IMO Sub-Committee on navigation, communications, search and rescue
The 11th session of the IMO’s Sub-Committee on Navigation, Communications, Search and Rescue (NCSR 11) was held from 4 to 13 June 2024. Requirements to ensure the safety of pilots and other personnel embarking and disembarking ships under various sea conditions was agreed, as well as measures to improve the security and integrity aspects of shipborne automatic identification systems. Performance standards for the reception of digital safety information was approved.
Relevant for ship owners, managers, seafarers, maritime training institutes and flag states.
Meeting highlights
- Approved performance standards for the reception of digital MSI and SAR-related information (NAVDAT).
- Agreed on a draft revision of SOLAS Regulation V/23 and the associated draft of new performance standards to improve the safety of pilot transfer arrangements.
- Agreed on a draft revision of the AIS performance standards to improve the security and integrity aspects of AIS equipment.
- Agreed on a revision of the criteria for the provision of mobile satellite communication systems in the GMDSS (Resolution A.1001(25)).
- Agreed on a revision of MSC.1/Circ.1460/Rev.4 to clarify the transition from old to new VHF channel plans.
Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS)
Dissemination of information over multiple satellite services
The Maritime Safety Committee, at its 108th session (MSC 108),
agreed that maritime safety information (MSI) should be disseminated
through all operational and recognized mobile satellite services
(RMSS) by 31 December 2026. Since 1 January 2000, both Inmarsat
and Iridium have been recognized for use in the GMDSS.
Accordingly, NCSR 11 instructed the joint IMO/ITU Experts Group to
prepare draft amendments to SOLAS and related instruments, to
clearly state the requirement for dissemination of MSI and search and
rescue (SAR)-related information through all operational RMSSs.
NCSR 11 also encouraged member states to ensure that NAVAREA and
METAREA Coordinators progress the implementation of the Iridium
SafetyCast service.
Mobile satellite communication services in the GMDSS
NCSR 11 agreed on a revision of the “Criteria for the provision of
mobile satellite communication systems in the Global Maritime
Distress and Safety System (GMDSS)” (Resolution A.1001(25)) based
on experience gained when opening for multiple recognized mobile
satellite providers in the GMDSS. The new resolution will cover both
new and already approved GMDSS Mobile Satellite Service providers.
A draft new Assembly resolution will be submitted to MSC 109
(December 2024) for approval and Assembly 34 (November 2025) for
adoption.
Digital navigational data system (NAVDAT)
NAVDAT is intended for broadcasting digital data, including maritime
safety information (MSI) and search and rescue (SAR)-related
information on medium frequency (MF) and high frequency (HF)
bands from shore to ships.
NCSR 11 finalized and approved draft performance standards for the
NAVDAT system. An MSC resolution containing the draft performance
standards will be submitted to MSC for adoption.
The remaining work for introduction of a NAVDAT service was
considered. Amongst other, it was acknowledged that there is a need
to develop a NAVDAT coordination scheme, taking into account the
existing Navigational Telex (NAVTEX) coordination scheme.
VHF data exchange system (VDES)
VDES is a digital communication system that operates over the very
high frequency (VHF) band to provide secure and reliable data
exchange, for example between ships and between ships and shore.
VDES includes four components:
- Automatic identification system (AIS) for the identification and
tracking of vessels as well as additional communication
capabilities - Application specific message (ASM)
- Terrestrial component for VHF data exchange (VDE-TER)
- Satellite component for VHF data exchange (VDE-SAT)
NCSR 11 considered the development of amendments to SOLAS
Chapters IV and V, and associated performance standards and
guidelines, to introduce the carriage of VDES.
It was agreed that VDES should be introduced as a possible alternative
to AIS in SOLAS Chapter V on shipborne navigational systems, i.e. as a
voluntary carriage provision. Amendments to introduce VDES as
communication equipment under SOLAS Chapter IV will not be
pursued at this stage.
The work with amendments to Chapter V/19.2.4 and finalization of
the proposed performance standards for VDES will continue in a
Correspondence Group until NCSR 12 in May 2025.
Electronic nautical publications (ENP)
SOLAS Regulation V/19.2.1.4 requires all ships to have nautical charts
and nautical publications to plan and display the ship’s route for the
intended voyage and to plot and monitor positions throughout the
voyage. Publications may be carried in the form of electronic media.
NCSR 11 progressed the development of draft guidelines for the use
of electronic nautical publications (ENP). The work will continue in a
Correspondence Group until NCSR 12 in May 2025.
Safety of pilot transfer arrangements
NCSR 11 finalized a draft revision of SOLAS Regulation V/23 and
associated performance standards for pilot transfer arrangements.
The intention is to ensure safe arrangements for pilots and other
personnel embarking and disembarking ships in all conditions of
draught and trim. The requirements will be applied retroactively.
