MSC.1/Circ.1295 Guidance in Relation to Certain Types of Ships Which are Required to Transmit LRIT Information on Exemptions and Equivalents and on Certain Operational Matters

MSC.1/Circ.1295

GUIDANCE IN RELATION TO CERTAIN TYPES OF SHIPS WHICH ARE REQUIRED TO TRANSMIT LRIT INFORMATION ON EXEMPTIONS AND EQUIVALENTS AND ON CERTAIN OPERATIONAL MATTERS

(8 December 2008)

1. The Maritime Safety Committee (the Committee), at its eighty-fifth session (26 November to 5 December 2008), considered a number of issues relating to the transmission of LRIT information by certain types of ships, questions in relation to granting exemptions and equivalents and certain operation matters in relation to the transmission of LRIT information and approved the Guidance in relation to certain types of ships which are required to transmit LRIT information, on exemptions and equivalents and certain operational matters (the Guidance), as set out in the annex.

2. The Committee also agreed to keep the Guidance under review and amend it as and when the circumstances so warrant.

3. SOLAS Contracting Governments are invited to bring the present circular and its annex to the attention of recognized organizations which they have authorized to act on their behalf and to provide to such recognized organizations any necessary further guidance and instruction so as to ensure that the objectives of this circular are achieved.

4. SOLAS Contracting Governments are also invited to bring the present circular and its annex to the attention of Companies operating, and masters of, ships entitled to fly their flag which are required to transmit LRIT information and to provide to such Companies and masters any necessary further guidance and instruction so as to ensure that the objectives of this circular are achieved.

5. SOLAS Contracting Governments, international organizations and non-governmental organizations with consultative status are also invited to bring to the attention of the Committee, at the earliest opportunity, the results of the experience gained from the use of the Guidance for consideration of action to be taken.

Annex.

GUIDANCE IN RELATION TO CERTAIN TYPES OF SHIPS WHICH ARE REQUIRED TO TRANSMIT LRIT INFORMATION ON EXEMPTIONS AND EQUIVALENTS AND ON CERTAIN OPERATIONAL MATTERS

Definitions

1.1 Unless expressly provided otherwise:

.1 Convention means the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, as amended.

.2 Regulation means a regulation of the Convention.

.3 Chapter means a chapter of the Convention.

.4 Gross tonnage means the one determined under the provisions of the International Convention on Tonnage Measurement of Ships, 1969 irrespective of the date on which the ship or high-speed craft has been or is being constructed.

.5 Ship means a passenger ship, a cargo ship, a high-speed craft and a mobile offshore drilling unit which is required pursuant to the provisions of regulation V/19-1 to transmit LRIT information.

.6 Offshore supply vessel means a vessel as defined in paragraph 1.1.2 of the Guidelines for the design and construction of offshore supply vessels, 2006 adopted by resolution MSC.235(82).

.7 Special purpose ship means a ship as defined in paragraph 1.3.12 of the Code of Safety for Special Purpose Ships, 2008 adopted by resolution MSC.266(84).

.8 A.494(XII)-ship means a ship the keel of which was laid before 18 July 1994 and which in accordance with the provisions of operative paragraph 3 of resolution A.494(XII) on Revised interim scheme for tonnage measurement for certain ships were allowed to use the gross tonnage determined in accordance with national tonnage rules in determining whether it is required to comply with the provisions of chapter IV.

1.2 Terms not otherwise defined have the same meaning as the meaning attributed to them in chapters I, IV and V.

Floating production, storage and offloading units and Floating storage units

2.1 Floating production, storage and offloading units (FPSOs) and floating storage units (FSUs) not propelled by mechanical means are not required to transmit LRIT information when in transit on an international voyage.

2.2 FPSOs and FSUs propelled by mechanical means of less than 300 gross tonnage engaged on international voyages should transmit LRIT information if the Contracting Government whose flag they are entitled to fly requires so.

2.3 FPSOs and FSUs propelled by mechanical means of 300 gross tonnage and above fitted with automatic identification system (AIS) and operating exclusively within sea area A1, should not be required to transmit LRIT information when engaged on international voyages.

