MSC.1/Circ.1298
GUIDANCE ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE LRIT SYSTEM
(8
December 2008)
1.
The Maritime Safety Committee (the Committee), at its eighty-fifth session (26
November to 5 December 2008), for the benefit of SOLAS Contracting Governments
and Administrations and, in particular, of those involved in the initial
implementation of the LRIT system, considered a number of amendments to
MSC.1/Circ.1256 on Guidance on the implementation of the LRIT system and
approved the Guidance on the implementation of the LRIT system (the Guidance),
as set out in the annex.
2.
The Guidance identifies the primary duties and obligations of SOLAS Contracting
Governments and Administrations at the initial establishment of the LRIT system
and should be read together with SOLAS regulation V/19-1 and the Revised
performance standards and functional requirements for the long-range
identification and tracking of ships adopted by resolution MSC.263(84).
3.
The Committee also agreed to keep the Guidance under review and to amend it as
and when the circumstances so warrant.
4.
SOLAS Contracting Governments are invited to bring the present circular and its
annex to the attention of those engaged in the implementation of the provisions
of SOLAS regulation V/19-1 and/or the development and establishment of their
LRIT Data Centres and/or the initial establishment of the LRIT system.
5.
The United States, having agreed to provide the International LRIT Data
Exchange on an interim basis, is invited to bring the present circular to the
attention of those involved in the operation of the International LRIT Data
Exchange.
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, international organizations, non-governmental
organizations with consultative status, the LRIT Coordinator, LRIT Data Centres
acting through the SOLAS Contracting Government(s) which have established them
and the International LRIT Data Exchange, 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.
8.
The circular revokes MSC.1/Circ.1256.
Annex.
GUIDANCE ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE LRIT SYSTEM
1.1
This note summarizes the various aspects of the LRIT system with a view to
enabling Contracting Governments1 to implement the system and to
ensure the timely compliance of the ships2 entitled to fly their
flag with the obligation to transmit LRIT information.
_______________
1 Contracting Government means
a Contracting Government to the International Convention for the Safety of Life
at Sea, 1974, as amended.
2 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.
1.2
In addition, this note provides salient information which would enable
Companies operating ships 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.
2.1
This note should always be read together with regulation3 V/19-1 and
the Revised performance standards and functional requirements for the
Long-range identification and tracking of ships4 (Revised
performance standards).
_______________
3 Regulation means a
regulation of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974,
as amended.
4 Adopted by resolution
MSC.263(84).
2.2
Additional information is provided in:
.1
MSC.1/Circ.1299 on Transitional arrangements and measures for accelerating the
completion of the establishment of the LRIT system;
.2
MSC.1/Circ.1296 on Guidance on the survey and certification of compliance of
ships with the requirement to transmit LRIT information;
.3
MSC.1/Circ.1295 on Guidance in relation to certain types of ships which are
required to transmit LRIT information, on exemptions and equivalents and
certain operational matters; and
.4 MSC.1/Circ.1297
on Guidance to Search and Rescue services in relation to requesting and
receiving LRIT information.
3. Overview of the
LRIT system
3.1
The LRIT system provides for the global identification and tracking of ships.
3.2
The LRIT system consists of the shipborne LRIT information transmitting
equipment, the Communication Service Provider(s), the Application Service
Provider(s), the LRIT Data Centre(s), including any related Vessel Monitoring
System(s), the LRIT Data Distribution Plan and the International LRIT Data
Exchange. Certain aspects of the performance of the LRIT system are reviewed or
audited by an LRIT Coordinator acting on behalf of all Contracting Governments.
3.3
LRIT information is provided to Contracting Governments and Search and Rescue
services5 entitled to receive the information, upon request, through
a system of National, Regional, Cooperative and International LRIT Data
Centres, using where necessary, the International LRIT Data Exchange.
______________
5 The term search and rescue
service is defined in regulation V/2.5.
3.4
The obligations of ships to transmit LRIT information and the rights and
obligations of Contracting Governments and of Search and Rescue services to
receive LRIT information are established in regulation V/19-1.
4.1.1
Paragraph 15.1 of the Revised performance standards states that each
Administration should decide to which LRIT Data Centre ships entitled to fly
its flag are required to transmit LRIT information.