The new draft performance standards contain requirements for the
design, manufacture, construction, rigging, installation of pilot ladder
winch reels, operational readiness, on-board inspection and
maintenance, familiarization and approval in relation to the pilot
transfer arrangements required under SOLAS Regulation V/23.
In this context, pilot transfer arrangements refer to all equipment and
arrangements used solely for the embarkation and disembarkation of
pilots and other personnel, including pilot ladders, accommodation
ladders, embarkation platforms, manropes, pilot ladder winch reels,
securing arrangements and other associated equipment.
A new requirement will be introduced for periodical replacement of
pilot ladders at intervals of 36 months after the date of manufacture
or within 30 months after the date of being placed into service,
whichever comes first and regardless of the frequency of usage.
Consequential draft amendments to the safety certificates’ forms
under SOLAS, the 1994 and 2000 HSC Codes and the 2008 SPS Code,
were developed to include:
- xx.1 Pilot ladder and manropes
- xx.2 Spare pilot ladder and manropes
- xx.3 Means of securing pilot ladder at intermediate length
The draft amendments to SOLAS Regulation V/23 and the draft MSC
resolution containing the associated performance standards are
expected to enter into force on 1 January 2028, subject to approval by
MSC 109 (December 2024) and subsequent adoption.
A draft MSC circular, opening for voluntary early implementation of
the amendments upon their adoption, was agreed.
Pilot transfer arrangements installed before 1 January 2028 will be
required to be designed, manufactured, constructed, secured and
installed in accordance with the new requirements no later than the
first survey on or after 1 January 2029. The requirements to
inspection, stowage, maintenance, replacement and familiarization of
pilot ladders will, however, be applied retroactively from 1 January
2028.
Non-SOLAS ships on which pilots may be employed will be required to
meet the new requirements to design, manufacture, construction,
securing and installation before 1 January 2030, while the
requirements to inspection, stowage, maintenance, replacement and
familiarization will be applied retroactively from 1 January 2028. Flag
administrations may, however, determine to what extent the
requirements should apply for the following categories of ships:
- Ships below 150 GT engaged on any voyage
- Ships below 500 GT engaged on international voyages
- Fishing vessels
The new mandatory performance standards, when adopted, will
supersede the recommendations on pilot transfer arrangements
contained in Resolutions A.1045(27) and A.1108(29), which will then
be revoked from 1 January 2028.
Improvement of security and integrity aspects of AIS
Recognizing the need for measures to prevent unauthorized entry or
tampering of a ship’s identity information in the shipborne automatic
identification system (AIS), NCSR 11 agreed to a revision of the
performance standards for the shipborne automatic identification
system (AIS) (Resolution MSC.74(69)).
The changes include:
- Mandatory entry of the IMO number, which should be protected
after programmed in the AIS equipment - Another form of identification number (e.g. official flag state
number) entered into AIS equipment on ships with no IMO
number - Introducing new requirements for entry of a permanent “unique
manufacturer equipment identification number” in AIS
equipment
The draft performance standards are expected to enter into force on
1 January 2029, subject to adoption by MSC 109 (December 2024).
Consequential draft amendments to the “Guidelines for the
installation of a shipborne automatic identification system”
(SN/Circ.227, as amended) and “Guidelines on annual testing of the
automatic identification system” (SC.1/Circ.1252) were also agreed,
but the implementation of these were put on hold awaiting possible
amendments to relevant recommendations by the International
Telecommunication Union (ITU) (ITU-R M.1371-5).
Other business
Validity of radiocommunications equipment
The ITU is transitioning from analogue to new digital VHF channels in
the ITU Radio Regulations (RR). While these changes do not affect the
GMDSS, they do affect the use of other frequencies used for VHF
meteorological, navigational and urgent marine information
broadcasts, port operations and Vessel Traffic Service (VTS).
The “Guidance on the validity of radiocommunications equipment
installed and used on ships” (MSC.1/Circ.1469/Rev.4) recognizes that
incompatibility may exist between VHF equipment installed on ships
and on shore in the transition from old to new VHF channel plans.
NCSR 11 agreed to a revision of MSC.1/Circ.1469/Rev.4 to clarify that:
- The mandatory VHF/DSC equipment required by SOLAS
Regulation IV/7 on radio equipment (including the required
duplicated equipment for maintenance purposes) should comply
with the latest channel arrangements in Appendix 18 of the RR by
the first radio survey scheduled on or after 1 January 2028, or
earlier. - Ships should always be able to communicate with shore facilities
in their area of operation, noting that some administrations may
already have implemented the new channels.
The draft MSC.1/Circ.1460/Rev.5 will be submitted to MSC 109
(December 2024) for approval.
Recommendation
As NCSR 11 is a Sub-Committee, all decisions concerning rules,
regulations and dates are subject to further consideration and
approval by the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC). DNV recommends
that our customers monitor the outcome of MSC 109 in December
2024.
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