NYK said it has completed development of a new concept for a ship’s bridge and employed it on a large containership.
The integrated information and bridge system has been optimally and ergonomically arranged and designed to take advantage of Internet of Things aspects of instruments and to improve the safety and efficiency of vessel operation, NYK said.
Half of marine accidents are said to be caused by human error, according to NYK, which said it has been studying ways to improve the bridge, enhance navigational watch efficiency and decrease mistakes since 2007.
The new concept makes use of an integrated console that is about two-thirds the size of a conventional one and enables officers to check essential navigational information and navigate the vessel at the same time. NYK said a seat helps officers better grasp the situation around the ship.
“A joystick-type autopilot system for navigation has been adopted to better avoid collisions with other vessels and help officers in a sitting position easily maneuver the vessel,” NYK said. “Moreover, a mini manual wheel has been installed on the console for steering in an emergency, taking safety into consideration.
“The new bridge has been equipped with larger windows, and the gap between the windows has been minimized to reduce dead visibility angles,” the company said. “Wipers are now operated by remote control. And the shape of the bridge has been optimized to ensure clear sight from a sitting position. The layout has also been enhanced to improve the work environment and reduce weariness during navigational watches.”
At the bridge wing, a narrow walkway extends outward from both sides of a pilothouse, allowing the ship to be maneuvered for entering and leaving harbors and berthing and unberthing operations, NYK said. The wing is equipped with an integrated control stand that can remotely control the main propulsion, rudder and bow thruster.
The J-Marine NeCST ship navigation support tool, which was jointly developed by NYK, MTI Co. Ltd. and Japan Radio Co. Ltd. to make briefings among the officers and the pilot more efficient, also has been installed on the bridge. NYK said this will help improve bridge resource management, even when many officers are on the bridge conducting navigational watches during heavy vessel traffic.
NYK said has decided to adopt the new bridge on pure car and truck carriers and crude oil tankers. It also plans to make use of the advancement as it looks ahead to manned autonomous ships.
The integrated information and bridge system has been optimally and ergonomically arranged and designed to take advantage of Internet of Things aspects of instruments and to improve the safety and efficiency of vessel operation, NYK said.
Half of marine accidents are said to be caused by human error, according to NYK, which said it has been studying ways to improve the bridge, enhance navigational watch efficiency and decrease mistakes since 2007.
The new concept makes use of an integrated console that is about two-thirds the size of a conventional one and enables officers to check essential navigational information and navigate the vessel at the same time. NYK said a seat helps officers better grasp the situation around the ship.
“A joystick-type autopilot system for navigation has been adopted to better avoid collisions with other vessels and help officers in a sitting position easily maneuver the vessel,” NYK said. “Moreover, a mini manual wheel has been installed on the console for steering in an emergency, taking safety into consideration.
“The new bridge has been equipped with larger windows, and the gap between the windows has been minimized to reduce dead visibility angles,” the company said. “Wipers are now operated by remote control. And the shape of the bridge has been optimized to ensure clear sight from a sitting position. The layout has also been enhanced to improve the work environment and reduce weariness during navigational watches.”
At the bridge wing, a narrow walkway extends outward from both sides of a pilothouse, allowing the ship to be maneuvered for entering and leaving harbors and berthing and unberthing operations, NYK said. The wing is equipped with an integrated control stand that can remotely control the main propulsion, rudder and bow thruster.
The J-Marine NeCST ship navigation support tool, which was jointly developed by NYK, MTI Co. Ltd. and Japan Radio Co. Ltd. to make briefings among the officers and the pilot more efficient, also has been installed on the bridge. NYK said this will help improve bridge resource management, even when many officers are on the bridge conducting navigational watches during heavy vessel traffic.
NYK said has decided to adopt the new bridge on pure car and truck carriers and crude oil tankers. It also plans to make use of the advancement as it looks ahead to manned autonomous ships.