Radiocommunication Equipment News

In November 2019, the Office of Coast Survey (OCS), part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), announced the start of a five-year program to “sunset” all raster and paper nautical charts.NOAA has produced electronic navigational charts (ENCs) since 1993. In the 2019 notice, NOAA writes that “ENC sales increased 425% since 2008, while sales of paper charts are now half of 2008 levels.”For NOAA and mariners, a focus on electronic charts and publications promises many advantages. With a singular focus, NOAA can use its resources more efficiently.

Amendments to the IAMSAR Manual to come into effect on 1 July, 2013. Applicability: All shipowners, operators and managers. Amendments to the International Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue (IAMSAR) Manual will come into effect on 1 July. 2013*. These are detailed in the IMO Circular, MSC.1/Circ. 1415. The amendments reflect recent changes made to the carriage requirements for radiocommunication equipment on ships, and include significant updates to volume III of the Manual. SOLAS regulation V/21 requires all ships to carry an up-to-date copy of Volume III.

Safety Alert: Acceptance of equipment for use on Singapore-registered ships. The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA Singapore) has issued Survey Circular No.1/2012 detailing requirements for acceptance of statutory equipment for use on Singapore-registered ships. ‘Statutory equipment’ means life-saving appliances, marine pollution prevention, fire protection, navigation and radiocommunication equipment as required by IMO conventions such as SOLAS, MARPOL and COLREG.

Carrying an estimated 90% of world trade and billions of passengers every year, international shipping represents the life blood of the global economy. Safety, always a major concern for seafarers, has made huge advances in the last century. However, the massive increase in traffic in recent decades requires, among other things, new or better global communication and navigation solutions resting on internationally-agreed standards to maintain and improve safety levels. Shipping was among the very first industries to adopt widely implemented international safety standards.