2 Application

  2.1 LRIT equipment is required by SOLAS regulation V/19-1, and resolution MSC.263(84) requires all passenger ships, cargo ships (including high-speed craft) over 300 tons and Mobile Offshore Drilling Units (MODU) to send LRIT position information at least every 6 hours. Ships fitted with Automatic Identification System (AIS) and operated exclusively within sea area A1 are not required to comply with LRIT. Sea area A1 is defined by SOLAS regulation IV/2.1.12 as "an area within the radiotelephone coverage of at least one VHF coast station in which continuous DSC alerting is available, as may be defined by a Contracting Government".

  2.2 SOLAS Contracting Governments are expected to maintain a LRIT Data Centre, either on a national basis, or on a regional or cooperative basis with other flag States, and notify the IMO of it. In turn, these LRIT Data Centres will forward, upon request, LRIT information from ships entitled to fly their flag, to other SOLAS Contracting Governments through the International LRIT Data Exchange. Port States are entitled to request the LRIT information from foreign ships that have indicated their intention to enter a port, port facility or place under its jurisdiction.

  2.3 In most cases a stand-alone Inmarsat C or Inmarsat Mini-C terminal used for GMDSS or Ship Security Alert System will function as the LRIT terminal, but other equipment may be employed for the LRIT function (example Inmarsat D+ or Iridium).