Updated Workboat Code provides guidance on remotely operated vessels

Data logging and transmission

Working logs and voyage data recorders must be carried to record weather information, course and speed, any impairment of situational awareness, loss of signals or connectivity, duration of loss of steering, change in command, near misses and any transitions from manned and uncrewed operations.

Guidance is given on the vessel data parameters to be recorded as a minimum, both on board the vessel and at a remote operation centre, including information from a range of bridge equipment and sensors, including ECDIS, radar, automatic identification system, echo sounder, audio communications, propulsion controls, alarms and cameras.

Other data to be recorded includes date and time; vessel position, speed and heading; visual recording of workstations; rudder control and response; wind speed and direction; hull stresses and roll motions; and equipment deployment and recovery. 

All data must be retained for at least 30 days, while owners need defined procedures for securing onboard and onshore data following an accident or incident to be supplied licence-free to the relevant investigating authority. Critical onboard equipment must have redundancy and high maintenance levels.

Within Edition 3, there is a section on installing and operating alarms and emergency response equipment including onboard fire-fighting systems and bilge pumps to prevent environmental emissions. 

Sufficient alerts, monitoring, diagnostic tools and controls shall be available in the remote operation centre to aid identification and resolution of engineering faults, failures or unexpected events. 

Emergency response

Alarms and warnings for anchoring or dynamic positioning systems must be audibly and visually displayed at the control positions. A fixed fire-fighting system must be self-activating and installed to extinguish blazes and to prevent a fire from spreading to other areas.

Critical equipment needs to be protected from areas identified as being of high risk from fire. Emergency power and back-up critical equipment must be located separately from main systems, located above the damage waterline and protected from fire. 

Operators also require cameras and sensors installed within engine, machinery and battery spaces to provide adequate situational awareness during emergencies such as a fire, with output from these displayed at control positions.

All connectivity systems need to meet requirements for radiocommunications in Edition 3 and there must be a secondary communications system for use if the primary communication system fails to enable vessel locating information and basic vessel functionality, so operators can command the vessel to enter a safe state, activate emergency lights and receive and respond to critical alarms.

Sensors and cameras must be positioned to prevent damage or obstructions and should not be restricted by any cargo or payload. Vessels need signalling equipment and either an anchor system or certified dynamic positioning system to accurately maintain its position in all anticipated weather and operational conditions.

If remotely controlled vessels carry equipment for towing another vessel, they need to comply with Edition 3 requirements for towing arrangements, including a design for minimising the overturning moment due to the lead of the towline.

This vessel must be provided with a towline of minimum breaking strain of 2.5 times its bollard pull, and only use a towing hook, towing winch or towline. It needs to have a positive means of safe and rapid release in all anticipated operating conditions; and a documented and drilled procedure and means to release the tow as demonstrated to the approval of the certifying authority.

Training and risk assessment

In Edition 3, there are sections on training, safety and drills for personnel in remote operations centres, performance testing and maintenance of remotely controlled vessels and requirements for a qualified remote operator and workstations.

Operators are required to develop a detailed failure modes and effects analysis or fault tree analysis to identify hazards, potential failures and incidents, and their likely impacts. 

Action plans must be developed to provide on-duty employees with the actions and equipment required to effectively resolve identified potential failures and incidents. Risk assessments need to consider loss of power, control, steering and connectivity, plus how vessels can enter a safe state appropriate to the intended conditions of operation, such as initiating dynamic positioning and shutting down non-essential systems, reducing speed or emitting audio and visual warnings to other water users.

At 270-plus pages, Edition 3 holds much information covering all aspects of the Workboat Code, and as a supplement, the MCA also issued Marine Information Notice 698 offering best practice guidelines for workboats and pilot boats certified under Edition 3.

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