Raytheon Anschütz bridge system first to be type approved to new IMO standards

 Bridge Control, the new generation of the Raytheon Anschütz bridge system, has become the world’s first navigation system to be type approved to IMO’s new Performance Standards for Integrated Navigation Systems (INS). The type approval was awarded earlier this month by Germanischer Lloyd (GL).

The INS Performance Standards specified in IMO resolution MSC.252(83) apply to all newbuildings after January 2011 that have Integrated Navigation Systems installed. They require an INS to integrate the tasks of collision avoidance, route monitoring, route planning, navigation control data display, status and data display with a centralized human-machine interface for alert management on multi-functional displays.

“IMO’s new INS rules are focusing on two subjects: Ease of operation and system safety,” says Andreas Lentfer, Director of Business Development at Raytheon Anschütz, adds. By requiring additional functions and a higher degree of system integration, the new standards help make navigation more safe and bridge operations more efficient and simple. Every INS is now required to feature a Consistent Common Reference System (CCRS) to provide ship wide consistent sensor information management. The system monitors all navigation sensors and automatically selects the best available data. Another major improvement is the new intelligent handling and processing of alarms, warnings and cautions within a centralized alert management system, which helps to avoid unnecessary multiple alerts on the bridge – a real relief of stress for the watch officer.

A key element of the Raytheon Anschütz Synapsis Bridge Control is new multifunctional workstations that can replace stand-alone displays like ARPA radars, ECDIS or conning displays. Standardized hardware and software allow bridge systems to be customized for any ship’s requirements in a standardized, but flexible matter. A newly developed software framework controls all configurations, functional tasks and bridge workstation displays while providing flexibility for system upgrades and extensions.

Various versions of the Synapsis Bridge Control are available from low budget solutions for small ships to complex solutions for cruise liners and offshore support vessels. In all versions, the navigation system fully integrates with Anschütz gyro compasses, autopilots and manual steering systems.

Raytheon Anschütz has won several contracts for the supply of Synapsis Bridge Control. Among them are four 15,000 dwt asphalt carrier newbuildings for Sweden’s Wisby Tankers AB at 3.Maj Brodegradiliste shipyard in Rijeka, Croatia, various offshore supply vessel newbuildings in Singapore and China and a number of megayacht newbuildings at leading European shipyards.

May 7, 2012