BRIDGESCOUT® ONBOARD CONTAINER SHIP “POLYBOTES”
In the spring of 2021, we received a phone call from Patrick Verheyen. Verheyen is captain and co-owner of the container ship “POLYBOTES.” In the past, “POLYBOTES” served as a ro-ro ship, but this spring the ship was converted into an estuarial container ship.
During this thorough refit, it was also decided to install Bridgescout®; Verheyen noticed it via an article in the Scheepvaartkrant. Verheyen has been active in shipping since 1987. Both in inland shipping, but also in maritime shipping. During this period, he sailed around the world as a mate to captain and also as a skipper on European waterways. From 2014 onwards, he sails as captain aboard the “POLYBOTES”. Due to reports of collisions between inland vessels and bridges in his network and in the news, he is aware of the risks and consequences of bridge collisions. Since the “POLYBOTES,” due to its relatively high air draft, sometimes has to ballast up to 1,500 tons to safely pass bridges, he decided to invest in a Bridgescout® system.
“Crossing bridges is now safer and therefore less stressful.” It's logical that crews need time to get used to and learn to work with a new system on board. This also applies to Bridgescout®. This mainly concerns the safety margin, which can be changed remotely at any time. Upon commissioning, it is set to 50 centimeters by default. “At first, we were startled by an alarm with a voice saying ‘Bridge too high,’ even though we thought it should fit. That was still with a safety margin of 50 centimeters. After discussion, Sensor Maritime adjusted this to 30 centimeters over time. This is a practical and safe margin for us.”
On board, in addition to Bridgescout®, Height Control has been selected. By connecting a sensor to the Bridgescout® system, the captain gains insight into the height of the wheelhouse. The solution was developed based on new technical regulations regarding the position of the wheelhouse. An additional advantage for the captain: “The wheelhouse can be set directly to the correct height to sail under the bridge, namely wheelhouse height minus stern draft.”
Verheyen confirms that the help of Bridgescout® with an extra pair of eyes is a real aid for crews to safely cross bridges:
“While sailing on the Albert Canal, we passed under a 7-meter bridge with a vessel height of 6.7 meters. We received the notification ‘Wheelhouse too high’. The water level of the canal was temporarily slightly higher than normal.”
This example is typical of the unique way Bridgescout® works. Bridgescout® performs a real-time scan. This means that Bridgescout® is not affected by external influences such as water levels, bridge heights, and the position of the ship. The measurement system does not calculate whether the ship can safely pass under the bridge, but measures it using a laser sensor. This eliminates the need for the crew to make calculations or enter data into the system themselves. For Verheyen, this is enough to recommend Bridgescout® within his network.
The application-to-installation process went smoothly, partly thanks to the efficient collaboration with the Belgian installation partner Van Stappen & Cada. Since “POLYBOTES” was in Zeebrugge for necessary modifications, it was quick and easy to switch gears; we could immediately proceed with scheduling the installation and the onboard work.
All in all, Verheyen is very satisfied with Bridgescout®. On behalf of Sensor Maritime, we thank him for his trust in our organization and Bridgescout® and wish “POLYBOTES” a safe voyage.