1 GENERAL
Clasification Society 2024 - Version 9.40
Statutory Documents - IMO Publications and Documents - Circulars - Radiocommunication and Search and Rescue - COMSAR/Circ.32 - Harmonization of GMDSS Requirements for Radio Installations on Board SOLAS Ships - (16 August 2004) - Annex - Guidelines for the Harmonization of GMDSS Requirements for Radio Installations on Board SOLAS Ships - 1 GENERAL

1 GENERAL

 These guidelines were developed in order to provide Administrations, ship owners and marine electronics companies with an unambiguous interpretation of the radio installation requirements in SOLAS chapter IV, as amended, and adopted IMO resolutions. References are also made to IMO circulars, the STCW Convention and ITU Radio Regulations.

The core elements of this document give Guidelines on GMDSS installations on board ships. However, additional useful information is included from other bodies which are involved when maritime radio equipment is installed.

 1.1 Application

Radio equipment installed on SOLAS ships should meet the relevant IMO requirements and ITU recommendations and should be of a type approved by the Administration.

These Guidelines are applicable when installing GMDSS radio equipment on board SOLAS ships.

The rules in these Guidelines also apply to radio installations on mobile offshore drilling units as prescribed in the MODU Code.

(See chapter 11 regarding GMDSS requirements offshore)

Cargo ships of less than 300 gross tonnage (gt) and fishing/catching vessels are, as a general rule, not covered by SOLAS requirements. However, if such ships/vessels are going to install GMDSS radio equipment on a voluntary basis or mandatory basis according to national laws, these Guidelines should be followed as far as practicable.

These Guidelines reflect, to a large extent, unambiguous requirements in accordance with the relevant rules and regulations, see subsection 1.2. below. Other practical installation solutions than the ones emerging from these Guidelines may, however, be accepted as long as the international requirements, as laid down in the SOLAS Convention etc., are met and the installation is considered to be equivalent.

Note: - The marine electronics company which installs the radio equipment should be responsible for giving the radio operators proper familiarisation in the use of the installed radio equipment before it is put into operation.

 1.2 Rules and regulations

  • .1 These Guidelines are prepared in accordance with the following conventions, regulations, instructions and guidelines:

 1.3 Drawings

1.3.1 General

Specified drawings (plans of the radio installation) should be prepared out well before the work on a new building or reconstruction of ships or offshore units is started. Insufficient or missing drawings may result in deficiencies during radio survey and could lead to expensive repair costs later (resolution A.746(18), section 8).

For the radio installation the following drawings should be prepared:

  • .1 antenna drawing;

  • .2 radio arrangement drawing; and

  • .3 wiring diagram.

For new buildings the antenna and radio arrangement drawings should at least be of size 1:50.

Approved "as installed" wiring diagram, radio arrangement, as well as antenna drawings, should be kept available on board the ship for presentation during radio survey, etc.

1.3.2 Antenna drawings

Antenna drawings should show all antennas seen from fore or aft position, the port or starboard position and from above. This applies to the following antennas:

  • .1 all transmitting antennas including location of antenna tuner;

  • .2 all receiving antennas including GNSS antennas;

  • .3 radar antennas;

  • .4 satellite communication antennas; and

  • .5 the location of float-free EPIRBs.

1.3.3 Changes in the antenna arrangement

When changes are made in the antenna arrangement, modified antenna drawings should be prepared.

1.3.4 Radio arrangement drawings (Lay-out of bridge and communication room)

These drawings should show the location of the following equipment:

  • .1 controllers for transmitting distress alarm;

  • .2 VHF radio installations, including any control units;

  • .3 MF or MF/HF installation, including any control units, telex printers, etc.;

  • .4 satellite communication equipment, including terminals, printers, etc.;

  • .5 watchkeeping receivers for VHF ch. 70, 2187.5 kHz, and HF distress channels in 4, 6, 8, 12 and 16 MHz bands;

  • .6 NAVTEX and EGC receivers;

  • .7 radar transponders and EPIRBs (if located on the navigating bridge);

  • .8 hand held (two-way) GMDSS VHF transceivers and their chargers;

  • .9 emergency light powered from a reserve source of energy to illuminate the mandatory radio equipment;

  • .10 battery charger (for the reserve source of energy); and

  • .11 fuse box.

1.3.5 Wiring diagram

These drawings should show the following connections etc.:

  • .1 antenna connections;

  • .2 connections to telephone exchange (PABX), fax machine, etc.;

  • .3 connections to the ships mains, emergency source of energy, and the reserve source of energy (batteries), and switching systems for all radio- and radio navigation equipment;

  • .4 which radio equipment (including emergency light) being connected to each power unit/source;

  • .5 fuses for all radio equipment;

  • .6 uninterruptable power supply (UPS) with all connections and fuses, if installed as power for mandatory radio equipment. (Block diagram showing how the UPS operates, showing the fuses and switch-over connections to alternative power supplies, by-pass switch, etc.);

  • .7 any connections (interface connections) between satellite navigator/GNSS and GMDSS radio equipment;

  • .8 battery chargers for the reserve source of energy;

  • .9 connections to gyro (if applicable);

  • .10 type of cables used in the installation; and

  • .11 connections to VDR (if applicable).

 1.4 Instruction manuals and publications

The following instruction manuals and publications should be available on board:

  • .1 users manual (in English) for all radio equipment and battery chargers;

  • .2 specifications and battery capacity calculations for the installed batteries; and

  • .3 ITU (International Telecommunication Union) publications according to requirements in the Radio Regulations.

