1 The Maritime Safety Committee (the Committee),
at its eighty-sixth session (27 May to 5 June 2009), considered a
number of issues which have arisen in relation to the survey and certification
of ships following the issue of MSC.1/Circ.1296 on
Guidance on the survey and certification of compliance of ships with
the requirement to transmit LRIT information, and approved the Guidance
on the survey and certification of compliance of ships with the requirement
to transmit LRIT information (the Guidance) as set out in the annex.
2 The Guidance outlines a number of alternative
options for documenting compliance of the shipborne equipment with
the requirements of SOLAS regulations
V/19-1.6 and V/19-1.7 and
the related provisions of the Revised performance standards and functional
requirements for the long-range identification and tracking of ships
(Revised performance standards) adopted by resolution
MSC.263(84) and sets out the approach to be taken when surveying
and certifying the compliance of ships which are required to transmit
LRIT information with the aforesaid obligation. The Guidance should
be read together with SOLAS regulation
V/19-1 and the Revised performance standards.
3 The Committee also agreed to keep the Guidance
under review and amend it as and when the circumstances so warrant.
4 The Committee also decided that Conformance
test reports issued prior to 15 December 2008 pursuant to the provisions
of MSC.1/Circ.1257 and Conformance
test reports issued prior to 1 July 2009 pursuant to the provisions
of MSC.1/Circ.1296 should be accepted,
subject to the conditions specified in paragraphs 7.2 and 7.3 of the
annex to this circular in relation to the validity of Conformance
test reports, as providing evidence of compliance equal to those specified
in the annex to this circular until they are replaced. The Committee
further agreed that such Conformance test reports should be replaced
by Conformance test reports issued pursuant to the provisions of this
circular when they are re-issued or updated on or after 1 July 2009.
5 SOLAS Contracting Governments are invited to
bring the present circular and its annex to the attention of recognized
organizations which they have authorized to act on their behalf and
to provide to such recognized organizations any necessary further
guidance and instruction so as to ensure that the objectives of this
circular are achieved.
6 SOLAS Contracting Governments are also invited
to bring the present circular and the salient parts of its annex to
the attention of companies operating ships entitled to fly their flag
which are required to transmit LRIT information and to provide to
such companies any necessary further guidance and instruction so as
to ensure that the objectives of this circular are achieved.
7 SOLAS Contracting Governments should communicate
to the Organization as soon as possible the names and contact details
of the Application Service Providers they have either recognized within
the framework of the Revised performance standards or they have authorized
to conduct conformance testing as set out in the attached Guidance,
together with any conditions attached to such recognitions or authorizations
and update the information as and when changes occur.
8 SOLAS Contracting Governments, international
organizations and non-governmental organizations with consultative
status are also invited to bring to the attention of the Committee,
at the earliest opportunity, the results of the experience gained
from the use of the Guidance for consideration of action to be taken.