2.4 FPSOs and FSUs propelled by mechanical means of 300 gross tonnage and above engaged on international voyages in sea areas A1 and A2; or A1, A2 and A3; or A1, A2, A3 and A4, should be required to transmit LRIT information in accordance with the provisions of regulation V/19-1.4.1 by reading "FPSO" or "FSU" where in regulations V/19-1.3 to V/19-1.11.2 uses the term "ship".

2.4.1 However, FPSOs and FSUs constructed before 31 December 2008, in case they are not required to comply with the provisions of chapter IV, should transmit LRIT information in accordance with the provisions of regulation V/19-1 as from 31 December 2009.

2.5 FPSOs and FSUs, irrespective of whether they are propelled by mechanical means or not, operating within areas under the jurisdiction of a Contracting Government or of a State which is not a Contracting Government, should transmit LRIT information if the Contracting Government or State in whose jurisdiction they operate requires so.

2.5.1 In case the records of equipment associated with the certificates issued to FPSOs or FSUs do not include a provision for documenting compliance with the requirement to transmit LRIT information, FPSOs and FSUs should carry on board a valid Conformance test report issued in accordance with the provisions of MSC.1/Circ.1296 on Guidance on the survey and certification of compliance of ships with the requirement to transmit LRIT information.

Offshore supply vessels

3.1 Offshore supply vessels of less than 300 gross tonnage engaged on international voyages should transmit LRIT information if the Contracting Government whose flag they are entitled to fly requires so.

3.2 Offshore supply vessels of 300 gross tonnage and above fitted with automatic identification system (AIS) and operating exclusively within sea area A1 should not be required to transmit LRIT information when engaged on international voyages.

3.3 Offshore supply vessels of 300 gross tonnage and above engaged on international voyages in sea areas A1 and A2; or A1, A2 and A3; or A1, A2, A3 and A4, should be required to transmit LRIT information in accordance with the provisions of regulation V/19-1.4.1 by reading "offshore supply vessel" where in regulations V/19-1.3 to V/19-1.11.2 uses the term "ship".

3.3.1 However, offshore supply vessels constructed before 31 December 2008, in case they are not required to comply with the provisions of chapter IV, should transmit LRIT information in accordance with the provisions of regulation V/19-1 as from 31 December 2009.

3.4 Offshore supply vessels operating within areas under the jurisdiction of a Contracting Government or of a State which is not a Contracting Government should transmit LRIT information if the Contracting Government or the State in whose jurisdiction they operate requires so.

3.5 The Form of the Offshore Supply Vessel Document of Compliance specified in the Guidelines for the design and construction of offshore supply vessels, 2006 does not include a provision which may be used for documenting compliance with the requirement to transmit LRIT information.

3.5.1 In case the records of equipment associated with the certificates issued to an offshore supply vessel do not include a provision for documenting compliance with the requirement to transmit LRIT information, offshore supply vessels should carry on board a valid Conformance test report issued in accordance with the provisions of MSC.1/Circ.1296 on Guidance on the survey and certification of compliance of ships with the requirement to transmit LRIT information.

Special purpose ships

4.1 Special purpose ships of less than 300 gross tonnage engaged on international voyages should transmit LRIT information if the Contracting Government whose flag they are entitled to fly requires so.

4.2 Special purpose ships of 300 gross tonnage and above fitted with automatic identification system (AIS) and operating exclusively within sea area A1, should not be required to transmit LRIT information when engaged on international voyages.

4.3 Special purpose ships of 300 gross tonnage and above engaged on international voyages in sea areas A1 and A2; or A1, A2 and A3; or A1, A2, A3 and A4, should be required to transmit LRIT information in accordance with the provisions of regulation V/19-1.4.1 by reading "special purpose ship" where in regulations V/19-1.3 to V/19-1.11.2 uses the term "ship".

4.3.1 However, special purpose ships of gross tonnage 300 and above but less than 500, in case they are not required to comply with the provisions of chapter IV, should transmit LRIT information in accordance with the provisions of regulation V/19-1 as from 31 December 2009.

4.4 The Form of the Record of Equipment for the Special Purpose Ship Safety Certificate (Form SPS) provided in the Code of Safety for Special Purpose Ships, 2008 does not include a provision for documenting compliance of special purpose ships with the requirement to transmit LRIT information.

