GB2431495A

GB2431495A - Ships navigation bridge watch monitoring system

Info

Publication number: GB2431495A
Application number: GB0424331A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stephen Smith
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-11-03
Filing date: 2004-11-03
Publication date: 2007-04-25
Also published as: GB0424331D0

Abstract

Dual technology, anti-cloak, motion sensors would be fitted to the navigation bridge watch keeping area to monitor the movements of the navigating officers and lookouts. Under normal circumstances their movements are detected, and are used to reset the system. Any prolonged lack of movement due to absence or incapacitation will cause the system to enter the alarm condition and a local alarm to be sounded. If this is not reset in the time allowed, remote alarms are activated in other navigating officers cabins and public areas. When not used in 'watch' mode i.e. in port, the system can be switched to 'security' and acts as a conventional motion sensing system to detect unauthorised intrusions.

Description

I

Ship's Navigation Bridge Watch Monitoring System Over the years accidents have occurred due to navigating officers being incapacitated whilst on the bridge of a ship or absent for prolonged periods during their normal duty hours. This incapacitation or absence may result from - exhaustion, ill health, injury, drugs or alcohol... etc. Under these circumstances it is not possible to keep a sharp lookout, as is required.

It is proposed that dual technology - Passive Infra-Red / Microwave anti-cloak motion sensors be installed at the normal bridge watch-keeping area to monitor the movements of the bridge staff, each detected movement would reset a controlled timer. Should this timer not receive a reset signal - due to lack of movement - the system will activate a pre-warning audible alarm on the navigating bridge. If this alarm is not acknowledged due to the Officer being incapacitated and unable to respond, an audible alarm will be activated in the navigating officers cabins and public rooms to alter them of possible trouble on the bridge.

The system can be operated in automatic or manual mode. In automatic mode the system is active when the bridge is manned and underway i.e. when bridge control has been accepted, and deactivated at finished with engines'. At times when the vessel's bridge is manned but the ship not underway i.e. drifting or at anchor, then manual mode should be selected, by the Capt using a key operated switch.

When not in use as a bridge watch' monitor i.e. the ship is in port, the system can be used as a conventional motion sensing system to detect unauthorised intruders entering the navigating bridge area. Any detected movement will activate the bridge and cabin alarms till Depending on the size of the ship's navigating bridge area I to 4 sensors would be fitted to the ceiling' of the normally enclosed watch keeping area, with 2 exterior grade motion sensors being fitted to the port and stbd bridge wing external areas, thereby covering the entire watch-keeping area.

During normal watch keeping duties, day or night, the duty officer and/or lookout would be active in this monitored area, i.e. checking the gyro, radars, propulsion, rudder... etc. These normal movements would in turn be picked up by the motion sensors and used as a reset signal to a timer as previously described. If no movement is detected in a pre-settable period, i.e. 10 mins the alarm system is activated. z.

Motion Sensors MSI Dual tech sensors (PIR/Microwave), anti-cloak - inside bridge MS2 Dual tech sensors (PIR/Microwave), anti-cloak - inside bridge MS3. Dual tech sensors (PIR/Microwave), anti-cloak - inside bridge MS4: Dual tech sensors (PIR/Microwave), anti-cloak - inside bridge MS5: Dual tech sensors (PIR/Microwave), anti-cloak - Port bridge wing MS6: Dual tech sensors (PIR/Microwave), anti-cloak - Stbd bridge wing Interface panel lPI PSU: 24V/12V dc/dc converter T! : 24V DC constant voltage, contact re-settable, on-delay, multi-function timer 12: 24V DC constant voltage, on-delay timer RI: 24V DC mode select c/o relay R2: 24V DC intruder alarm relay R3 24V DC Audible sounder test relay Operator Panel - OPI KSI: Manual / Automatic key operated selector switch PBI: Push button - reset PB2: Push button - alarm test Si 24V dc audible alarm Remote Alarms S2: 24V dc audible alarm - Cabin (CABI) S3 24V dc audible alarm - Cabin (CAB2) S4: 24V dc audible alarm - Public room (PRI) Security Arm / Disarm KS2: Arm / disarm key operated selector switch

