This is a question that vessel owners, ship managers, and procurement teams ask more often than might be expected, particularly when replacing navigation bridge window fittings or outfitting a vessel for the first time. The answer matters significantly, because specifying the wrong product for a navigation bridge window is not simply a question of product performance. It is a question of regulatory compliance, flag state requirements, and what happens when a port state control officer takes a different view.
The short answer is yes. Commercial vessels operating under international maritime regulations are required to maintain navigation bridge windows that meet prescribed visibility standards, and the products fitted to those windows must not impair that visibility. Type Approval from a recognised marine classification society is the formal, independently verified mechanism by which a product is confirmed to meet those requirements.
This guide explains what the actual regulatory requirements are, what Type Approval means in practical compliance terms, what the consequences of non-compliance look like, and how SOLASOLV® Type Approved anti-glare screens by Solar Solve address these requirements for commercial vessel operators worldwide.
The Regulatory Requirement — IMO, SOLAS, and Navigation Bridge Visibility
The International Maritime Organisation sets the international standards for the design, equipment, and operation of commercial vessels. Under the Safety of Life at Sea Convention, commonly known as SOLAS, there are specific requirements relating to the design of navigation bridges and the visibility available to officers of the watch from the bridge.
The core requirement, expressed in IMO Resolution MSC.64(67) and the related guidelines for navigation bridge visibility, is that the officer of the watch must have a clear, unobstructed view of the sea surface and the surrounding environment from the bridge position. This means that anything fitted to a navigation bridge window must not impair the ability of the officer of the watch to see clearly through that window when they need to.
What This Means for Navigation Bridge Window Fittings
The practical consequence of this requirement is that navigation bridge windows cannot simply be fitted with any available window covering product. A standard opaque roller blind that blocks the view entirely when deployed is not compliant with IMO visibility requirements. A heavily tinted film that impairs colour perception or reduces outward visibility below the required level is similarly non-compliant.
The only category of product that meets this requirement is a see-through solar protection screen that reduces glare and heat without impairing the outward visibility of the officer of the watch. SOLASOLV® anti-glare screens are specifically designed and independently certified to meet this requirement, providing up to 93% glare reduction and up to 87% heat rejection while maintaining a completely clear, undistorted outward view at all times.
The Role of Classification Societies and Type Approval
Classification societies are the organisations responsible for assessing whether commercial vessels and their equipment meet the relevant international standards. When a classification society issues a Type Approval certificate for a product, it is confirming that the product has been independently tested and assessed and found to meet the requirements for use on commercial vessels under that society’s rules.
For navigation bridge window fittings, Type Approval from Lloyd’s Register, DNV, ABS, or RINA is the accepted mechanism by which a product’s compliance with IMO visibility requirements is formally demonstrated. This is the standard that port state control officers, flag state authorities, and classification society surveyors apply when assessing whether navigation bridge window fittings are appropriate and compliant.
UK Flag State Requirements and the MCA
For vessels operating under the UK flag, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency is the flag state authority responsible for implementing and enforcing international maritime regulations, including those relating to navigation bridge design and equipment.
The MCA implements the IMO’s navigation bridge visibility requirements through the UK’s transposition of SOLAS and the related codes and guidelines. For UK-flagged commercial vessels, the requirement to maintain appropriate outward visibility from the navigation bridge applies throughout the vessel’s operational life, not only at the point of construction.
This means that when navigation bridge window fittings are replaced, upgraded, or fitted during a refit, the replacement products must meet the same standards as those originally specified for the vessel. A vessel owner who replaces an approved product with a non-approved alternative during a refit is creating a compliance gap that may be identified at the next MCA survey or during a port state control inspection.
Lloyd’s Register Type Approval, which SOLASOLV® has held since May 2001, is the recognised compliance standard for navigation bridge window fittings on UK-flagged and Lloyd’s-classed commercial vessels.
Port State Control Inspections and What Inspectors Look For
Port state control is the system by which vessels are inspected by the port authorities of the country they are visiting to verify that they meet international safety and environmental standards. Port state control officers have the authority to issue deficiency notices and, in serious cases, to detain a vessel until identified deficiencies are rectified.
