Maritime Safety Committee’s 73^rd Session
27 November – 6 December 2000

International Regulation News Update
January 2001

NAVIGATION SAFETY

A complete revision of SOLAS, Chapter V, Safety of Navigation was adopted as resolution MSC.99(73) and will enter into force on 1 July 2002. The new Chapter mandates that on board navigation systems and equipment installed on/after 1 July 2002, shall comply with the performance standards contained in a number of previously issued recommended guidelines.

Also, new approved MSC Resolutions containing performance standards and technical specifications for three types of navigational equipment (night vision equipment, daylight signaling lamps and speed and distance indicating devices) are referenced by the new Chapter V.

Automatic Identification Systems

Automatic Identification Systems, AIS, will be required to be fitted on all new ships (i.e., constructed on/after 1 July 2002). AIS provides to shore-side stations the ship’s identity, type, position, course, speed and navigational status of the ship’s command and engines.

New ships are defined as all ships > 300 gross tons trading internationally, cargo ships > 500 gross tons trading domestically, and passenger ships irrespective of size.

Existing passenger ships trading internationally must be fitted with an AIS by 1 July 2003. Tankers (oil, gas and chemical) constructed before 1 July 2002, must be fitted with an AIS by the first survey for safety equipment due after 1 July 2003.

For existing ships other than passenger ships and tankers, a 5-year phase-in period to 1 July 2007 has been adopted as per regulation V/19 according to descending categories of gross tonnage as shown below. WP.17

Voyage Data Recorders

Also adopted by resolution MSC.109(73) was new SOLAS regulation V/20. It contains the following implementation schedule for fitting new and existing ships with voyage data recorders, VDR’s,

It was agreed that a feasibility study should be carried out and completed by 1 January 2004 concerning the mandatory application of VDR’s to existing cargo ships. If, after taking into account the practical and technical problems of retrofitting VDR’s relative to the recommended performance standards contained in resolution A.861(20) and any retrofit experience gained during this period, a compelling need is clearly demonstrated, suitable amendments to SOLAS will be developed.

Administrations may exempt existing ships (except RoRo-passenger ships) from this provision where it has been determined to be unreasonable or impracticable to fit a VDR.

The VDR should provide a secure means to store and retrieve information concerning the ship’s position, movement, physical status, command and control. Resolution A.861(20) recommends continuous and sequential recording of the following data:

• Ship’s heading, speed and position
• Bridge and VHF communications
• All information presented by the radar
• Water depth and wind speed and direction
• Status of bridge alarms, watertight and fire doors and hull closures
• Accelerations and hull stresses, if being monitored

The manufacturers of all shipborne navigation equipment and VDR’s must have a quality control system in place and be audited by a competent authority. Otherwise, the type approval certificate for each product is to be verified by the competent authority before installation of the product on board.

The performance standards applied to such equipment shall, to the extent practicable, be not less that those developed by IMO. A performance test to verify the accuracy, duration and recoverability of data recorded as per resolution A.861(20) shall be carried out annually. WP.19

SAR Cooperation Plans

New SOLAS Chapter V now clarifies, under regulation V/7, that on board Search and Rescue (SAR) cooperation plans are required on board all passenger ships certified under SOLAS on 1 July 2002, irrespective of the trading routes. This regulation is contrary to the understanding of the cruise line industry and some Administrations that believed SAR plans were needed only for operation on short sea routes or with certain limited itineraries. The effectiveness of the plan is to be tested periodically as agreed by the passenger ship’s operator and the relevant SAR service for the regions transited. WP/19

( + Note: All "ships" are all self propelled vessels)

For further information concerning the above information, please contact ABS Regulatory Affairs Department at telephone 201-226-5320 , by fax201-226-5314, or by email gshark@eagle.org.

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