Revoked by MSC.1/Circ.1307
MSC.1/Circ.1296
GUIDANCE ON THE SURVEY AND CERTIFICATION OF COMPLIANCE OF SHIPS WITH THE
REQUIREMENT TO TRANSMIT LRIT INFORMATION
(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 which have arisen
in relation to the survey and certification of ships following the issue of
MSC.1/Circ.1257 on Guidance on the survey and certification of compliance of
ships with the requirement to transmit LRIT information, and approved the
Guidance on the survey and certification of compliance of ships with the
requirement to transmit LRIT information (the Guidance) as set out in the
annex.
2.
The Guidance outlines a number of alternative options for documenting
compliance of the shipborne equipment with the requirements of SOLAS
regulations V/19-1.6 and V/19-1.7 and the related provisions of the Revised
performance standards and functional requirements for the long-range
identification and tracking of ships (Revised performance standards) adopted by
resolution MSC.263(84) and sets out the approach to be taken when surveying and
certifying the compliance of ships which are required to transmit LRIT information
with the aforesaid obligation. The Guidance should be read together with SOLAS
regulation V/19-1 and the Revised performance standards.
3.
The Committee also agreed to keep the Guidance under review and amend it as and
when the circumstances so warrant.
4.
The Committee also decided that Conformance test reports issued prior to 15
December 2008 pursuant to the provisions of MSC.1/Circ.1257 should be accepted,
subject to the conditions specified in paragraphs 7.2 and 7.3 of the annex to
this circular in relation to the validity of Conformance test reports, as
providing evidence of compliance equal to those specified in the annex to this
circular until they are replaced. The Committee further agreed that such
Conformance test reports should be replaced by Conformance test reports issued
pursuant to the provisions of this circular when they are re-issued or updated
on or after 31 December 2008.
5.
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.
6.
SOLAS Contracting Governments are also invited to bring the present circular
and the salient parts of its annex to the attention of companies operating
ships entitled to fly their flag which are required to transmit LRIT
information and to provide to such companies any necessary further guidance and
instruction so as to ensure that the objectives of this circular are achieved.
7.
SOLAS Contracting Governments should communicate to the Organization as soon as
possible the names and contact details of the Application Service Providers
they have either recognized within the framework of the Revised performance
standards or they have authorized to conduct conformance testing as set out in
the attached Guidance, together with any conditions attached to such
recognitions or authorizations and update the information as and when changes
occur.
8.
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.
9.
This circular revokes MSC.1/Circ.1257.
Annex.
GUIDANCE ON THE SURVEY AND CERTIFICATION OF COMPLIANCE OF SHIPS WITH THE
REQUIREMENT TO TRANSMIT LRIT INFORMATION
1.1
This note provides guidance to Contracting Governments in relation to the
survey and certification of the compliance of ships, high-speed craft and
mobile offshore drilling units entitled to fly their flag with the obligation
to transmit LRIT information.
1.2
In addition, this note provides salient information which would enable
companies operating ships, owners and operators of high-speed craft and owners
and operators of mobile offshore drilling units which are required to comply
with the obligation to transmit LRIT information to ensure the survey and
certification of their compliance in a timely manner.
1.3
In relation to mobile offshore drilling units, the provisions of this note
apply subject to the modifications set out in section 11.
2.1
The provisions relating to the survey and certification of compliance of ships
with the obligation to transmit LRIT information are set out in:
.1 Regulation
V/19-1 on long-range identification and tracking of ships;
.2 Revised
performance standards and functional requirements for the long-range
identification and tracking of ships adopted by resolution MSC.263(84) (the
Revised performance standards);
.3 Resolution
A.694(17) on Recommendations on general requirements for shipborne radio
equipment forming part of the global maritime distress and safety system
(GMDSS) and for electronic navigational aids;
.4 Resolution
A.813(19) on General requirements for electromagnetic compatibility of all
electrical and electronic ship's equipment;
.5 Resolution
MSC.216(82) on Adoption of amendments to the International Convention for the
Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, as amended, which sets out in annex 1 amendments
(amendments 50 to 52) inserting in the Record of Equipment for the Passenger
Ship Safety Certificate (Form P), the Record of Equipment for the Cargo Ship
Safety Equipment Certificate (Form E) and the Record of Equipment for the Cargo
Ship Safety Certificate (Form C) an entry to indicate compliance with
long-range identification and tracking systems;
.6 Resolution
MSC.221(82) on Adoption of amendments to the International Code of Safety for
High-Speed Craft (1994 HSC Code) which sets out in the annex an amendment
(amendment 9) inserting in the Record of Equipment for High-Speed Craft Safety
Certificate an entry to indicate compliance with long-range identification and
tracking systems; and
.7 Resolution
MSC.222(82) on Adoption of amendments to the International Code of Safety for
High-Speed Craft, 2000, which sets out in the annex an amendment (amendment
148) inserting in the Record of Equipment for High-Speed Craft Safety
Certificate an entry to indicate compliance with long-range identification and
tracking systems.
