The Furuno BR500 Bridgenav Watch System monitors the watch officer's presence through watch safety system functions. A watch officer is required to press the button on a Timer Reset Panel or to operate navigation equipment (i.e.: ECDIS, Radar, etc.) at certain preset intervals. If the officer fails to press the button, operate connected equipment or trigger optional motion sensors within preset intervals, visual and audible alarms will be generated in the wheelhouse. If the officer doesn't respond to the alarm, the BR500 transfers the alarm to the Cabin Panels installed in other sections of the vessel in order to inform backup officers of the watch officer's incapacity.
BNWAS will be required equipment for all IMO vessels, mandated by regulation MSC.128(75). July of 2012 will be the primary fitting date for most vessels (existing passenger vessels and existing cargo vessels of 3000+ GT).
In addition to being fully compliant and competitively priced, the Furuno BR500 offers a unique, easy to install design. Our external processor is perfectly sized, providing ample space to easily connect and secure all cables, yet small enough to install in a convenient, accessible location. A single cable (up to 50m) connects the processor and our compact control head, making display placement very flexible. The Furuno design is highly desired over other BNWAS hardware configurations, which require connection of power, sensor, battery, and other control cables directly to the display unit.