1 Ship reporting systems contribute to safety
of life at sea, safety and efficiency of navigation and/or protection
of the marine environment. A ship reporting system, when adopted and
implemented in accordance with the guidelines and criteria developed
by the Organizationfootnote pursuant to this
regulation, shall be used by all ships, or certain categories of ships
or ships carrying certain cargoes in accordance with the provisions
of each system so adopted.
2 The Organization is recognized as the only international
body for developing guidelines, criteria and regulations on an international
level for ship reporting systems. Contracting Government shall refer
proposals for the adoption of ship reporting systems to the Organization.
The Organization will collate and disseminate to Contracting Governments
all relevant information with regard to any adopted ship reporting
system.
3 The initiation of action for establishing a
ship reporting system is the responsibility of the Government or Governments
concerned. In developing such systems provision of the guidelines
and criteria developed by the Organizationfootnote shall
be taken into account.
4 Ship reporting systems not submitted to the
Organization for adoption do not necessarily need to comply with this
regulation. However, Governments implementing such systems are encouraged
to follow, wherever possible, the guidelines and criteria developed
by the Organizationfootnote. Contracting Governments
may submit such systems to the Organization for recognition.
5 Where two or more Governments have a common
interest in a particular area, they should formulate proposals for
a co-ordinated ship reporting system on the basis of agreement between
them. Before proceeding with a proposal for adoption of a ship reporting
system, the Organization shall disseminate details of the proposal
to those Governments which have a common interest in the area covered
by the proposed system. Where a co-ordinated ship reporting system
is adopted and established, it shall have uniform procedures and operations.
6 After adoption of a ship reporting system in
accordance with this regulation, the Government or Governments concerned
shall take all measures necessary for the promulgation of any information
needed for the efficient and effective use of the system. Any adopted
ship reporting system shall have the capability of interaction and
the ability to assist ships with information when necessary. Such
systems shall be operated in accordance with the guidelines and criteria
developed by the Organizationfootnote pursuant
to this regulation.
7 The master of a ship shall comply with the requirements
of adopted ship reporting systems and report to the appropriate authority
all information required in accordance with the provisions of each
such system.
8 All adopted ship reporting systems and actions
taken to enforce compliance with those systems shall be consistent
with international law, including the relevant provisions of the United
Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
9 Nothing in this regulation or its associated
guidelines and criteria shall prejudice the rights and duties of Governments
under international law or the legal regimes of straits used for international
navigation and archipelagic sea lanes.
10 The participation of ships in accordance with
the provisions of adopted ship reporting systems shall be free of
charge to the ships concerned.
11 The Organization shall ensure that adopted
ship reporting systems are reviewed under the guidelines and criteria
developed by the Organization.