3.1
Unless indicated otherwise for the purposes of this note:
.1 Authorized
testing ASP means an Application Service Provider, other than a Recognized ASP,
which has been authorized by the Administration to conduct conformance tests in
accordance with this note and for which related information has been
communicated to the Organization in accordance with the provisions of paragraph
6.2;
.2 Certificate
means the Passenger Ship Safety Certificate, Cargo Ship Safety Equipment Certificate,
Cargo Ship Safety Certificate and High-Speed Craft Safety Certificate issued
under the provisions of the International Code of Safety for High-Speed Craft
or the International Code of Safety for High-Speed Craft, 2000;
.3 Chapter means
a chapter of the Convention;
.4 Contracting
Government means a Contracting Government to the Convention;
.5 Convention
means the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, as
amended;
.6 Radio related
certificate means the Passenger Ship Safety Certificate, Cargo Ship Safety
Radio Certificate, Cargo Ship Safety Certificate and High-Speed Craft Safety
Certificate issued under the provisions of the International Code of Safety for
High-Speed Craft or the International Code of Safety for High-Speed Craft,
2000;
.7 Record of
Equipment means the Record of Equipment for the Passenger Ship Safety
Certificate (Form P), the Record of Equipment for the Cargo Ship Safety
Equipment Certificate (Form E), the Record of Equipment for the Cargo Ship
Safety Certificate (Form C) and the Record of Equipment for High-Speed Craft
Safety Certificate issued under the provisions of the International Code of
Safety for High-Speed Craft or the International Code of Safety for High-Speed
Craft, 2000;
.8 Recognized
ASP means an Application Service Provider which has been recognized by the
Contracting Government concerned pursuant to the provisions of paragraphs 5.1.1
and 5.1.2 of the Revised performance standards and for which related
information has been communicated to the Organization in accordance with the
provisions of paragraph 5.2 of the Revised performance standards;
.9 Regulation
means a regulation of the Convention;
.10 Ship refers
to ships, high-speed craft and mobile offshore drilling units which are
required to comply with the provisions of regulation V/19-1.
3.2
Terms used in this note not otherwise defined have the meaning assigned to them
in chapters I, IV and V or in the Revised performance standards.
4. Shipborne
equipment to be of a type approved by the Administration
4.1
Regulation V/19-1.6 specifies that the shipboard equipment to be used to
transmit LRIT information (shipborne equipment) shall be of a type approved by
the Administration.
4.2
Compliance of the shipborne equipment with the requirements of regulations
V/19-1.6 and V/19-1.7 and of section 4 of the Revised performance standards
should be demonstrated by the equipment being:
.1 of a type
approved by the Administration in accordance with the provisions of regulation
V/19-1; or
.2 of a type
approved by the Administration in accordance with the provisions of regulation
IV/14 and satisfactorily completing a conformance test in accordance with the
procedures and provisions set out in appendix 1; or
.3 certified by
the Administration as meeting the requirements of IEC 60945 (2002-08) and IEC
60945 Corr.1 (2008-04) on Maritime navigation and radiocommunication equipment
and systems General requirements Methods of testing and required test
results and satisfactorily completing a conformance test in accordance with the
procedures and provisions set out in appendix 1; or
.4 a ship
security alert system complying with the provisions of regulation XI-2/6; and
the provisions of either resolution MSC.136(76) on Performance standards for a
ship security alert system or of resolution MSC.147(77) on Adoption of the
Revised performance standards for a ship security alert system; and the
provisions of section 4 of the Revised performance standards; and
satisfactorily completing a conformance test in accordance with the procedures
and provisions set out in appendix 1.