4.1.2
Paragraph 16.1 of the Revised performance standards states that each
Contracting Government should obtain the LRIT information to which it is
entitled to under the provisions of regulation V/19-1, and has requested, from
the LRIT Data Centre designated under paragraph 15.1. Contracting Governments
which have no ships entitled to fly their flag may receive the LRIT information
they are entitled to under the provisions of regulation V/19-1 from any of the
LRIT Data Centres but should select one LRIT Data Centre from which they wish
to receive the information and should provide related information to the
Organization.
4.1.3
Thus each Contracting Government should either establish or participate in the
establishment of an LRIT Data Centre or conclude an agreement with an LRIT Data
Centre which is prepared to provide services to it as an LRIT Data Centre.
4.2.1
A Contracting Government establishing a National LRIT Data Centre should
provide relevant details to the Organization as soon as possible and well
before 31 December 2008 and thereafter should, without undue delay, update the
information provided as and when changes occur.
4.2.2
In addition and in accordance with paragraph 8.3.2 of the Revised performance
standards, the Contracting Government establishing a National LRIT Data Centre
should, if the centre provides services to Contracting Governments other than
those which established the centre, provide relevant details to the
Organization as soon as possible and well before 31 December 2008 and
thereafter should, without undue delay, update the information provided as and
when changes occur.
4.3 Regional or Cooperative
LRIT Data Centre
4.3.1
One of the Contracting Governments establishing a Regional or Cooperative LRIT
Data Centre should provide relevant details to the Organization as soon as
possible and well before 31 December 2008 and thereafter should, without undue
delay, update the information provided as and when changes occur.
4.3.2
In addition and in accordance with paragraph 8.3.2 of the Revised performance
standards one of the Contracting Governments establishing a Regional or
Cooperative LRIT Data Centre should, if the centre provides services to
Contracting Governments other than those which established the centre, provide
relevant details to the Organization as soon as possible and well before 31
December 2008 and thereafter should, without undue delay, update the
information provided as and when changes occur.
4.4
Contracting Governments other than those establishing National, Regional or
Cooperative LRIT Data Centres
4.4.1
Contracting Governments other than those establishing National, Regional or
Cooperative LRIT Data Centres are strongly advised to take action so as to
conclude an agreement with an LRIT Data Centre as soon as possible and well
before 31 December 2008. Paragraphs 4.4.2 and 5.4.3 below expand on some of the
reasons which may delay or make impossible the conclusion of such agreements.
Paragraph 4.4.4 cites one of the likely adverse consequences of the non
identification of the LRIT Data Centre the services of which are to be used may
lead to.
4.4.2
Upon request, National, Regional and Cooperative LRIT Data Centres may provide
services to Contracting Governments other than those establishing the centre.
Although paragraph 8.3.1 of the Revised performance standards states that the
arrangements for providing such services should be agreed between the LRIT Data
Centre and the Contracting Government requesting the provision of the services,
such agreements may be subject to the agreement, approval, acceptance or
concurrence of the Contracting Government(s) establishing the centre. In
addition, the LRIT Data Centre would need to put in place and test, before 31
December 2008, the necessary arrangements for providing to the Contracting
Government requesting the provision of the services as such arrangements may
have implications on the systems of the centre.
4.4.3
Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 8.3.2 of the Revised performance
standards Contracting Governments other than those establishing National,
Regional or Cooperative LRIT Data Centres should provide to the Organization as
soon as possible and well before 31 December 2008 information in relation to
the LRIT Data Centre it would be using for obtaining LRIT information and
thereafter should, without undue delay, update the information provided as and
when changes occur.
4.4.4
Contracting Governments other than those establishing National, Regional or
Cooperative LRIT Data Centres are advised that unless they provide to the
Organization information in relation to the LRIT Data Centre they would be
using for obtaining LRIT information, their SAR services would be unable to
request and receive LRIT information for the search and rescue of persons in
distress at sea.
4.5 Settlement of financial
obligations
4.5.1 Each LRIT Data Centre should
settle its financial obligations vis--vis the LRIT Data Centres which provide
to it LRIT information in a timely manner in accordance with the arrangements they
have agreed.
5. Application
Service Providers
5.1.1
Paragraphs 5.1.1 and 5.1.2 of the Revised performance standards state that
Contracting Governments should recognize the Application Service Providers
(ASPs) providing services to the LRIT Data Centre and paragraph 5.2 states that
Contracting Governments should provide to the Organization a list with the
names and contact details of the ASPs they recognize together with any
associated conditions of recognition and thereafter should, without undue
delay, update the Organization as changes occur.
