Types of alarms and its uses on board a ship

• A system announces a condition requiring attention by audible means.IMO resolution A.686 (17) states that alarms and indicators are to be clear,fixed and without doubtfullness.
• Make sure that the power supply to alarms is continious from the main source of supply with an automatic change over to standby power supply in emergency.
• They shall have a provision for functional testing and the crew must familiar with the alarms through proper training and drills.
• Make sure that no false alarm sounds in normal operating condition on ships.
• The audible levels of required alarms are to be non-adjustable.
• The public address system is used for general emergency and fire and it is kept free from interference and unauthorized use.
• Alarms are specified as emergency,primary or secondary.
• Inside the accomodation with the spaces of high noise levels, the audible emergency alarm has to be supplemented by visual alarms.