IMO's new Bridge Alert Management - BAM
The implementation of new regulations to improve safety standards at sea is vital to the evolution of our industry and the wellbeing of crew and passengers. With GMDSS communication systems playing a critical role in enabling safety at sea, resolutions in this area are fundamental to enhancing regular and critical communications.
One of the newest regulatory requirements to be implemented by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) is the Bridge Alert Management resolution, also known as BAM.
What is BAM?
The BAM resolution will improve the management, handling and harmonised presentation of alerts on the bridge by imposing requirements on equipment that generates, manages and presents alerts on the bridge. This also includes equipment that provides Central Alert Management (CAM) system functionalities, which at present are an optional addition.
BAM works to improve communication by prioritising alerts and changing the way they are brought to the attention of bridge crew and officers. With BAM, alerts are classified and easier to identify. It is also clearer to define who is responsible for handling them. As a result, decision making is easier between ship and shore because the crew are able to immediately identify issues and act accordingly to maintain safe operations.
The implementation of the resolution will, in turn, increase the standard of new communications’ equipment and raise the bar for safety at sea.
Will it impact my operations?
The short answer is yes. The EU Marine Equipment Directive (MED) requires compliance with BAM test standards (IEC 62923-1 / IEC 62923-2) from 30 August 2021. The resolution extends to new GMDSS communication equipment installed onboard SOLAS ships.
BAM capable equipment without the appropriate certification, either based on MED or another flag state approval, is not in compliance with IMO requirements and cannot, therefore, be legally released onto the market. For owners and operators, this means that all new equipment installed after 30 August 2021 will need to be compliant with BAM test standards. To futureproof operations, owners and operators must therefore consider communication equipment that fulfils BAM requirements or risk losing out on a substantial investment.
How Cobham Satcom is fulfilling the BAM resolution?
At Cobham Satcom, we are committed to ensuring that the users of our products can easily comply with the new requirements ahead of the deadline. We are therefore providing reliable software updates that will bring the affected SAILOR products into compliance, as well as offering new features that will expand safety alerting and communication functionality on tens of thousands of vessels using our equipment. Any products that these updates cannot be configured on will be discontinued.
Most recently, we introduced the successor of SAILOR 6222 VHF DSC Class A, the SAILOR 7222 VHF DSC Class, to the market. The radio exceeds the standards set by IMO regulations for GMDSS Class A VHF, as well as IEC 62923-1 & IEC 62923-2.
The system can be installed as a standalone device, or as a core component of a SAILOR GMDSS console. Its networking functionality allows the unit to be deployed as part of a fully compliant safety system with other compatible SAILOR products, including mini-C, MF/HF, NAVTEX, Portable VHF and AIS.
The radio has been designed with features to improve user operability. These include a 5.5” TFT touch-screen interface for ease of use in various light conditions on the bridge, as well as an extended replay feature offering playback of up to 480 seconds of activity for message verification. The radio’s robust VHF transceiver design ensures vessels have a powerful and reliable connection during critical situations and in all conditions at sea.
To ensure all our systems are compliant with the new requirements, we are also offering software updates for all other radios affected by the new requirements, including SAILOR 6110 mini-C (BAM is implemented and released), SAILOR 63XX MF/HF DSC Class A – Series, SAILOR 639X Navtex and SAILOR 628X AIS.
For more information on our new SAILOR 7222 VHF DSC Class A visit: https://cobham-satcom.com/product/sailor-7222-vhf-dsc-class-a/