In the United Kingdom, port state control inspections are conducted by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency at UK ports. The UK is also a member of the Paris Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control, which coordinates port state control activities across 27 European and North Atlantic nations. A vessel detained in one Paris MOU member state has that detention recorded on the Paris MOU database, which is visible to port state control authorities in all other member states.
Navigation Bridge Inspections During Port State Control
During a port state control inspection, the officer will typically inspect the navigation bridge to verify that it is fitted and equipped in accordance with the vessel’s flag state requirements and applicable IMO conventions. Navigation bridge window fittings that are not Type Approved or that cannot be shown to meet IMO visibility requirements may be recorded as a deficiency.
The potential consequences of a navigation bridge deficiency identified during port state control include:
- A formal deficiency notice requiring the vessel to rectify the issue within a specified timeframe
- A requirement to report back to the port state control authority once the deficiency has been rectified
- In cases where the deficiency is assessed as presenting a safety risk, a detention order preventing the vessel from sailing until the issue is resolved
- Recording of the deficiency or detention on the Paris MOU database, affecting the vessel’s targeting score for future port state control inspections across all member states
The financial and reputational cost of a port state control detention far exceeds the cost of specifying a Type Approved product in the first place. A vessel detained in a UK port while cargo is waiting, crew are stood by, and charterers are being informed of a delay caused by non-compliant navigation bridge window fittings represents a failure that is entirely preventable.
Compliance Summary — Approved vs Non-Approved Products
| Consideration | Type Approved SOLASOLV® | Non-Approved Alternative |
|---|---|---|
| IMO visibility compliance | Independently confirmed | Not confirmed |
| Classification society acceptance | Lloyd’s, DNV, ABS, RINA | Not assessed |
| Port state control risk | None | Present |
| Flag state documentation | Full certificate available | No formal documentation |
| Outward visibility maintained | Yes — see-through screen | Not verified |
| UK MCA survey acceptance | Lloyd’s Type Approval recognised | Not recognised |
| Refit and retrofit suitability | Confirmed for newbuild and retrofit | Not assessed |
How SOLASOLV® Type Approval Addresses These Requirements
SOLASOLV® marine anti-glare screens are manufactured by Solar Solve Marine in South Shields, UK, and hold Type Approval from four leading international classification societies. They are the only marine anti-glare blind in the world to hold all four of these approvals simultaneously.
The Type Approval certifications held by SOLASOLV® are:
- Lloyd’s Register — awarded May 2001. The primary certification for UK-flagged vessels and the recognised standard for the majority of commercial vessels operating in UK and European waters
- DNV — awarded July 2002. The leading certification for offshore sector vessels and vessels operating in North Sea and Norwegian Continental Shelf environments
- ABS (American Bureau of Shipping) — awarded September 2001. The primary certification for vessels operating internationally under flag states that recognise ABS
- RINA (Registro Italiano Navale) — awarded subsequently. The leading certification for vessels operating under EU flag states and in Mediterranean markets
Each certificate is available to download and can be provided to classification society surveyors, flag state authorities, port state control officers, and procurement officers as part of the vessel’s compliance documentation. Full certificate downloads are available on the Solar Solve downloads page.
In addition to Type Approval, Solar Solve holds ISO 9001 quality management certification and operates the independently managed Solar Solve Marine Quality Assured system, providing a documented quality assurance framework that has been in continuous operation since 1991. This quality assurance record is assessed externally every year as part of the Type Approval audit process, providing independent validation on an ongoing basis. The current quality policy is available for reference by vessel operators and procurement teams.
Practical Guidance for Vessel Owners and Ship Managers
For vessel owners and ship managers considering navigation bridge window fittings, whether for a new vessel, a refit, or a replacement programme, the following practical points summarise what needs to be confirmed before any product is specified:
For New Vessel Builds
Specify SOLASOLV® screens during the build programme as part of the navigation bridge window package. The product’s Type Approval from Lloyd’s Register, DNV, ABS, and RINA means it is accepted by all major classification societies without the need for additional approval at the build stage. This removes specification risk and ensures the vessel leaves the yard with compliant navigation bridge window fittings from day one.