5.1
The conformance test should be conducted either by a recognized ASP or by an
authorized testing ASP.
5.2
Subject to the provisions of paragraphs 5.2.1 and 5.2.2, the conformance test
should be conducted using a communication system which provides coverage in all
sea areas for which the ship is certified to operate.
5.2.1 Subject to
the provisions of paragraphs 5.2 and 5.2.2, the results of the conformance test
are not in any way prejudiced by the location or whereabouts of the ship when
the conformance test is conducted.
5.2.2
Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 5.2, for ships constructed before
31 December 2008 and certified to operate in sea areas A1, A2, A3 and A4, the
conformance test for sea area A4 may be conducted separately taking into
account the provisions of regulation V/19-1.4.1.3.
5.3
For ships constructed on or after 31 December 2008, the conformance test should
be:
.1 conducted
after the completion of the initial survey of the radio installation, provided
such survey has indicated that, as far as the radio installation is concerned,
the ship meets the related requirements for the issue of a radio related
certificate; and
.2
satisfactorily completed prior to the issue of a radio related certificate.
5.4
For ships constructed before 31 December 2008, the conformance test should be:
.1 conducted
prior to the date on which a ship would need to demonstrate compliance with the
requirements of regulation V/19-1; and
.2
satisfactorily completed prior to the amendment of the record of equipment to
document compliance with the requirements relating to Long-range identification
and tracking system.
5.5
Administrations should establish, for ships constructed before 31 December
2008, dates, ahead of the dates stipulated in regulation V/19-1.4.1 for the
phased in implementation of the requirement to transmit LRIT information, by
which the conformance testing should be carried out with a view to ensuring the
timely compliance of the ships entitled to fly their flag with the requirements
of regulation V/19-1.
6. Communication of
information in relation to Application Service Providers
6.1
Unless the Administration concerned informs the Organization otherwise,
recognized ASPs should be automatically considered as being authorized by the
Administration concerned to conduct conformance tests in accordance with the
provisions of this note.
6.2
Administrations should provide to the Organization a list with the names and
contact details of the authorized testing ASPs1 together with any
associated conditions of authorization and thereafter should, without undue
delay, update the Organization as changes occur.
_____________
1 A model letter for
communicating the relevant information to the Organization is provided in
MSC.1/Circ.1298 on Guidance on the implementation of the LRIT system.
6.3
The Organization should communicate the information it receives pursuant to the
provisions of paragraph 5.2 of the Revised performance standards and the
information it receives pursuant to paragraphs 6.1 and 6.2 to all Contracting
Governments, international organizations and non-governmental organizations
with consultative status.
7.1
A Conformance test report should be issued, on satisfactory completion of a
conformance test, by the Administration or the ASP who conducted the test
acting on behalf of the Administration and should be in accordance with the
model set out in appendix 2.
7.2
The Conformance test report should be considered as no longer remaining valid
if:
.1 there is a
change in the shipborne equipment used to transmit LRIT information;
.2 the ship is
transferred to the flag of another Contracting Government, subject to the
provisions of paragraph 10.1;
.3 the ASP which
has issued the Conformance test report has notified the Administration or the
Recognized Organization which, acting on behalf of the Administration, has
issued the certificate is no longer in a position to attest the validity of the
report; and
.4 the
Administration has withdrawn the recognition or authorization of the ASP which
conducted the conformance test. However, in such cases the Administration
concerned may decide that the Conformance test report, issued either prior to
the date of withdrawal of such recognition or authorization or prior to a date
determined by the Administration, remain valid subject to these being
considered as being the responsibility of Administration.
7.3 Notwithstanding the provisions of regulations
I/11 and V/16, the Conformance test report should also be considered as no
longer remaining valid when the shipborne equipment used to transmit LRIT
information becomes unserviceable.
7.4
Administrations choosing to use the services of authorized testing ASPs should
ensure that the recognized ASP(s) are able to integrate into the LRIT system
the ships to which an authorized testing ASP has issued Conformance test
reports.
8. Initial
certification of compliance on or after 31 December 2008
8.1
The conformance test has been designed also to demonstrate compliance of the
shipborne equipment with the functional requirements of V/19-1.5 and section 4
of the Revised performance standards.