4.4.1 In case the records of equipment associated with any other certificates issued to a special purpose ship do not include a provision for documenting compliance with the requirement to transmit LRIT information, special purpose ships should carry on board a valid Conformance test report issued in accordance with the provisions of MSC.1/Circ.1296 on Guidance on the survey and certification of compliance of ships with the requirement to transmit LRIT information.

Ships which are not required to comply with the provision of chapter IV as a result of the provisions of operative paragraph 3 of resolution A.494(XII)

5.1 A.494(XII)-ships fitted with automatic identification system (AIS) and operating exclusively within sea area A1, should not be required to transmit LRIT information when engaged on international voyages.

5.2 A.494(XII)-ships of 300 gross tonnage and above engaged on international voyages in sea areas A1 and A2; or A1, A2 and A3; or A1, A2, A3 and A4, should be required to transmit LRIT information in accordance with the provisions of regulation V/19-1 as from 31 December 2009.

5.3 In case the records of equipment associated with the certificates issued to a A.494(XII)-ship do not include a provision for documenting compliance with the requirement to transmit LRIT information, such ships should carry on board a valid Conformance test report issued in accordance with the provisions of MSC.1/Circ.1296 on Guidance on the survey and certification of compliance of ships with the requirement to transmit LRIT information.

Exemptions and equivalents

(the provisions of this section apply to ships and to FPSOs, FSUs, offshore supply vessels, special purpose ships and A.494(XII)-ships which are required to transmit LRIT information and any reference to a ship below should be considered as including all the aforesaid)

General

6.1.1 Although the provisions of regulation V/19-1 do not include any expressed provisions which allow or enable an Administration to grant exemptions from, or equivalents to, the requirement to transmit LRIT information, when such exemptions or equivalents are warranted, Administrations may invoke, in lieu, the provisions of regulation V/3.2 when considering or granting any exemptions or equivalents to the provisions of regulation V/19-1. In such cases, the Administration concerned should comply with the provisions of regulation V/3.3.

6.1.2 Administrations, when invoking the provisions of regulation V/3.2, should take, in addition to what is expressly stipulated in the aforesaid regulation, the effect such exemptions or equivalents have on measures established by the Organization with a view to enhancing maritime security and should consult with the Contracting Government(s) within whose jurisdiction the port(s) or place(s) to which the ship is proceeding to is/are located and with the Contracting Government(s) of the coast of which the ship might be navigating.

6.1.3 Notwithstanding any additional conditions which the Administration concerned may stipulate when granting exemptions or equivalents from the requirement to transmit LRIT information, the ship concerned should be required, in lieu of transmitting LRIT information, to either:

.1 provide a copy of the voyage or passage plan¹ for the specific voyage to the Contracting Government within whose jurisdiction the port or place to which the ship is proceeding to is located and to the Contracting Governments of the coast of which the ship might be navigating and any changes thereto; or

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¹ Refer to resolution A.893(21) on Guidelines for voyage planning.

.2 report its positions at regular intervals, to be determined by the Administration taking into account the specific voyage or passage plan, to the aforesaid Contracting Governments, if provided with the means for doing so.

Specific cases

6.2.1 Ships which are not normally engaged on international voyages but which, in exceptional circumstances, are required to undertake a single international voyage may be exempted from the requirement to transmit LRIT information, pursuant to the provisions of regulation I/4(a), exemptions from the requirements of regulations IV/7 to IV/11 for a single voyage.

6.2.2 Ships fitted with automatic identification system (AIS) and operating exclusively within sea area A1, may, for the purpose of employment in another sea area A1, undertake a single voyage outside sea area A1 during the course of which may be exempted from the requirement to transmit LRIT information.

6.2.3 Ships which may be granted, pursuant to the provisions of regulations IV/3.1 and IV/3.2.2, exemptions from the requirements of regulations IV/7 to IV/11 for a single voyage and not fitted with radiocommunication or other shipborne equipment which may be used to transmit LRIT information, may be exempted from the requirement to transmit LRIT information during the course of such single voyages.

Switching off shipborne equipment, ceasing the distribution of LRIT information and reducing the frequency or temporarily stopping the transmission of LRIT information

7.1 Administrations should issue instructions to masters of ships