3 BASIC EQUIPMENT - SUPPLEMENTARY REQUIREMENTS
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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 - 3 BASIC EQUIPMENT - SUPPLEMENTARY REQUIREMENTS

3 BASIC EQUIPMENT - SUPPLEMENTARY REQUIREMENTS

3.1 General requirements

Every radio installation should:

  • .1 be so located that no harmful interference of mechanical, electrical or other origin affects its proper use;

  • .2 be so located as to ensure electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) and avoid harmful interference to other equipment and systems;

  • .3 be so located as to ensure the greatest possible degree of safety and operational availability, with warning notice when appropriate;

  • .4 be protected against the harmful effects of water, extremes of temperature and other adverse environmental conditions;

  • .5 be provided with emergency lighting, which is independent of the main and emergency sources of electrical power for the illumination of the radio controls;

  • .6 be clearly marked with the ship's call sign, MMSI number and other identities as appropriate; and

  • .7 be so located that no magnetic compass lies within the stated Compass Safe Distance of the equipment.

(SOLAS 1974, as amended, regulation IV/6.2)

3.2 Use of VHF for navigational safety

Control of the VHF used for navigational safety should be available at the conning position (in the front of the navigation bridge), and where necessary, from the wings of the bridge.

Portable VHF equipment may be used to provide navigational safety from the wings of the bridge.

(SOLAS 1974, as amended, regulation IV.6.3)

3.3 Marking of radio equipment and notices

  • .1 All radio equipment should be duly marked with type designation. The marking should be clearly visible when the equipment has been installed.

  • .2 The radio installation should be duly marked with the ship’s call sign, the ship’s station identity and other codes applicable for the use of the radio equipment.

  • .3 DSC operation procedures should be posted near the DSC equipment on the navigation bridge. Emergency procedures should be posted near the relevant equipment on the bridge.

  • .4 "GMDSS operating guidance for masters of ships in distress situations" and the procedure "False alerts", both drawn up by IMO, should be posted on the navigation bridge.

3.4 Emergency lights

  • .1 All mandatory radio equipment should have reliable emergency lighting powered from a reserve source of energy, which normally is the radio batteries. This light should give adequate illumination of the controls for safe operation of the radio equipment, and the working table for reading and writing.

  • .2 Means should be provided for dimming any light source on the equipment which is capable of interfering with navigation, i.e. by adjustable light or by use of a curtain etc. during night-time.

  • .3 For VHF transceivers located openly in the front of the bridge, a screened light concentrating on each single piece of equipment, should by used. Scale illumination (powered from a reserve source of energy) may be accepted provided it is sufficient for the operation of call control devices both on the VHF transceivers and the DSC controllers.

  • .4 Ceiling light may be used for equipment located in a separate radio workstation, providing it is not dazzling the navigator on watch.

(IMO resolution A.694(17), Annex, paragraph 3.3.)

  • .5 The emergency light should have its own fuse circuit and fuses in each circuit. These fuses should be connected before of the main fuses in order to prevent blown main fuses to cause interruption of the emergency light.

  • .6 Switches for emergency lights should be properly marked.

3.5 Recommended installation

In order to meet all requirements and recommendations concerning the location of all units included in a GMDSS radio installation, it is recommended to establish either a "radio work station" in connection with the navigating bridge, or a separate "communication office" outside the navigation bridge with remote controls on the bridge. It must be emphasized, however, that the suggestions in subsections 3.5 - 3.7 below are to be considered as guidelines only. Other solutions and combinations are equally acceptable as long as the general requirements and recommendations outlined are fulfilled.

(SOLAS 1974, as amended, chapter IV, COM/Circ.105 and ISO 8468: 1990(E))

3.5.1 Radio work station

  • .1 The work station should be located in the aft of the navigation bridge so that the navigator has an over all view of the navigation while operating the radio equipment. If the work station and the rest of the navigation bridge are separated by a wall it should be made of glass or fitted with windows. There should be no lockable door between the work station and the navigation bridge.

  • .2 When the work station is being used during night-time, a curtain should be provided in order to avoid dazzling effect from the lights.

  • .3 All mandatory radio equipment (except mandatory VHF, see subsection 4.1.1.) should be located in the radio work station. Watch receivers may alternatively be located elsewhere on the navigation bridge.

Note: - It is essential that satisfactory watch (clearly audible signals/visual alarms) can be maintained at the position from which the ship is normally navigated. If it is not possible to maintain satisfactory watch, alarm indicators on MF or MF/HF and Inmarsat equipment, including EGC printer, should be located outside this work station.

(IMO resolutions A.664(16); A.807(19), Annex, item 3.2 regarding EGC, and A.610(15), A.806(19) Annex D item 8 regarding MF and MF/HF DSC requirements, and SOLAS 1974, as amended, regulation IV.12 regarding watchkeeping requirements)

  • .4 MF/HF RF power amplifiers should be located in a separate and screened room. Antenna tuners should, as a general rule, be located outdoors below the antenna.

3.5.2 Communication office

  • .1 The communication office may be located as required by the shipping company, e.g. in connection to the captain's office. It should be possible to make public calls and perform general radiocommunications on MF or HF and/or through satellite from the communication office, if such calls cannot be made from a suitable location elsewhere on the ship.

  • .2 All equipment for written correspondence, as well as telephone services for MF/HF and Inmarsat, should be located in the communication office.

  • .3 The remote operation panels for the mandatory equipment should be located in a central position on the navigation bridge, in order to fulfil the requirements for transmitting distress alerts from the navigation bridge.

Note: - Consideration should also be given to the requirements for navigational safety communication and subsequent distress communications on MF or HF. When MF/HF DSC is included in the mandatory basic or duplicated radio equipment, it should be possible to conduct distress and safety communications from the navigating position, and the MF/HF DSC controller should be installed in this position.

(IMO resolutions A.804(19) and A.806(19), as amended)

  • .4 Watch receivers and NAVTEX/EGC receivers should be located on the navigation bridge.

  • .5 VHF transceivers with DSC used for navigational safety should be located in the front of the navigation bridge.

3.6 Ships with integrated bridge system (IBS)

  • .1 Ships constructed to satisfy the IBS requirements for single-manned navigating bridge should have the operation panels for mandatory GMDSS equipment installed as close to the conning position as possible.

  • .2 Equipment for the transfer of radio telephone calls via radio (VHF, MF or MF/HF) or satellite to other areas of the ship should be placed close to the other GMDSS equipment near the conning position.

  • .3 It should be possible also to operate printed communications (data communications via radio and/or Inmarsat) from other areas of the ship.

3.7 Ships with integrated radiocommunication systems (IRCS)

  • .1 The IRCS is a system in which individual radiocommunication equipment and installations are used as sensors, i.e. without the need for their own control units, providing outputs to and accepting inputs from the operator's position, called workstations. Such workstations are called "GMDSS workstations" if they include control and monitoring of all equipment and installations provided on a ship for the GMDSS which are also suitable for general radiocommunications. The IRCS workstation should be installed in a console located in a central position on the navigation bridge.

    Transmitting and receiving equipment may be located outside the navigation bridge.

  • .2 The IRCS should comprise at least two GMDSS workstations each connected to each GMDSS radiocommunication sensor over a network or connection system. At least two printers should be installed. All requirements laid down in SOLAS 1974, as amended, chapter IV, should be fulfilled.

    (IMO resolutions A.811(19))

Parent topic: Annex - Guidelines for the Harmonization of GMDSS Requirements for Radio Installations on Board SOLAS Ships
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