Sub-Committee on Navigation, Communications and Search and Rescue (NCSR), 6th session, 16-25 January 2019

The Sub-Committee continued its work in supporting the fundamental role of IMO in enhancing maritime safety, through the implementation of effective measures for safe navigation, reliable communications and improved coordination of search and rescue operations. These play a major role in both avoiding maritime accidents and ensuring a quick and efficient response, in case of a search and rescue incident.

Polar communication and navigation equipment guidance finalized
Draft guidance for navigation and communication equipment intended for use on ships operating in polar waters was finalized, for submission to the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) for approval. The guidance includes recommendations on temperature and mechanical shock testing, and on how to address ice accretion and battery performance in cold temperatures.

This is expected to be an important tool in support of the implementation of the mandatory Polar Code. IMO’s Polar Code helps ensure that ships operating in the harsh Arctic and Antarctic areas take into account extremes of temperature and that critical equipment remains operational under those conditions.

New ship routeing systems In Indonesia approved
The Sub-Committee approved the establishment of traffic separation schemes (TSSs) and associated routeing measures and of precautionary areas with recommended directions of traffic flow in the Sunda and Lombok Straits, Indonesia. The new ships' routeing measures are aimed at minimizing the risk of collision between ships and grounding.

The proposed routeing measures will be forwarded to IMO's Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) 101st session in June for adoption and are expected to be implemented one year thereafter.   

The Sub-committee also agreed on a Procedure for the submission of documents containing proposals for the establishment of, or amendments to, ships' routeing systems or ship reporting systems, for approval by MSC 101.
 
E-navigation further developed
The Sub-Committee continued its work on matters related to e-navigation. As shipping moves into the digital world, e-navigation is expected to provide digital information and infrastructure for the benefit of maritime safety, security and protection of the marine environment, reducing administrative burden and increasing the efficiency of maritime trade and transport. E-navigation is defined as “the harmonized collection, integration, exchange, presentation and analysis of marine information on board and ashore by electronic means to enhance berth to berth navigation and related services for safety and security at sea and protection of the marine environment”.

An updated IMO e-navigation Strategy Implementation Plan (SIP) was approved by MSC 99 in May 2018 (MSC.1/Circ.1595).  

The Sub-Committee:

  • Agreed a draft MSC circular on Guidelines for the standardization of user interface design for navigation equipment. The aim is to promote improved standardization of the user interface and information used by seafarers to monitor, manage and perform navigational tasks will enhance situation awareness and improve safety of navigation. The guidelines, including icons, apply to Integrated Navigation Systems (INS), Electronic Chart Display and Information Systems (ECDIS) and Radar equipment, and they may be applied to other electronic navigation equipment where applicable, improving standardization and usability.
  • Agreed draft amendments to the Performance standards for the presentation of navigation-related information on shipborne navigational displays (resolution MSC.191(79)), including implementation dates, for radar equipment, electronic chart display and information systems (ECDIS) and integrated navigation systems (INS). The implementation date of the revised standard should be 1 January 2024; and for all other navigational displays on the bridge of a ship 1 July 2025.
  • Finalized the draft SN.1/Circ.243/Rev.2 to update the Guidelines for the presentation of navigational-related symbols, terms and abbreviations, which provide guidance on the appropriate use of navigation-related symbols to achieve a harmonized and consistent presentation.
  • Agreed a draft MSC resolution on Guidance on the definition and harmonization of the format and structure of Maritime Services in the context of e navigation. The purpose of the guidance is to ensure that Maritime Services are implemented internationally in a standardized and harmonized format. All Maritime Services should be conformant with the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) S-100 framework standard, which specifies the method for data modelling and developing product specifications.
  • Agreed a draft MSC circular on Initial descriptions of maritime services in the context of e-navigation. The circular includes what is intended to be the first draft of Maritime Service descriptions and is an initial contribution for the harmonization of their format and structure. The Initial descriptions are expected to be periodically updated, taking into account developments and related work on harmonization.

Following a request by a number of delegations for a more active participation of IMO in the process of harmonization of maritime services, exercising its leading role, the Sub-Committee agreed that IMO should work in collaboration with Member States, and in partnership with other international organizations, in the further development and harmonization work related to the definition and structure of maritime services in the context of e-navigation (including vessel traffic services (VTS) information service, maritime safety information (MSI) services, vessel shore reporting, ice navigation, search and rescue, pilotage and tug services, telemedical assistance, meteorological and hydrographic information, etc.).

Maritime Safety Information (MSI) and maritime services
Maritime Safety Information (MSI) includes navigational and meteorological warnings, meteorological forecasts and other urgent safety-related messages broadcast to ships.

Amendments to SOLAS adopted in 2018 (entering into force on 1January 2020) provide for new mobile satellite services recognized by IMO to be used in the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS), and  allow the broadcast of MSI to a defined geographical area through those newly recognized services, in addition to the existing Inmarsat services.

In this context, the Sub-Committee approved draft amendments to the following MSI-related instruments to accommodate these developments, to be effective from 1 January 2020:

  • International SafetyNET Manual (MSC.1/Circ.1364/Rev.1)
  • Promulgation of maritime safety information (resolution A.705(17), as amended)
  • World-Wide Navigational Warning Service (resolution A.706(17), as amended)
  • IMO/WMO Worldwide Met-Ocean Information and Warning Service guidance document (resolution A.1051(27)).

The Sub-Committee also finalized Interim guidance on technical requirements for Fleet Safety enhanced group call receivers for SOLAS compliant mobile earth stations, pending future inclusion in the International SafetyNET Manual.

