THE BRIDGE DESIGN CODE OF PRACTICE

In the late 1960s, a review by the Ship Division of N.P.L. showed that human factors played a part in most ship casualties; some of the more serious errors, leading to collision or grounding, took place on the bridge, and it appeared that shortcomings in the design of the bridge and its equipment could contribute to such errors. It was decided that a fundamental examination should be made of the functioning and design of the bridge in the modern merchant ship. According, in 1973 the former Department of Trade and Industry placed an initial contract for such a study. This preliminary work showed the importance of the ergonomic aspects, and the Department of Industry than placed a main contract with EMI Electronics Ltd. The N.P.L. Ship Division (later absorbed into the National Maritime Institute) undertook the normal monitoring function, and provided assistance with shipboard studies and compilation of the draft Code submitted to the Department of Industry in September 1977 under the title "Draft Code of Practice for Ships' Bridge Design". The present Author, of EMI Electronics Ltd, describes the aims of the study and the methodology used, and discusses some of the findings under the headings: Activities on the Bridge; Function of the Bridge; Design Shortcomings of the Bridge; Noise Level on Bridge. The draft Code, which contains 882 recommendations or entries, with supporting figures and tables, provides guidelines for the designer. It is divided into sections dealing respectively with bridge structure, bridge environment, bridge arrangement, equipment characteristics, and human data; appendices contain regulations, a bridge inventory, and other matter. User reaction to the draft is briefly discussed, together with the expected application of the Code, its cost benefit, and its direct benefit to the mariner. Order from: BSRA as No. 47,844.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Conference on Shipbuilding, held in Plymouth, November 1977.
• Corporate Authors:

  Nautical Institute

  Alderman's House, Alderman's Walk
  London EC2M 3UU,   England 
• Authors:
  • Clarke, A A
• Publication Date: 1977

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: 11 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Analysis; Bridge design; Bridges; Bridges (Ships); Costs; Design standards; Ergonomics; Human factors engineering; Measurement; Noise; Ship operations; Structural design
• Uncontrolled Terms: Cost analysis; Noise measurement
• Old TRIS Terms: Bridge operations
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Environment; Finance; Marine Transportation; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00173729
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: British Ship Research Association
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Apr 26 1978 12:00AM