Circular
Letter
MSC.1/Circ.1208
PROMOTING AND VERIFYING CONTINUED FAMILIARIZATION OF GMDSS OPERATORS ON BOARD
SHIPS
(22 May 2006)
1.
The Maritime Safety Committee, at its eighty-first session (10 to 19 May 2006),
following the proposals made by the Sub-Committee on Standards of Training and
Watchkeeping at its thirty-seventh session, approved the recommendations
concerning promoting and verifying continued familiarization of GMDSS operators
on board ships, set out in the attached annex.
2.
Member Governments are invited to bring the annexed recommendations to the
attention of all parties concerned for consideration and action, as
appropriate.
Annex.
PROMOTING AND VERIFYING CONTINUED FAMILIARIZATION OF GMDSS OPERATORS ON BOARD
SHIPS
1.
There has been concern that many GMDSS operators on board ships have a lack of
familiarization regarding operational performance during Distress, Urgency and
Safety communications, as well as with simple technical elements, which is
vital for the safety of life at sea.
2.
Taking into account the above concerns, it is recommended that:
.1 the ships
safety management system should provide for all personnel who may be required
to operate the GMDSS equipment to receive familiarization and ship-specific
training, on joining the ship, and at appropriate intervals thereafter;
.2
familiarization, drills and onboard training of the GMDSS equipment should
allow GMDSS operators to demonstrate their familiarization at any time;
.3 such
familiarization should be verified during flag State inspections or port State
control; and
.4 if such
verification turns out to be negative, the Company should take appropriate
measures according to the flag State Administration requirements.