Bridge Equipment Notes

Ships navigational equipment check - guideline for deck
officers
Collision at sea frequently reported because of substandard bridge

procedures. Lack of checks and testing on bridge equipment can
lead a ship to a dangerous situation. It is especially true while
approaching or leaving a harbor or transiting through a traffic-
congested area with limited sea room. To eliminate the potential
threat of colliding with other vessels or ran aground during shallow
water navigation, bridge watchkeeping officers need to be fully
conversant with the use of all bridge equipment. These preparations
may include many complexities, and this is the reason why a bunch
of things should be considered and prepared carefully, to ensure a
smooth voyage passage and safe navigation.
Prior assuming responsibility of keeping watch deck officers must be
thoroughly familiar with the operation and utilisation of all Bridge
and navigation equipment. It is particularly important that officers
are aware of the limitations of the equipment and of the importance
of not relying solely on one piece of equipment.
Fig: Bridge equipments
Periodic Checks on Navigational Equipment
All Bridge team Members must be aware that equipment breakdown

can occur at any time. Whenever possible, information from one
source must be checked against data from another piece of
equipment. Therefore operational checks on navigational equipment
should be undertaken when preparing for sea and before port entry.
After lengthy ocean passages and before entering restricted coastal
waters, it is vital to check that full engine and steering
maneuverability is available. The OOW should undertake daily tests
and checks on the bridge equipment, including the following:
 Manual steering should be tested at least once a watch when

the automatic pilot is in use.
 Gyro and magnetic compass errors should be checked once a
watch is possible and after any significant course alteration.
 Compass and gyro repeaters should be synchronized, including
repeaters sited away from the bridge, such as in the engine
control room and at the emergency steering position.
Checks on electronic equipment should both confirm that the piece

of equipment is functioning properly and that it is successfully
communicating to any bridge system to which it is connected. Built-
in test facilities provide a useful check on the functional state of the
equipment and should be used frequently. Electronic equipment
systems should be checked to ensure that configuration setting -
important for correct interfacing between pieces of equipment - has
not changed. Information from electronic equipment should always
be compared and verified against information from different
independent sources.
Good practice also requires the OOW to check that orders are being
correctly followed. Rudder angle and engine rpm indicators, for
example, provide the OOW with an immediate check on whether
helm and engine movement orders are being followed.
Emergency procedure for bridge equipment failure
The Shipboard Contingency Plan contains checklists for the failure of

key items of equipment. In the event of failure of any piece of
Bridge equipment, the Master is to be immediately advised. The
Master will then issue clear instructions in the Master’s Bridge Order
Book on procedures to be followed until the equipment can be
restored to operation. Procedures to be followed could involve the
following:
 Increased bridge manning;

 Hand steering;
 Manual plotting of all targets in the event of an ARPA failure;
 Use of magnetic compass and the need for additional compass
errors being taken, in the event of main gyro failure;
 Use of alternative electronic position fixing by use of Sun and
Stellar observation in the event of GPS failure.
Equipment that cannot be rectified by the ship’s staff must be

reported to the Management Office without delay.Close attention
should be given to all navigational equipments on board cargo
ships .
Bridge equipment periodic check items
Summarized below are some basic check items that need to be

complied by watch officers during navigation at sea
1. Trial of hand steering and comparison of ordered and actual

rudder angles
2. Confirmation of recording conditions of course recorder:
3. Synchronisation of time (shall be set to UTC) & ship's heading
4. Course keeping and steering conditions
5. Remainder of recording paper and print quality
6. Marking of date, ship's time every noon and upon arr/dep port
7. Confirmation of appropriate navigation lights being lit
8. Confirmation of appropriate VHF channel and optimum
volume /squelch setting
9. Confirmation of operation and recording conditions of GMDSS
equipment
10. Confirmation of operation for GPS, Chart plotter and
ECDIS (correct position indicated and datum allowance made if
any)
11. Confirmation of operation and input data for AIS
(navigation, draught, destination, time, power setting, etc)
12. Confirmation of operation of fire detection equipment
(zone isolation- check)
13. Number of steering gear power units in use
14. Measurement and recording of compass error (if unable
to check, record reason in deck log book)
15. Confirmation of synchronization of repeater compasses
and master gyrocompass
16. Comparison of gyro and magnetic compasses (upon
alteration & hourly)
17. Confirmation of operation of Speed Log
18. Confirmation of "M0" operation, start/finish (Reported to
OOW)
19. Execution of alarm and lamp tests of main engine control
console
20. Cargo & bilge monitoring related equipment on bridge
21. Confirmation of error of ship's clocks
22. Testing of non-follow-up steering every noon
23. Check of steering gear at least once a day
24. Testing General alarm & Blowing of whistle at noon
25. Confirmation of set conditions of auto-pilot (course
keeping mode etc)
26. Comparison of both GPS positions & their feed to other
equipment
Confirmation of Radar:
 Adjusted conditions of Tune, Clutter (Sea/Rain) & Gain

 Proper range in use
 Heading and bearing comparison with gyro
Confirmation of ARPA:
 Speed input set "through water"

 Set values of CPA / TCPA
 Vector (true/relative indication)
 Set alarm volume level
Operation of echo-sounder (in sounding depths):
1. Adjusted conditions, such as range in use, zero adjustment,

gain adjustment and display output (UKC)
2. Remainder of record paper
3. If recording fuction set on, enter at starting/stopping: date,
time & position and if applicable, range in use

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Ships navigational equipment check - guideline for deck

Collision at sea frequently reported because of substandard bridge

Fig: Bridge equipments

Periodic Checks on Navigational Equipment

All Bridge team Members must be aware that equipment breakdown

 Manual steering should be tested at least once a watch when

Checks on electronic equipment should both confirm that the piece

Emergency procedure for bridge equipment failure

The Shipboard Contingency Plan contains checklists for the failure of

 Increased bridge manning;

Equipment that cannot be rectified by the ship’s staff must be

Bridge equipment periodic check items

Summarized below are some basic check items that need to be

1. Trial of hand steering and comparison of ordered and actual

 Adjusted conditions of Tune, Clutter (Sea/Rain) & Gain

 Speed input set "through water"

Operation of echo-sounder (in sounding depths):

1. Adjusted conditions, such as range in use, zero adjustment,

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