 1.5 Tools and spare parts

As a minimum requirement, the ship should have the following tools and spare parts readily available on board:

  • .1 spare fuses for all radio equipment, battery circuit and main fuses where safety fuse ("melting" fuse) are used;

  • .2 reserve emergency lamps;

  • .3 tools necessary for simple servicing;

  • .4 acid specific density meter if the ship is fitted with lead acid accumulators; and

  • .5 multi-meter.

If the ship makes use of the "on board maintenance" method, it should be equipped with extensive test equipment and spare parts, which enable maintenance and repairs of all mandatory radio equipment while at sea.

 1.6 Maintenance requirements

Ships equipped with GMDSS radio installation should meet specific requirements as to maintenance methods for the radio installation. Irrespective of sea areas, the ship should not leave harbour without being able to transmit distress alert ship-to-shore by at least two separate and independent radio communication systems.

(SOLAS 1974, as amended, regulation IV/4.1)

SOLAS ships in sea areas A1 and A2 are required to use at least one of the three specific maintenance methods, whereas SOLAS ships in areas A3 and A4 should use a combination of two methods.

(SOLAS 1974, as amended, regulation IV/15 and IMO resolution A.702(17))

1.6.1 Shore-based maintenance

  • .1 The shipping company/ship may have a written agreement with a marine electronic company or be able to present a written declaration/plan showing how shore-based maintenance is to be carried out.

    (IMO resolution A.702(17), Annex, item 3)

  • .2 A Radio Safety Certificate issued by an Administration should be, in general, a sufficient proof that satisfied adequate maintenance arrangement has been made.

    (IMO resolution A.702(17) and COM/Circ.117)

1.6.2 At-sea electronic maintenance

If the shipowner chooses at-sea electronic maintenance, personnel with necessary qualifications and authorization for servicing the equipment should be present on board. All necessary instruments and spare parts for repair of all radio equipment should also be available when the ship is at sea.

(IMO resolution A.702(17))

1.6.3 Duplication of equipment

The following additional equipment should be installed for sea areas A3 and A4:

  • .1 VHF with DSC controller

  • .2 approved satellite ship earth station or complete MF/HF radio telephony station with DSC and NBDP (see note).

    (IMO resolution A.702(17))

Note: - Ships in sea areas A3 may choose between duplication with either complete MF/HF transceiver or approved satellite ship earth station. Ships in regular trade in sea areas A4 should duplicate with a complete MF/HF installation. Ships in sea area A4 which are not in regular trade in that area may duplicate with approved satellite ship earth station, provided a MF/HF installation is used as main station.

 1.7 Ship Station Radio Licence

  • .1 A ship station radio licence in accordance with the Radio Regulations should be issued to the ship.

  • .2 The licensee (normally the shipowner) is responsible for applying for a radio licence in due time before the installation take place.

    (RR. Article 18)

Note: - The Maritime Mobile Service Identity (MMSI) number stipulated in the radio licence should be coded into the DSC equipment and, if appropriate, also into the satellite EPIRB. If the national authority accepts serial number or call sign for identification of EPIRB‘s, the correct serial number or call sign should be coded into the EPIRB.

All these identities should be changed when a ship is transferred to another flag, and appropriate steps should be taken to ensure databases held ashore are kept current.

 1.8 Application for activation of satellite equipment

The licensee is also responsible for registration and service activation of satellite ship earth station.

 1.9 De-activation of satellite equipment when transferring a ship to foreign flag

When transferring a ship to foreign flag, the licensee/shipowner should inform the appropriate Licensing Authority immediately concerning de-activation of satellite equipment.

 1.10 Initial and annual radio survey, issuance, renewal and endorsement of Safety Radio Certificates

Survey of radio installations on SOLAS ships should be carried out in accordance with the rules laid down in IMO resolution A.948(23) "Revised Survey Guidelines under the harmonized system of survey and certification" R 4 (adopted by IMO), and SOLAS 1974, as amended, chapter I, part B. It is important to note the following text:

  • .1 The radio survey should always be performed by a fully qualified radio surveyor who has adequate knowledge of the IMO‘s relevant Convention, particularly SOLAS and associated performance standards, and appropriate ITU Radio Regulations. The radio survey should be carried out using suitable test equipment capable of performing all relevant measurements required by these Guidelines.

  • .2 It is considered as very important that the responsible radio operator (holding a GOC or ROC certificate) are properly instructed and trained in how to use the GMDSS radio equipment.

  • .3 The International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978, as amended in 1995, requires that the radio operator performing watchkeeping duties should:

    • .1 ensure that watch is maintained on the frequencies specified in the Radio Regulations and the SOLAS Convention; and

    • .2 while on duty, regularly check the operation of the radio equipment and its sources of energy and report to the master any failure of this equipment.

  • .4 The radio licence and certificate for the radio operator/operators should be checked during the survey.

Parent topic: Annex - Guidelines for the Harmonization of GMDSS Requirements for Radio Installations on Board SOLAS Ships
Copyright 2022 Clasifications Register Group Limited, International Maritime Organization, International Labour Organization or Maritime and Coastguard Agency. All rights reserved. Clasifications Register Group Limited, its affiliates and subsidiaries and their respective officers, employees or agents are, individually and collectively, referred to in this clause as 'Clasifications Register'. Clasifications Register assumes no responsibility and shall not be liable to any person for any loss, damage or expense caused by reliance on the information or advice in this document or howsoever provided, unless that person has signed a contract with the relevant Clasifications Register entity for the provision of this information or advice and in that case any responsibility or liability is exclusively on the terms and conditions set out in that contract.