WATCHKEEPING MODE - AUTOMATIC

Please refer to drawing Guardian/O0i 1. Key operated switch KS2 is set to the Watch' position 2 Key operated switch KS1 is set to the automatic position 3. A closing contact from the bridge sub-telegraph or other bridge in control' device connects the output of the motion sensors to the control timer Ti 4. The motion sensors MS1-4 are ceiling (deck-head) mounted in the enclosed bridge area and MS5 -6 are bulkhead mounted at the bridge wings, they are then hard wired to a control / interface panel IPI.

The interface panel IP1 is powered from the ship's 24V DC system and contains a 24V/1 2V dc/dc converter to power the motion detectors.

6. MSI-6 are connected in parallel so that any of the motion sensors can provide a reset pulse for timer relay Ti housed inside IP1.

7. TI is a 24V DC constant supply, on-delay, and contact re-settable, multi-function timer. If no reset pulse is received from the motion sensors, TI will time out (after a pres-settable period) and operate T2.

8 T2 is a 24V DC on delay timer 9. T2 operating activates an audible alarm for 30 seconds or until reset by the duty officer using reset button PB1.

10. If the reset button is not pressed during this 30-second period T2 will time out and activate remote alarms CABI-2 and Public room alarm PRI 11. The remote alarms will remain active till reset button PBI is pressed.

12. An audible alarm and lamp test facility is provided through PB2.

13. When the bridge is in port, or no longer manned, the bridge in control' contact is once again opened thereby isolating the control timer from the motion sensors.

WATCHKEEPING MODE - MANUAL

Please refer to drawing: Guardian/001 1. Key operated switch KS2 is set to the Watch' position 2. Key operated switch KSI is set to the manual position 3. The outputs of the motion sensors are now connected to the control timer TI.

4. Asfor4-l2above.

14. When the vessel gets underway again, the selector switch should be returned to the automatic position.

SECURITY MODE

Please refer to drawing: Guardian/001 i. This option is only to be used when the vessel is in port and the bridge is deemed to be un-manned and secured.

2. Key operated switch KS1 to be set to the Automatic' position 3. Key operated switch (located at the normal point of entry) is set to the security' position.

4. Alarm relay R2 is now directly controlled by the outputs of the motion sensors.

5. Any detected movement will activate R2, which in turn activate the local and remote audible sounders.

6. The sounders will continue to operate till the reset button PB-I is pressed.

TEST FACILITY

Please refer to drawing: Guardian/001 1. The operator panel is fitted with a facility for testing the audible sounders.

2. Pressing test button PB-2 operates all the sounders simultaneously. 1+

Figure References Page lof 2 Fig 1 - Motion sensors 1 to 6 Fig 2 - 24V DC from ship's supply Fig 3 - Nb contact from sub-telegraph Fig 4-Operator panel OP1 Fig 5 - Cabin alarm 1 (ICAB1) :. Fig 6-Cabin alarm 2 (CAB2) * Fig 7-Arm/Disarm Unit I... * * ... Fig 8 - Public room alarm (PR1) , * * * * *.

:. Page2of2 :1: Fig 1- Ships mains supply * Fig 2 - Ships mains supply

Claims

I A ship's navigation bridge watch monitoring system that detects the lack of movement, by ship's navigation staff, in the normal watch keeping area.
2. To affect Claim 1 motion sensors detect the lack of movement by the watch keeping staff and remotely raise the alarm.
3. The motion sensors mentioned in Claim 2 are connected to an operator unit where manual or automatic mode can be selected. The operator unit also contains the reset button.
4. The system mentioned in Claim I can also be used in the conventional sense for the detection of unauthorised intruders onto the navigation bridge area. In this security mode the motion sensors are used to detect movement.

This system as herein described above is illustrated in accompanying drawings.