5.1.2
Contracting Governments should note that in all cases ASPs may require the
conclusion of relevant agreement(s) between them and the Contracting
Government(s) seeking to recognize them and/or the LRIT Data Centre to which
they will be providing services.
5.2 Contracting Governments
establishing National LRIT Data Centres
5.2.1
Contracting Governments establishing a National LRIT Data Centre should decide
which ASP(s) is to provide the required services to the centre; should
recognize them in accordance with their national practice; and should
communicate to the Organization the required information as soon as possible
and well before 31 December 2008 and thereafter should, without undue delay, update
the information provided as and when changes occur.
5.3 Contracting Governments
establishing Regional or Cooperative LRIT Data Centres
5.3.1
Paragraph 5.1.2 of the Revised performance standards states that in the case of
Regional and Cooperative LRIT Data Centres the arrangements for recognizing the
ASP(s) should be agreed amongst the Contracting Governments establishing or
participating in the establishment of the centre.
5.3.2
Contracting Governments establishing Regional or Cooperative LRIT Data Centre
should decide which ASP(s) are to provide the required services to the centre;
should recognize them in accordance with their national practice; and should
communicate to the Organization the required information as soon as possible
and well before 31 December 2008 and thereafter should, without undue delay,
update the information provided as and when changes occur.
5.3.3
Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 5.2 of the Revised performance
standards which stipulates that each Contracting Government should communicate
to the Organization information in relation to the ASPs it recognizes and
taking into account that, in accordance with paragraph 8.2 of the Revised
performance standards, one of the Contracting Governments establishing Regional
or Cooperative LRIT Data Centres should provide relevant details to the
Organization and thereafter should, without undue delay, update the information
provided as and when changes occur, in lieu of each of the Contracting
Governments establishing Regional or Cooperative LRIT Data Centres
communicating individually to the Organization information in relation to the
ASPs it recognizes, one of the Contracting Governments establishing such
centres may, acting on behalf of the others, communicate to the Organization
the relevant information and update the information provided as and when
changes occur.
5.4 Contracting Governments
other than those establishing National, Regional or Cooperative LRIT Data
Centres
5.4.1
Contracting Governments other than those establishing National, Regional or
Cooperative LRIT Data Centres should agree with the LRIT Data Centre the
services of which they would be using the ASP(s) which is to provide the
required services as far as the ships which are entitled to fly their flag.
5.4.2
In accordance with the Revised performance standards the selection of which
ASPs are to provide services to an LRIT Data Centre is the prerogative of the
Contracting Governments establishing the centre.
5.4.3
Contracting Governments other than those establishing National, Regional or
Cooperative LRIT Data Centres should note that they may not be able to require
the LRIT Data Centre the services of which they would be using to use an ASP of
their choice in cases where such an ASP is not one of the ASP(s) which are
recognized by the Contracting Government(s) establishing the centre. In
addition, although the centre may be prepared to accommodate such requests its
decision may be subject to the agreement of the Contracting Government(s)
establishing the centre.
5.4.4
Contracting Governments other than those establishing National, Regional or
Cooperative LRIT Data Centres, after they have reached an agreement with the
LRIT Data Centre the services of which they would be using in relation to the
ASP(s) which is to provide the required services as far as the ships entitled
to fly their flag, should recognize the ASPs in accordance with their national
practice; and should communicate to the Organization the required information
as soon as possible and well before 31 December 2008 and thereafter should,
without undue delay, update the information provided as and when changes occur.
The obligation to recognize the ASP(s) and to communicate to the Organization
related information is not in any way waived or altered by the fact that the
ASP(s) may be the same as those recognized by the Contracting Government(s)
establishing the centre.
6. Communication
Service Providers
6.1.1
Contracting Governments are not required to recognize the Communication Service
Provider(s) (CSPs) or to communicate to the Organization any information
relating to the CSPs which are handling the LRIT information transmitted by
ships entitled to fly their flag.
6.1.2
Contracting Government should note that although the provisions of the Revised
performance standards do not expressly state so, as the CSPs provide the
communication services which link the shipborne equipment transmitting LRIT
information with the ASPs, the CSPs need to be able to interface with the
system used by the ASPs in providing the required services and thus is a matter
to be decided by the ASPs.
