IMO: circular on the availability of new GMDSS equipment

The International Maritime Organization has issued the MSC.1/Circ.1676 on delays affecting the availability of new GMDSS equipment.

The Maritime Safety Committee, at its 105th session (20 to 29 April 2022), adopted amendments to:

the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), 1974 (resolution MSC.496(105));
the Protocol of 1988 relating to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974 (1988 SOLAS Protocol) (resolution MSC.497(105));
the International Code of Safety for High-Speed Craft, 1994 (1994 HSC Code) (resolution MSC.498(105)) and the International Code of Safety for High-Speed Craft, 2000 (2000 HSC Code) (resolution MSC.499(105));
the Code for the Construction and Equipment of Mobile Offshore Drilling Units, 1979 (1979 MODU Code) (resolution MSC.504(105)), the Code for the Construction and Equipment of Mobile Offshore Drilling Units, 1989 (1989 MODU Code) (resolution MSC.505(105)) and the Code for the Construction and Equipment of Mobile Offshore Drilling Units, 2009 (2009 MODU Code) (resolution MSC.506(105));

which will enter into force on 1 January 2024.

The Committee also adopted, inter alia, resolutions:

MSC.511(105) on Performance standards for shipborne VHF radio installations capable of voice communication and digital selective calling;
MSC.512(105) on Performance standards for shipborne MF and MF/HF radio installations capable of voice communication, digital selective calling, and reception of maritime safety information and search and rescue related information;
MSC.513(105) on Performance standards for Inmarsat-C ship earth stations capable of transmitting and receiving direct-printing communications,

which recommend Governments to ensure that shipborne equipment installed on or after 1 January 2024, which will form part of the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS), conform to performance standards not inferior to those adopted at that session.

The Committee, at its 107th session (31 May to 9 June 2023), having considered information provided by IEC and CIRM on the availability of GMDSS equipment after 1 January 2024, noted that considerable work had been carried out by the radio manufacturing industry and the standards' organizations to develop the new equipment required.

However, some of the performance standards incorporate new features which still require specification from other organizations.

The Committee, therefore, concluded that it was unrealistic for new shipborne VHF radio installations, shipborne MF and MF/HF radio installations, or Inmarsat-C ship earth stations conforming to performance standards specified in the annex to resolutions MSC.511(105), MSC.512(105), and MSC.513(105), respectively, to be available for installation from 1 January 2024.

In this regard, the Committee invited Member States to consider permitting until 1 January 2028 the continued installation of:

shipborne VHF radio installations conforming to performance standards not inferior to those specified in the annex to resolution A.803(19), as amended;
shipborne MF and MF/HF radio installations conforming to performance standards not inferior to those specified in the annex to resolutions A.804(19), as amended and A.806(19), as amended;
Inmarsat-C ship earth stations conforming to performance standards not inferior to those specified in the annex to resolution A.807(19), as amended.

Member States are invited to bring this information to the attention of the appropriate national authorities and all other parties concerned.

This Circular was issued on 30 June 2023.

For more information, please see the document below (available only to subscribers):