Opening speech

Draft performance standards and functional requirements for the Long-Range Identification and Tracking (LRIT) were agreed by the Sub-Committee on Radiocommunications and Search and Rescue (COMSAR) when it met for its 10th session. The draft standards were forwarded to the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC 81) in May for consideration.

The proposed draft SOLAS regulation on LRIT, which will be considered by the MSC for adoption, foresees:

• a phased-in implementation schedule for ships constructed before the date the proposed new regulation would enter into force;
• exemption of ships operating exclusively in sea area A1 from the requirements to transmit LRIT information since such ships are already fitted with AIS;
• the various functional requirements for LRIT;
• the circumstances during which a ship can switch off LRIT; and
• which authorities may have access to LRIT information.
  
  

The proposed draft amendments to SOLAS were developed by an MSC intersessional working group on LRIT (MSC/ISWG/LRIT) which met in October 2005.

The Sub-Committee agreed an LRIT system architecture to consist of a number of LRIT Data Centres (National, Regional or Co-operative, or International) which interface and exchange information with each other through an International LRIT Data Exchange and which provide LRIT information to the LRIT Data Users (Contracting Governments and Search and rescue services) who opt to use their services.

The Sub-Committee agreed that the main functions of an LRIT Data Centre should be:

• to collect and archive LRIT information transmitted by the ships of Administrations which have selected that centre;
• to provide, upon request, to their LRIT Data Users the LRIT information, they are entitled to receive, which has been collected and archived by the centre;
• to obtain, when required, the LRIT information from the other LRIT Data Centres through the International LRIT Data Exchange; and
• to execute or relay, when necessary, requests for the transmission of LRIT information on demand (i.e. requests for polling or transmission of information at interval other than the preset one).

The Sub-Committee agreed that each Contracting Government should instruct the ships entitled to fly their flag to transmit the LRIT information to the LRIT Data Centre selected by that Contracting Government.

The Sub-Committee agreed that a number of technical specifications and other detailed technical requirements need to be developed for the LRIT system to be established and function in a smooth and efficient manner, and it agreed to invite the Committee to establish an Ad hoc LRIT Engineering Task Force for the purpose of developing the required technical specifications.

Passenger ship safety
The Sub-Committee reviewed the tasks assigned to it in relation to the ongoing work by IMO on passenger ship safety. The guiding philosophy for the holistic programme of work on passenger ships safety is based on the premise that the regulatory framework should place more emphasis on the prevention of a casualty from occurring in the first place and that future passenger ships should be designed for improved survivability so that, in the event of a casualty, persons can stay safely on board as the ship proceeds to port.

Draft amendments to SOLAS chapter III on recovery arrangements for the rescue of persons at sea were agreed, for submission to the MSC. The draft amendments would state that all SOLAS ships must be equipped to recover persons from the water and/or survival craft and rescue craft, and give functional requirements for achieving this.

The Sub-Committee also agreed, for submission to the MSC :

• draft MSC circular on Guidelines for recovery techniques which is aimed at seafarers who may be faced with having to recover people in distress at sea.
• draft MSC circular on Guidelines on the provision of external support as an aid to incident containment for SAR Authorities and others concerned.
• draft MSC circular on Enhanced contingency planning guidance for passenger ships operating in areas remote from SAR facilities as well as Criteria for what constitutes an area remote from SAR facilities.
• draft MSC circular on Guidelines on training of SAR service personnel working in major incidents.
• draft MSC circular on Guidance for cold water survival. It was suggested that the short check list on cold water survival contained in the Guide would be useful if produced in a water resistant format for use by seafarers.
• draft amendments to the IAMSAR Manual, aimed at incorporating the external support guidance into Volume II, chapter 7 (Emergency assistance other than search and rescue).

Use of cellular (mobile) telephones in maritime distress alerting
The Sub-Committee discussed the lack of a common worldwide approach on the use of mobile telephones in maritime distress alerting and agreed proposed draft amendments to the International Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue Manual (IAMSAR manual), relating to the use of cellular (mobile) telephones.

The proposed amendments stress the fact that while popular, inexpensive, and multi-purpose, these devices have limitations in emergencies involving SAR in the maritime environment, and, therefore, the advantages dedicated marine communications systems should continue to be stressed by national administrations. In particular, where installed, cellular phone coverage in the maritime environment can be limited, intermittent, or non-existent, based on several factors including cellular tower accessibility and orientation in relationship to a cellular telephone call initiated from an offshore or coastal area.

However, cellular service providers may be able to provide some help in finding the position of callers in an emergency.

The Sub-Committee also agreed a liaison statement to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), which concerns the possibility of creating a single common international cellular phone number for possible use by SOLAS ships within range of national cellular networks. Calls to this number would be directly routed to the national SAR Authority (MRCC) within the applicable Search and Rescue Region (SRR) from which the call is made, along with positional and caller identification information as is able to be made available. This common international SOLAS SAR number could be promulgated in nautical publications maintained by SOLAS ships.

SART - revised performance standards endorsed
The Sub-Committee endorsed proposed draft amendments to the performance standards for Search and Rescue Transponder (SART) (currently resolution A.802(19))

The Sub-Committee also endorsed preliminary draft performance standards for survival craft AIS Search and Rescue Transmitter (AIS-SART) to supplement the existing SART performance standards. The AIS-SART would use AIs technology.