8.2
For ships constructed on or after 31 December 2008, prior to the issue of a
certificate, the shipborne equipment should satisfactorily complete a
conformance test in accordance with the procedures and provisions set out in
appendix 1 within the periods specified in paragraph 5.3.
8.3
For ships constructed before 31 December 2008, prior to the amendment of the
record of equipment associated with a valid certificate or the renewal of a
certificate in case it is also due, the shipborne equipment should
satisfactorily complete a conformance test in accordance with the procedures
and provisions set out in appendix 1 within the period specified in paragraph
5.4 and the survey of the radio installation has indicated that, as far as the
radio installation is concerned, the ship meets the related requirements for
the renewal or endorsement of the radio related certificate.
8.4
Notwithstanding paragraphs 8.2 and 8.3, shipborne equipment which has already
satisfactorily completed a conformance test for the purposes of demonstrating
compliance with the requirement to be of a type approved by the Administration
(refer to paragraphs 4.2.2 to 4.2.4) are not required to undergo any further
conformance test, provided such tests have been conducted within the periods
specified in paragraphs 5.3 or 5.4, as the case may be.
9. Renewal and annual
survey after the initial certification of compliance
9.1
During any renewal or annual survey following the initial certification of
compliance of a ship with the requirements of regulation V/19-1, the related
certificate should be issued or endorsed, as the case may be, provided the
Conformance test report is still valid taking into account the provisions of
paragraphs 7.2 and 7.3.
10.1
When a ship is transferred to the flag of another Contracting Government, the
Conformance test report should be considered as remaining valid if the ASP
which conducted the conformance test is also either a recognized ASP or an
authorized testing ASP by the Contracting Government to whose flag the ship is
transferred.
10.1.1 In such
cases the ASP concerned should reissue the Conformance test report on behalf of
the Administration concerned henceforth indicating the new particulars of the
ship but without altering the date of completion of the conformance test.
10.2
In cases where the Conformance test report is deemed to be no longer valid, due
to the transfer of the flag to another Contracting Government, a new
conformance test should be conducted, prior to the issue of a certificate, by
either a recognized ASP or an authorized testing ASP acting on behalf of the
Administration concerned.
11. Specific
provisions in relation to mobile offshore drilling units
11.1
Mobile offshore drilling units may be required by the Contracting Government
whose flag they may be entitled to fly to comply with the provisions of the:
.1 national
codes or requirements for the construction and equipment of mobile offshore
drilling units, in case they were constructed prior 31 December 1981; or
.2 Code for the
construction and equipment of mobile offshore drilling units adopted by
resolution A.414(XI) (the 1979 MODU Code); or
.3 Code for the
construction and equipment of mobile offshore drilling units, 1989 adopted by
resolution A.649(16) (the 1989 MODU Code) in case their keel was laid or was at
a similar state of construction on or after 1 May 1991.
11.2
The provisions of this note should apply mutatis mutandis to mobile offshore
drilling units subject to any reference to certificate and radio related
certificate in this note being read as referring:
.1 for mobile
offshore drilling units constructed on or after 31 December 2008, to the Mobile
Offshore Drilling Unit Safety Certificate, 1989 issued pursuant to the
provisions of the 1989 MODU Code; and
.2 for mobile
offshore drilling units constructed before 31 December 2008, to either the
Mobile Offshore Drilling Unit Safety Certificate issued pursuant to the
provisions of the 1979 MODU Code or the Mobile Offshore Drilling Unit Safety
Certificate, 1989, issued pursuant to the provisions of the 1989 MODU Code or a
certificate or document issued under a national code or requirements in case of
units constructed prior to 31 December 1981, as the case may be.
11.3
As the Mobile Offshore Drilling Unit Safety Certificate and the Mobile Offshore
Drilling Unit Safety Certificate, 1989 are not accompanied by a record of
equipment, mobile offshore drilling units should be considered as meeting the
requirements when:
.1 the
provisions of sections 4, 5 and 8 are met;
.2 there is on
board a valid certificate or document issued under a national code or
requirements in case of units constructed prior to 31 December 1981, or a valid
Mobile Offshore Drilling Unit Safety Certificate or a valid Mobile Offshore
Drilling Unit Safety Certificate, 1989; and
.3 there is on
board a valid Conformance test report.