7.1.1
Administrations should, as soon as possible and well before 31 December 2008,
provide to:
.1 Companies and
owners of ships entitled to fly their flag relevant guidance on all pertinent
LRIT-related matters and in particular information in relation to the LRIT Data
Centre to which ships should transmit LRIT information, the ASPs they have
recognized within the framework of the Revised performance standards, the ASPs
they have authorized to carry out conformance tests and the survey and
certification of the compliance of ships with the provisions of regulation
V/19-1 and the Revised performance standards; and
.2 Recognized
Organizations which may be authorized to survey and certify the compliance of
the ships entitled to fly their flag with the requirements of regulation V/19-1
and the Revised performance standards, relevant instructions including
information in relation to the ASPs they have recognized,
and
thereafter should, without undue delay, update the information provided.
7.1.2
Administrations should, as soon as possible and well before 31 December 2008,
provide to the LRIT Data Centre they have decided to use the information
specified in paragraph 15.2 of the Revised performance standards in relation to
the ships which are entitled to fly their flag.
7.1.2.1
However, in doing so Administrations should note that in simplified terms
regulation V/19-1.4.1 specifies that ships constructed on or after 31 December
2008 shall transmit LRIT information as from the date they enter service and
for ships constructed before 31 December 2008 provides a phased-in
implementation schedule which is dependent, inter alia, on the date on which
the first survey of the radio installation of the ship becomes due after 31
December 2008 and in the case of ships which operate exclusively in sea area A4
after 1 July 2009. Thus for ships constructed before 31 December 2008:
.1 other than
those operating exclusively within sea area A4, the phased-in implementation
would end on 31 December 2009. However, in such cases if the Contracting
Government is also a State Party to the 1988 SOLAS Protocol the phased in
implementation would end on 31 March 2010; and
.2 operating
exclusively within sea area A4, the phased-in implementation would end on 1
July 2010. However, in such cases if the Contracting Government is also a State
Party to the 1988 SOLAS Protocol the phased-in implementation would end on 1
October 2010.
7.1.2.2
As a result, for ships constructed before 31 December 2008, Administrations may
opt, subject to the arrangements to be agreed with the LRIT Data Centre
concerned, to provide the information specified in paragraph 15.2 of the
Revised performance standards in stages at agreed periodical intervals which
ensure that the centre is provided with the information in a timely manner.
During the initial implementation of the LRIT system such an arrangement may
prove to be beneficial for the Administration and the centre concerned
especially if a large number of ships are involved or ships are likely to be
transferred to the flag of another Contracting Government or another State
during the period of the phased-in implementation.
7.1.3
Subject to the provisions of paragraph 7.1.2.2, Administrations are advised to
provide the information specified in paragraph 15.2 of the Revised performance
standards to the ASPs they recognize within the framework of the Revised
performance standards, and to the ASPs they have authorized to carry out
conformance tests. The ASPs, in order to provide the required services, may
require additional information for example the shipborne equipment identifier
for each of the ships which will be transmitting LRIT information through them
to an LRIT Data Centre or other technical details of the shipborne equipment to
be used for the transmission of LRIT information. In such cases the
Administration should either provide the required information or should direct
Companies operating ships entitled to fly its flag to provide to the ASPs the
relevant information.
7.1.4
Administrations should comply at all times with the provisions of paragraphs
15.3 to 15.5 of the Revised performance standards and should communicate to the
LRIT Data Centre and to ASPs concerned the related information in a timely
manner.
7.1.5
The communication of information by an Administration to Recognized
Organizations acting on its behalf in relation to matters which fall within the
scope of the provisions of paragraphs 15.3 to 15.5 of the Revised performance
standards is outside the scope of this guidance and remains subject to the
arrangements agreed between the Administration and the Recognized Organizations
concerned.
7.1.6
Administrations should provide to Recognized Organizations acting on its behalf
relevant instructions in relation to the survey and certification of ships
which are entitled to fly their flag.
7.2.1
Contracting Governments should have in place directions to Companies which plan
to transfer a ship they operate to its flag which ensure that they are promptly
advised by the Companies concerned when a ship is to be transferred.
7.2.1.1
In such cases the Contracting Government concerned should provide to the LRIT
Data Centre and to the ASP concerned the information specified in paragraphs
15.2 and 15.4 of the Revised