The Sub Committee also endorsed draft proposed amendments to regulations in SOLAS chapter III to reflect the development of new AIS-SART performance standards.
The Sub Committee noted that it was important to ensure that the definitions of AIS Search and Rescue Transmitter (AIS-SART) and Search and Rescue (radar) Transponder (SART) were clear, so as to avoid confusing two distinct technologies.

Exchange of medical information - draft circular agreed
The Sub-Committee agreed a draft MSC circular on Guidance on exchange of medical information between telemedical assistance services (TMAS) involved in international SAR operations. The circular provides a common form to facilitate the transfer of all available and relevant medical information between TMAS, MRCCs and ships

Criteria for provision of communication systems in the GMDSS - revision agreed
The Sub-Committee agreed a proposed draft revised resolution A.888(21) Criteria for the provision of mobile-satellite communication systems in the GMDSS for submission to MSC 81 for consideration.

The proposed revisions note the decision of the MSC that the International Mobile Satellite Organization (IMSO) is the appropriate organization to carry out the required oversight of mobile-satellite services for the GMDSS. The revised resolution sets out the following general procedure:

(a) IMO establishes the regulatory regime, via the revision of resolution A.888, which states that IMSO evaluates and approves satcom companies to participate in the GMDSS, undertakes the oversight on a continuing basis and keeps IMO (MSC) informed;

(b) the Company applies - through its Government - to IMO. The application is reviewed by the MSC - which has a general discussion of principles and policy issues only - and forwards the application to IMSO; and

(c) IMSO verifies the information provided and evaluates the application (the process is open and transparent with IMO and the sponsoring Government involved as Observers), decides on the acceptability of the applicant (based on criteria established by IMO in the revised resolution A.888) and, if appropriate, recognizes the applicant's services and conducts ongoing oversight. IMSO is also responsible for ensuring compliance - including any resulting enforcement procedures.

Tsunami warning system
The Sub-Committee was updated on the status of the Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System (IOTWS) , which formally came into existence in June 2005 at the 23rd Assembly of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization/ Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (UNESCO/IOC) in Paris with the establishment of an Intergovernmental Co ordination Group (ICG) to govern it.

The architecture of the IOTWS was based on the establishment of national tsunami centres capable of issuing warnings in each of the participating countries through radio and TV broadcast and, possibly, mobile phone services. Between May and September 2005, national assessments of 16 countries in the vicinity of the Indian Ocean were conducted to identify capacity building needs and support requirements for the establishment of an Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning System (IOTWS). By July 2006 it is intended that an initial system will be operating utilizing 28 additional tide gauges and 25 seismic stations will be in place, together with the first three out of 60 planned open ocean buoys and updated communication facilities for data and warning exchange, Nevertheless implementing the complete system including all the intended instrumentation updates, the installation of all national warning centres as well as ensuring the effective communication of all warnings to the possibly affected population along the coasts will not be in place before the turn of the decade.

The Sub Committee recognized that in respect of the threat to shipping a tsunami poses a significant risk only to those ships in shallow waters and in port areas; ships in port are not required to maintain watch on GMDSS communications equipment, consequently a separate system for promulgating warning messages needs to be established within each port; and tsunami warnings need to be sent to those ships most at risk in a rapid manner.

The most important communication links were those between regional and national centres and it was noted that while new links being established appear to be predominantly by e-mail or through the WMO Global Telecommunications System, however use of the International SafetyNET system remains an option for IOC/UNESCO and relevant authorities if required. For communciaiton links within nations to coastal regions and ports; it was agreed that while this is a national issue, IMO, IHO and WMO can guide and support national authorities through national or regional capacity building programmes. For links to both SOLAS ships and non-SOLAS ships/fishing vessels in shallow coastal waters, NAVTEX can be used for these warnings, but there may be no stations currently covering the affected areas and non-SOLAS ships/fishing vessels may not carry suitable receiving equipment, therefore other means such as local news broadcasts and warnings on maritime VHF channels should be considered.

It was recognized that options to use the IMO GMDSS communications facilities through either the relevant WWNWS NAVAREA Co ordinators or the METAREA Issuing Services, should remain available to national or regional centres if required by IOC/UNESCO. IMO, WMO and IHO should continue to participate in ongoing discussions, particularly at the IOC/UNESCO Assembly in June 2006, to ensure that maritime interests are not overlooked.

It was also noted that IMO might wish to consider the provision of technical assistance to those nations under threat of tsunami and involved in the preparation and operation of Tsunami warning systems for vessels and ports.

COSPAS-SARSAT Programme update
The Sub-Committee was updated on the status of the COSPAS-SARSAT Programme, which now has 39 active participant countries. During 2004, COSPAS-SARSAT assisted in the rescue of 1,505 persons in 321 maritime incidents.

A draft MSC circular containing Guidance on the COSPAS SARSAT International 406 MHz Beacon Registration Database was approved by the Sub-Committee, to promote the use of the database, which freely available to users with no access to national registration facilities. The IBRD is on the Internet at https://www.406registration.com.

Statements to ITU approved
The Sub-Committee approved liaison statements to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) relating to: the complexity of DSC operational procedures; the use of MMSI and ITU-R M.585-3; the satellite detection of AIS messages and the spectrum resource implications for AIS channels; and HF Spectrum requirements for the maritime mobile service.