Passenger ferries operate on some of the most demanding navigation routes in the world. The English Channel, the North Sea, and the busy coastal routes of Northern Europe see high vessel density, unpredictable weather, and the precise schedules that come with commercial passenger service. Officers of the watch on these vessels face the same solar protection challenge as officers on any commercial vessel, but with additional complexity: they manage it on every crossing, on a fixed schedule, with passengers on board.
SOLASOLV Type Approved anti-glare screens have been supplied to passenger ferry operators including DFDS and have been observed in active use on Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth. This guide covers the specific technical and safety requirements of passenger ferry navigation bridge solar protection, how SOLASOLV screens address them, and what ferry operators need to know about specification and compliance.
The Passenger Ferry Navigation Bridge Solar Challenge
Passenger ferries operating on fixed routes face a distinctive set of solar protection challenges that make the navigation bridge specification particularly important:
High-frequency daily operations
Unlike deep-sea voyages where the sun angle and glare pattern changes gradually over days or weeks, a passenger ferry on a Channel or North Sea route repeats the same crossings multiple times each day. Officers face the same glare conditions at the same times on every crossing. The cumulative effect of this repetitive solar exposure on officer alertness and eye strain is significant and measurable over the course of an operational day and a working week.
High-traffic waterways requiring constant vigilance
The English Channel and the North Sea are among the most heavily trafficked waterways in the world. Officers of the watch on passenger ferries must maintain continuous situational awareness of other vessels, navigation marks, VTS communications, and changing weather and sea state conditions. Solar glare that impairs their ability to see clearly through the bridge windows reduces that situational awareness at precisely the moments when it matters most.
Fixed departure schedules regardless of solar conditions
A passenger ferry cannot delay a sailing because the sun angle is creating glare on the bridge windows. The vessel must sail to schedule. The solar protection solution must therefore be reliable, always deployable, and always effective regardless of the time of day, the season, or the direction of travel.
Crew welfare on continuous service rosters
Passenger ferry officers and crew typically serve extended rosters with multi-day or multi-week rotation patterns. The cumulative effect of repeated solar exposure without adequate protection affects crew health, alertness, and performance over the full rotation period. Effective solar protection on the navigation bridge is a crew welfare investment as well as a safety measure.
IMO Requirements and Type Approval for Passenger Ferry Navigation Bridges
Passenger ferries are commercial vessels subject to IMO SOLAS regulations. For navigation bridge window fittings, the core requirement set out in IMO Resolution MSC.64(67) is that the officer of the watch must have a clear, unobstructed outward view at all times. Any product fitted to navigation bridge windows must not impair that visibility.
Type Approval from a recognised classification society is the independent confirmation that a product meets this requirement. SOLASOLV® screens hold Type Approval from all four leading classification societies simultaneously:
| Classification Society | Awarded | Relevance for Passenger Ferries |
|---|---|---|
| Lloyd’s Register | May 2001 | Primary certification for UK-flagged passenger ferries and the majority of ferry operators on UK and European routes |
| DNV | July 2002 | Leading certification for Scandinavian and Northern European ferry operators and North Sea routes |
| ABS | September 2001 | Relevant for internationally operating passenger vessels and ferries entering US-regulated routes |
| RINA | Confirmed | Relevant for EU-flagged passenger ferries and Mediterranean ferry operators |
All four certificates are available to download from the Solar Solve downloads page and can be provided to classification society surveyors and flag state authorities as part of the vessel’s compliance documentation.
SOLASOLV® Technical Performance on Passenger Ferry Navigation Bridges
SOLASOLV® screens address all three components of solar exposure that affect passenger ferry navigation bridge safety and officer performance simultaneously:
| Performance Measure | Rating | Passenger Ferry Bridge Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Solar glare reduction | Up to 93% | Eliminates glare impairing visibility of other vessels, navigation marks, and sea conditions on high-traffic waterways |
| Solar heat rejection | Up to 87% | Reduces bridge temperature during multiple daily crossings, lowering crew fatigue on continuous rotation schedules |
| UV light rejection | Up to 99% | Protects officers from cumulative UV exposure during year-round daily ferry operations on fixed UK and European routes |
| Outward visibility | Fully maintained | Completely clear, undistorted view through the screen at all times on busy waterways where situational awareness is critical |
| Product guarantee | 7 years (SOLASAFE®) | Long-term performance confidence for vessels operating daily on fixed routes throughout their operational life |
“SOLASOLV® screens are see-through by design. Even when fully deployed, the officer of the watch retains a completely clear, undistorted outward view through the navigation bridge window at all times. This is confirmed by Type Approval from Lloyd’s Register, DNV, ABS, and RINA.
SOLASOLV® Products for Passenger Ferry Navigation Bridges
Two SOLASOLV® formats are available for passenger ferry navigation bridge applications. Both use the same Type Approved anti-glare screen material and deliver the same performance figures:
| Product | Format | Best Application | Ferry Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|
| SOLASAFE® | Cassette-mounted | Newbuild and professional retrofit | Self-contained cassette housing encloses the screen when retracted, protecting it in the salt-air marine environment. Clean integrated finish. 7-year guarantee. |
| SOLAROLA® | Non-cassette | Retrofit on ferries in service | Straightforward installation during a scheduled port stop. Same SOLASOLV® Type Approved material and performance. Suited to rapid retrofit programmes. |
Full technical specifications including glare reduction figures by film colour, visible light transmission data, and installation guides for both formats are available on the Solar Solve technical information page.
