1 The Maritime Safety Committee, at its seventy-sixth session (2 to 13 December 2002), adopted the annexed Guidance for the operational use of Integrated Bridge Systems (IBS), which has been developed to support the safe operational use of an IBS by promoting procedures necessary to ensure adequate knowledge of system functions for Mode Awareness, Situational Awareness and Workload Management in addition to traditional seamanship.

　

2 The aim of the Guidance is to define the basis for minimum criteria on the operation, training and quality control for Integrated Bridge Systems. This Guidance is applicable to the operation of ships fitted with Integrated Bridge Systems (IBS), which include Integrated Navigation Systems INS (B) or (C), as per resolution MSC.86(70).

　

3 Member Governments are invited to bring this Guidance to the attention of all parties concerned.

　

This guidance supports the safe operational use of an IBS by promoting procedures necessary to ensure adequate knowledge of system functions for Mode Awareness, Situational Awareness and Workload Management in addition to traditional seamanship.

　

The aim is to define the basis for minimum criteria on the operation, training and quality control for Integrated Bridge Systems.

　

This guidance is relevant to the operation of ships fitted with Integrated Bridge Systems (IBS), as per resolution MSC.64(67), annex 1, which include Integrated Navigation Systems INS (B) or (C), as per resolution MSC.86(70).

　

For the purpose of this guidance, the following definitions apply.

　

Mode awareness is based on the knowledge and purpose of various operation modes included in the IBS. Use of different operation modes should follow bridge procedures based on company automation policy.

　

Situational awareness is the mariner's perception of the navigational and technical information provided at the INS workstation, the comprehension of their meaning and the projection of their status in the near future, as required for timely reaction to the situation that can be expected from his/her trained skills in the operation of the INS.

　

The failure analysis aims to demonstrate that the system has a fail-to-safe functionality. The failure effects and their consequences are assessed for the installed components.

　

The bridge procedures, provided for the ship, should implement the functions, capabilities and limitations of the installed IBS. Especially the documentation should include clear instructions about conditions under which automatic control functions may be used or not.

　

Note: Automatic steering may only be useful where precise manoeuvring is required, if the automatic control system supports the required precision, e.g. by considering speed through water for rudder control.

　

The Company should have personnel ashore capable of supervising, training and evaluating the company Operational Procedures and operational use of the Integrated Bridge System.

　

The Vessel Operating Manual (VOM) should incorporate the Company policy for implementing and using automation and the Integrated Bridge System.

　

The operational manual consolidates and abbreviates the manufacturer’s operational manuals to a comprehensive operational manual without detailed technical information.

　

The VOM should clarify the integration and the priority of sub-systems within the control system. Special emphasis should be laid on the effect of sub-systems on the total outcome of navigation control. Advantages and disadvantages between control and automation modes should be explained in a clear form. It should be clearly indicated for which situations, the different modes are designed.

　

The VOM should indicate corrective actions to be taken when the system gives alarm.

　

Operating limitations and their reasons should be thoroughly explained.

　

A description of the checklists and purpose of the specific items should be included in the VOM.

　

Terminology for standard Call-Outs should be developed by the Company and presented in the VOM.

　

Note: Where the VOM includes other items connected to the IBS, such as cargo handling or other vessel sub-systems the resulting functions, capabilities and limitations should be addressed.

　

Standard Operating Procedures for normal situations should cover normal operation at different stages of the passage including the vessel’s operational limits, manoeuvring trial data and ship's data including squat and anchoring.

　

The route should be divided into zones according to the nature of navigation, as follows:

　

The standard operating procedures should be documented in the form of checklists demonstrating transition from one zone to another. The items to be listed are e.g. manning of the bridge and the use of automated equipment including the selection of subsystems and their modes of operations.

　

Manual or automatic heading, track and speed control modes and the required actions for changing modes should be clearly presented in the graphical or checklist flow chart form, if not clearly indicated by the equipment itself.