As there is no type approval process or any other formal certification, it is left to the flag state administration to test and certify LRIT terminals for their given flag. This is done in relation to the stringent LRIT performance standard set by IMO.
In addition to the performance standard IMO have also issued MSC.1/Circ.1307 (The updated MSC.1/Circ.1296). This outlines the testing and certification of vessels prior to the implementation of LRIT. The aim of this is naturally to have as many vessels as possible ready for LRIT come December 31st 2008. It is the flag state that is the governing body in relation to this, and they can in turn appoint companies to carry out this service. Thrane & Thranes involvement naturally also extends to this part of LRIT to ensure a seamless and hassle free means of obtaining LRIT compliance for all Thrane & Thrane Inmarsat C users.
Thrane & Thrane A/S have currently been appointed as ASP test and certification facility for the bellow mentioned flag states. Please contact your Thrane & Thrane distributor for more information on how to obtain a certificate.
- Antigua Barbuda *
- Aruba *
- Barbados
- Belgium
- Cyprus
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- Germany
- Gibraltar
- Greece *
- Iran
- Lithuania
- Luxemburg
- Malta
- Netherlands *
- Netherland Antilles *
- Norway
- Poland
- Qatar
- Samoa
- Seychelles
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Tunisia
- Turkey
- Uruguay*
Please note special requirements for the flags marked with *. Contact your Thrane partner to get more information if you have vessels sailing under those flags that needs to be tested.
Most existing Inmarsat C terminals, including the entire Thrane & Thrane mini-C range, are capable of providing the required LRIT information although a certain percentage will not be suitable unless updates are applied. It is possible that a specific configuration or minor installation problems can affect a terminal’s ability to transmit the LRIT signals, or even be updated to transmit the signal. So considering the high penalties for LRIT non-compliance, which could be tens of thousands of dollars per day in some cases, it is vital for vessel’s to start preparing for the 31st December 2008 LRIT deadline immediately.
Background information:
The Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) at its 81st session in May 2006 adopted new regulations for the LRIT together with associated performance standards and functional requirements.
The regulation in SOLAS chapter V19-1 Safety of Navigation, introduces LRIT as a:
- Mandatory requirement for the following ships on international voyages: passenger ships, cargo ships, including high-speed craft, of 300 gross tonnage and upward; and mobile offshore drilling units.
- Ships constructed on or after 31 December 2008 must be fitted with a system to transmit automatically the identity of the ship, the position of the ship (latitude and longitude) and the date and time of the position provided.
- Ships constructed before 31 December 2008 and certified for operations in sea areas A1 and A2, or A1, A2 and A3, must be fitted with the equipment not later than the first survey of the radio installation after 31 December 2008.
- Ships constructed before 31 December 2008 certified for operations in sea areas Al, A2, A3 and A4, must comply not later than the first survey of the radio installation after 1 July 2009 (but must comply by 31 December 2008 if they operate within sea areas A2 and A3).
- Ships operating exclusively in sea area A1 and fitted with an automatic identification system (AIS) are exempted from the requirement to transmit LRIT information.
The LRIT system is intended to be operational with respect to the transmission of LRIT information by ships from 31 December 2008.
It is the responsibility of the ship owner to ensure provision of a compliant terminal which should be of a type approved by the Flag (see Conformance Test) and conform to the Revised Performance Standards and functional requirements adopted by the IMO as defined in Resolution MSC.263(84).
The ship owner should be aware that there is a 20-25% probability of existing Inmarsat C GMDSS terminals are not conforming to the Performance Standards and functional requirements for a range of operational, physical and technical reasons, including: uncontrolled in-port logoff and / or power-down procedures,
- poor antenna mounting location,
- satellite line-of-sight blockage by the ship’s superstructure,
- interference from the ship’s radar,
- external wide-area radio interference in certain locations, and
- crucially the inability to meet these requirements due to out-of-date software and / or unsupported hardware.
LRIT terminals must be capable of being controlled and programmed by the Flag’s ASP and, because of the serious consequences of non-compliance, it is important that equipment performance is as reliable as possible.
Existing Inmarsat C GMDSS equipment will in most cases be technically compliant. However, full compliance with the Performance Standards and functional requirements requires that the correct operational procedures are followed on board the vessel. Ship owners are advised to regularly check that they have the latest Flag marine guidance notices in this respect. The most reliable and appropriate solution to ensure full compliance is to use a terminal that is designed to be ‘always-on’ and not capable of being reconfigured or disabled on board the vessel, and as far as is possible not affected by competing functions such as email /messaging communications. Consequently it is recommend to use an integrated Inmarsat Mini-C transceiver as the optimum LRIT terminal solution.
Ship owners have to pay for the costs to ensure that their vessels are able to transmit LRIT information. |