SOLASOLV® on Passenger Ferries — Real Installations
DFDS MS Princess Seaways — Tyne to Amsterdam Route
“We enjoyed cooperation and communication very much. Most important, the crew is happy with the window blinds, so good job!”
— DFDS crew member, MS Princess Seaways
Solar Solve supplied and installed 25 SOLASAFE® Type Approved navigation bridge sunscreens and 116 DIMMLITE roller blinds for crew accommodation on MS Princess Seaways over a three-month period. Solar Solve’s South Shields factory is on the River Tyne, allowing the team to install directly on board during port calls. The project received consistent positive feedback from DFDS personnel throughout.
DFDS MS King Seaways — Repeat Order Driven by Performance
“We had SOLASOLV® sunscreens installed on Princess Seaways and were extremely happy with them, so we chose to install them on King Seaways as well.”
— Captain, MS King Seaways, DFDS
Solar Solve supplied 48 SOLASOLV® anti-glare screens for the navigation bridge and 34 ROLASOLV® fabric blinds for crew accommodation on MS King Seaways. The order was placed specifically because of DFDS’s satisfaction with the Princess Seaways installation — one of the strongest forms of evidence that a product and supplier have performed as expected.
Damen Shipyards Singapore — Six Passenger Ferry Newbuilds
Solar Solve supplied 90 SOLASOLV® Type Approved cassette sunscreens across six passenger ferries under construction at Damen Shipyards in Singapore, delivered through Solar Solve’s Singapore distributor as part of an integrated navigation bridge window package. Screens were supplied on a monthly schedule matched to the shipyard’s vessel delivery timetable, demonstrating Solar Solve’s ability to support multi-vessel newbuild programmes on a controlled delivery schedule.
Cunard Queen Elizabeth — Luxury Cruise Liner
SOLASOLV® screens were observed in active use on the navigation bridge of Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth during an Alaska cruise from Vancouver in August 2023, confirmed by Julie Lightfoot MBE, consultant at Solar Solve Marine. The screens were performing in demanding high-latitude North Pacific conditions, maintaining full forward visibility for the bridge team while reducing glare during extended Arctic daylight operations.
Full details of all passenger ferry case studies are available on the Solar Solve case studies page.
Specification Guidance for Passenger Ferry Operators
When specifying SOLASOLV® screens for a passenger ferry navigation bridge, the following points should be confirmed before ordering:
- Confirm the vessel’s classification society and flag state to select the correct Type Approval certificate
- Identify the window shapes on the navigation bridge — rectangular, sloped, tapered, or non-standard configurations each have specific measurement requirements
- Decide between SOLASAFE® (cassette, preferred for newbuild and professional retrofit) and SOLAROLA® (non-cassette, suited to rapid retrofit)
- Select the film colour based on the preferred balance of glare reduction and visible light transmission for the vessel’s primary operating routes and conditions
- Obtain window measurements following Solar Solve’s measuring guide before placing the order
- Request the Type Approval certificate from the relevant classification society and retain a copy for the vessel’s compliance documentation file
For measuring guidance, window shape reference, and product technical data, visit the Solar Solve marine sector page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are SOLASOLV® screens Type Approved for passenger ferries?
Yes. SOLASOLV screens hold Type Approval from Lloyd’s Register, DNV, ABS, and RINA, making them suitable for passenger ferries operating under any of the four leading classification societies. They are the only marine anti-glare screen in the world to hold all four of these approvals simultaneously, confirming that they meet IMO SOLAS navigation bridge visibility requirements for passenger ferry applications.
Why do passenger ferries need specialist anti-glare screens on the navigation bridge?
Passenger ferries operate on fixed routes in some of the busiest and most demanding waterways in the world. Officers of the watch face prolonged exposure to solar glare from forward-facing bridge windows throughout the operational day, on every crossing. Sustained glare increases eye strain, accelerates fatigue, and reduces the alertness needed to respond quickly to other vessels, navigation hazards, and changing conditions on high-traffic routes.
Do SOLASOLV® screens block the outward view from the ferry navigation bridge?
No. SOLASOLV® screens are see-through by design. Even when fully deployed, the officer of the watch retains a completely clear, undistorted outward view through the navigation bridge window at all times. This is confirmed by Type Approval from Lloyd’s Register, DNV, ABS, and RINA, all of which assess navigation bridge visibility performance against IMO requirements as part of the approval process.
What is the difference between SOLASAFE® and SOLAROLA® for passenger ferries?
Both products use the same Type Approved SOLASOLV® anti-glare screen material. SOLASAFE is the cassette-mounted version, providing a clean enclosed housing preferred for newbuild specification and professional retrofit installations on passenger ferries. SOLAROLA® is the non-cassette version, suited to straightforward retrofit installations on ferries already in service.
Has Solar Solve supplied SOLASOLV® screens to major passenger ferry operators?
Yes. Solar Solve has supplied SOLASOLV® screens and ROLASOLV® blinds to DFDS for MS Princess Seaways and MS King Seaways on the Tyne routes, and supplied 90 SOLASOLV® cassette sunscreens for six Damen Shipyards passenger ferries in Singapore. SOLASOLV screens have also been observed in active use on Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth. All case studies are on the Solar Solve case studies page.
Can SOLASOLV® screens be retrofitted to existing passenger ferries?
Yes. SOLASOLV screens are suitable for both newbuild specification and retrofit installation on passenger ferries already in service. Every screen is manufactured to the specific dimensions of the window being supplied. SOLAROLA® non-cassette screens are particularly well suited to retrofit applications where speed and simplicity of installation are the priority during a scheduled port stop or maintenance period.
