Specialist Task Force 591:
Development of a European Norm for the implementation of Bridge Alert
Management in Digital Selective Calling equipment
Who we are:
Team Leader:
Mr. ing. Steven M. Kransse, RH Marine Netherlands B.V. steven.kransse@rhmarine.com
What we do
STF 591 is tasked to implement the concept of Bridge Alert Management
(BAM) to Digital Selective Calling (DSC) equipment.
DSC equipment is radio equipment with the main purpose of exchanging
messages related to ships in distress; a ‘MAYDAY’ and the confirmation
thereof.
BAM was designed by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and
further detailed by the International Electrotechnical Organization. The
BAM concept regulates the messages (alerts) from equipment to the
officers on board the vessel the equipment is installed. With BAM, IMO’s
aim is to reduce unnecessary distraction of the bridge team and to
reduce the cognitive load of the bridge team in order to enable the
bridge team to devote full attention to the safe operation of the ship
and to immediately identify any situation requiring immediate action to
maintain the safe operation of the ship.
More information on Bridge Alert Management can be found in IMO
Resolution MSC.302(87), with further details being available in IEC
62923-1 and -2.
The DSC equipment was conceived in ITU and further standardized in ETSI
long the before conception of Bridge Alert Management. The STF team is
tasked to draft a new part to the ETSI standard on DSC equipment, to
enable manufacturers to understand the impact of BAM and to implement
the BAM concept in DSC equipment in a consistent way.
For more details, see our Terms of Reference.
Why we do it
With the drafting of this part of the ETSI standard on DSC, ETSI strives
to enable implementation of the IMO performance standard for the concept
of Bridge Alert Management (BAM) and thus to further improve maritime
safety. The primarily intended scope encompasses all DSC equipment to be
installed on SOLAS vessels. However, BAM is of benefit for the safety of
all mariners using DSC equipment.
How we do it
The STF uses the structure of the initial document drafted in ETSI TG
Marine as input. To make a first draft the STF primarily makes use of
the available extensive knowledge of the BAM concept through its
leader’s convenorship of IEC TC80 WG16, which was responsible for
drafting the technical standards for BAM (IEC 62923-1 and -2),
combined with his practical knowledge of a trained mariner.
After compilation of the first draft ETSI will be requested to invite
comments invited from interested parties. Comments from mariners are
especially welcome.
Given the short duration of the STF the results will be further
discussed in ETSI TG MARINE and finally the EU.
Deliverables
The deliverable, apart from several drafts, is the ETSI EN 300 338-7
published version.
It is directly related to ETSI EN 300 338-1 and the ITU-R Recommendation
M.493 15. The standard implements and links to IMO resolution
MSC.302(87), IEC 62923-1 and IEC 62923-2.
Stakeholders are invited to provide comments to STF 591 using the
contact information at the top of this page.
Time plan
STF 591 started 1st of October 2020. A stable draft is planned to be
available 30 December 2020.
The final draft with WG approval is anticipated for 30 March 2021
with successive TB approval by 30 April 2021, after which ENAP will
follow over June, July and August 2021.
This should result in publication by 30 November 2021.
For any questions, information or input on this draft standard please
don’t hesitate to contact the STF leader using the contact details at
the top of this page.