New performance standards for EPIRBs
The Sub-Committee finalized draft performance standards for float-free emergency position-indicating radio beacons (EPIRBs) operating on 406 MHz, which are proposed to be applicable to float-free EPIRBs operating on the frequency 406 MHz installed on or after three years from the date of their adoption by MSC 101 in June 2019. The performance standards include, inter alia, requirements for EPIRBs to be provided with an Automatic Identification System (AIS) locating signal and consolidate type approval provisions.

VDR testing guidelines updated
Draft amendments were agreed to update the Guidelines on annual testing of voyage data recorders (VDR) and simplified voyage data recorders (S-VDR) (MSC.1/Circ.1222), clarifying the examination of float-free capsules approved in accordance with resolution MSC.333(90).

Liaison statements to ITU
The Sub-Committee agreed draft liaison statements to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) on:

  • Revision of Recommendation ITU-R M.1371-5 on technical characteristics for an automatic identification system using time division multiple access in the VHF maritime mobile frequency band.
  • Autonomous maritime radio devices and identities in the maritime mobile service.
  • Protection criteria for aeronautical and maritime systems.
  • Transmission characteristics of Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB).
  • Requirements of smart management of supply services in smart port.

IMO position for WRC 19 approved
The Sub-Committee approved the draft IMO position on maritime radiocommunication matters for submission to the World Radiocommunication Conference 2019 (WRC-19), to be held in November 2019. The WRC reviews, and, if necessary, revises, the Radio Regulations, the international treaty governing the use of the radio-frequency spectrum and the geostationary-satellite and non-geostationary-satellite orbits. This includes radio-frequency spectrum to be used for communication and navigation services. The availability of interference-free parts of radio spectrum, dedicated for maritime radiocommunication and radionavigation purposes, is essential to ensure the safety and security of shipping.

Modernizing the GMDSS
The Sub-Committee continued ongoing work to modernize the Global Maritime Distress and Safety system (GMDSS). The mandatory GMDSS was adopted in 1988 to ensure full integration of maritime radio and satellite communications so that distress alerts can be generated from anywhere on the world’s oceans. The modernization plan aims to update the provisions, including allowing for the incorporation of new satellite communication services.

The aim is to develop a set of draft amendments to chapters III and IV of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), for adoption in 2022 with entry into force in 2024. There will also be consequential amendments to other instruments, such as guidance and performance standards.

The Sub-Committee agreed, in principle, to draft amendments to SOLAS chapters III and IV, and continued its work on consequential amendments to other instruments.

A correspondence group was established to continue the work intersessionally.

SAR matters
The Sub-Committee validated the revised model course on SAR Mission Coordinator (IAMSAR Manual Volume II); and approved an updated SAR.7 circular on List of documents and publications which should be held by a Maritime or Joint Rescue Coordination Centre.
The Sub-Committee also initiated a review of model courses 3.13 on SAR Administration (IAMSAR Manual Volume I) and 3.15 on SAR On-scene Coordinator (IAMSAR Manual Volume III).

Long-Range Identification and Tracking (LRIT) of ships
The Sub-Committee considered matters relating to the functioning and operation of the LRIT system and reviewed the annual report of the LRIT coordinator, the International Mobile Satellite Organization (IMSO).

The LRIT system was adopted in 2006 through amendments to SOLAS, to enable Contracting Governments to undertake the long-range identification and tracking of ships.
The first periodic position report message was sent by an LRIT Data Centre (DC) on 1 July 2009 at 00:01:34 UTC. Nearly a decade later, the LRIT system has become an important global tool in support of the international effort to enhance maritime security, safety of navigation, search and rescue operations at sea and protection of the marine environment. IMSO reported that LRIT users are provided with access to more than 35,000 SOLAS ships' LRIT information on a secure, reliable and continuous basis.

The Sub-Committee agreed:

  • A plan and procedures for the third modification testing phase of the LRIT system, and for the renewal of Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) certificates in 2019.
  • Draft amendments to on Continuity of service plan for the LRIT system (MSC.1/Circ.1376/Rev.3) and on LRIT system – Technical documentation (Part I) (MSC.1/Circ.1259/Rev.7). 
  • A draft revision of the Principles and guidelines relating to the review and audit of the performance of LRIT Data Centres and the International LRIT Data Exchange. (MSC.1/Circ.1412/Rev.1).

LRIT system
The obligation of ships to transmit LRIT information and the rights and obligations of SOLAS Contracting Governments and of search and rescue services to receive LRIT information are established in regulation V/19-1 of the SOLAS Convention.

The LRIT system consists of shipborne LRIT information transmitting equipment, Communication Service Providers, Application Service Providers, LRIT Data Centres, , the LRIT Data Distribution Plan server and the International LRIT Data Exchange. Certain aspects of the performance of the LRIT system are reviewed or audited by the LRIT Coordinator, acting on behalf of all SOLAS Contracting Governments.

The European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) maintains and operates the International LRIT Data Exchange (IDE) from its operations centre in Lisbon, Portugal. EMSA also maintains a business continuity facility site in Madrid, Spain, for the immediate restoration of services in case of a service interruption at the primary site.

The United States Coast Guard (USCG), which established and operated the interim IDE from 2008 to 2011, continues to host the disaster recovery site for the permanent IDE in Kearneysville, West Virginia, United States. IMO continues to host the primary LRIT Data Distribution Plan (DDP) server at its Headquarters in London and the backup at the United Nations International Computing Centre (UNICC) in Geneva. IMO also hosts and operates the Information Distribution Facility (IDF), which provides LRIT information to security forces operating in waters off the Gulf of Aden and the western Indian Ocean.

IMSO reported that, as of October 2018, 60 LRIT Data Centres (DCs) were operating in the production environment of the LRIT system.