For Refits and Replacements
When replacing navigation bridge window fittings during a refit or as part of a planned maintenance programme, confirm that the replacement product holds Type Approval from the vessel’s classification society before ordering. A refit is an auditable event, and fitting non-approved products during a refit creates a documented compliance gap.
SOLASOLV® screens are available in both cassette-mounted format (SOLASAFE®) and non-cassette format (SOLAROLA®), making them suitable for retrofit installation alongside newbuild specification. Both formats hold the same Type Approval credentials.
For Fleet Procurement Programmes
Fleet procurement managers specifying navigation bridge window fittings across multiple vessels should confirm that a single product specification covers the classification society requirements for all vessels in the fleet. Because SOLASOLV® holds Type Approval from Lloyd’s Register, DNV, ABS, and RINA simultaneously, a single SOLASOLV® specification satisfies the requirements of virtually every classification society and flag state combination across a mixed fleet, simplifying procurement documentation significantly.
For more information on how Solar Solve supports vessel operators and procurement teams, visit the Solar Solve marine sector page or read about what our customers say about their experience with SOLASOLV® on our testimonials page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do commercial vessels legally require Type Approved blinds on the navigation bridge?
IMO SOLAS regulations require that navigation bridge windows on commercial vessels maintain clear outward visibility at all times, and that nothing fitted to those windows impairs that visibility. Type Approval from a recognised classification society such as Lloyd’s Register or DNV is the formal mechanism by which a product is confirmed to meet this requirement. While Type Approval is not always stated as a specific mandatory requirement in SOLAS text, it is the standard by which classification societies, flag state authorities, and port state control inspectors assess compliance in practice. Specifying a non-Type Approved product introduces a genuine compliance risk.
What happens if a vessel fails a port state control inspection because of its navigation bridge blinds?
A port state control officer who finds that navigation bridge window fittings impair visibility or cannot be shown to meet IMO requirements may issue a deficiency notice requiring the situation to be rectified before the vessel can sail. In serious cases this can result in vessel detention. The cost and reputational damage of a port state control detention significantly outweighs the cost of specifying a correctly approved product in the first place.
Which classification societies have Type Approved SOLASOLV® marine blinds?
SOLASOLV® marine anti-glare screens hold Type Approval from Lloyd’s Register (since May 2001), DNV (since July 2002), ABS — American Bureau of Shipping (since September 2001), and RINA — Registro Italiano Navale. This makes SOLASOLV® the only marine anti-glare blind in the world to hold simultaneous Type Approval from all four of these leading classification societies.
Are Type Approved marine blinds required for UK-flagged vessels?
UK-flagged commercial vessels are subject to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency’s implementation of SOLAS and IMO regulations, which require that navigation bridge windows maintain the prescribed visibility standards. Lloyd’s Register Type Approval — held by SOLASOLV® since 2001 — is the recognised standard for confirming that a navigation bridge window fitting meets these requirements for UK-flagged and Lloyd’s-classed vessels.
Can I install standard window blinds on a commercial vessel navigation bridge?
No. Standard window blinds are not designed for navigation bridge use and do not meet IMO visibility requirements. When deployed, a standard opaque blind blocks the outward view entirely, which is not compliant with SOLAS requirements for navigation bridge windows. A Type Approved see-through marine anti-glare screen such as SOLASOLV® is the correct specification for a commercial vessel navigation bridge because it reduces glare and heat while maintaining a clear, undistorted outward view at all times.
How do I specify SOLASOLV® Type Approved blinds for my vessel?
Contact Solar Solve Marine directly at sales@solasolv.com or call +44 191 454 8595. Solar Solve manufactures every SOLASOLV® screen to the specific dimensions of the window it is being supplied to, so accurate measurements are required at the point of order. Solar Solve’s technical team will advise on the correct product, screen film colour, and installation format for your vessel type and window configuration.
