: 15 seconds.
• Stage 2 (Bridge Audible Alarm):
  • Trigger: Td + 15 seconds (if Stage 1 unacknowledged).
  • Location: On the bridge (main operating device and/or dedicated bridge sounders).
  • Characteristics: Audible, with adjustable volume and selectable tone/modulation.
• Stage 3 (Backup Officer Alarms – Remote Alarms):
  • Trigger: Td + 30 seconds (if Stage 2 unacknowledged). Some systems use Td + 15 + 15 sec, or up to Td + 90 sec depending on specific implementation.
  • Location: Designated off-duty officer cabins (e.g., Master’s, Chief Mate’s).
  • Characteristics: Audible and/or visual alarm units in cabins; sufficient volume to wake a sleeping person (e.g., 80-85 dB(A) at 1m).
• Stage 4 (Public Area Alarms – Remote Alarms):
  • Trigger: Td + (180-300 seconds total from Td expiry, e.g., Td + 90s to Td + 180s from Stage 3 initiation, or 3-5 min total from Td expiry).
  • Location: Public areas (e.g., crew mess, engine room, other common areas).
  • Characteristics: Audible alarm, distinct from fire/general alarms if practicable.

5. Emergency Call Function:

• Activation: Dedicated button on the main operating device.
• Action: Immediately initiates a higher-stage alarm (typically Stage 2 or 3 sequence).

6. User Interface (Main Operating Device – e.g., MSCOD 210.24.0.0):

• Display: Typically 2 x 16 character colored light display or small graphical LCD.
• Controls: Rotary encoder with integrated push button, dedicated alarm acknowledge button, emergency call button, ON/OFF switch (key switch or password protected).
• Indications: Operational mode (ON/OFF/Auto), dormant period remaining, alarm stage, power supply status (main/backup).

7. Interfaces:

• Inputs for Reset Devices:
  • Multiple dedicated inputs for external push-button reset units.
  • Inputs for connection to bridge equipment (radar, ECDIS, autopilot) to receive NMEA 0183 or contact closure reset signals.
  • Inputs for motion sensors (optional, but common for OOW presence detection).
• Outputs for Alarms:
  • Outputs for external bridge audible/visual alarms.
  • Multiple outputs for remote audible/visual alarm units in cabins and public areas.
• Serial Data Interfaces:
  • NMEA 0183 (IEC 61162-1): Bi-directional, for connection to VDR (for alarm logging) and/or Bridge Alert Management (BAM) systems.
• Power Input:
  • Main Power: 24 VDC nominal (range typically 19.2 – 28.8 VDC).
  • Emergency Power: Also connects to ship’s battery-maintained supply (for malfunction indication and Emergency Call functionality).