Bridge Functionality

Work required of bridge personnel extends well beyond that imposed by primary operational and system requirements. Often, analysis of functions and identification of requirements examine only those tasks directly associated with piloting and navigation, interfaces with engineering and means to address a limited number of off-normal events. Additional duties, however, are required of bridge personnel to meet additional technical, administrative and statutory requirements and so on. These requirements should be examined as well during the design of navigation bridges. Design of navigation bridges should consider the entirety of the watchstander job—whether or not specific responsibilities involve some specific hardware interface. Decisions as to how to apply automation to influence bridge personnel workload, for example, must consider task demands that have no attendant hardware and software or that require general purpose hardware and software (e.g., electronic ma