Background
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Statutory Documents - IMO Publications and Documents - Circulars - Maritime Safety Committee - MSC.1/Circular.1414 – Guidance to Prospective GMDSS Satellite Service Providers – (25 May 2012) - Annex – Guidance to Prospective GMDSS Satellite Service Providers - Background

Background

  3 Section 2 of Assembly resolution A.1001(25) provides information and guidance on the recognition for mobile satellite communications systems for use in the GMDSS. It includes some key provisions, as follows:

  • .1 the evaluation and recognition of satellite systems participating, or wishing to participate in the GMDSS are undertaken by the Organization;

  • .2 satellite system providers wishing to participate in the GMDSS should apply to the Organization, through a Member State;

  • .3 such applications should be notified to the Organization by Governments;

  • .4 the application will be reviewed by the Maritime Safety Committee (the Committee);

  • .5 if the Committee decides that there are no objections in principle to the application, it will forward the application to the COMSAR Sub-Committee for evaluation;

  • .6 recognition of the satellite provider to operate in the GMDSS will be undertaken by the Committee on the basis of the evaluation report;

  • .7 the Governments concerned should make available to the Organization all necessary information to enable it to evaluate the satellite system in relation to the criteria;

  • .8 Governments proposing such satellite systems for possible recognition and use in the GMDSS should provide evidence to show that:

    • .1 the satellite system conforms with all the criteria specified in resolution A.1001(25);

    • .2 the charging policies and provisions of resolution A.707(17), as amended, on Charges for distress, urgency and safety messages through the Inmarsat system, are complied with;

    • .3 there is a well-founded confidence that the company concerned will remain viable for the foreseeable future, that the company has a well-organized quality and risk management programme, and that the company will remain in a position to deliver the required services over an extended period; and

    • .4 the provider of the satellite system is ready to submit any recognized services to oversight by IMSO and sign the required Public Services Agreement (PSA) with that organization; and

  • .9 the COMSAR Sub-Committee should verify and evaluate the information, seeking clarification as required direct from the service provider concerned, and decide whether the satellite system meets the criteria established by resolution A.1001(25).

  4 The main questions which arise on these provisions of resolution A.1001(25) which require additional guidance are:

  • .1 what constitutes: "… all necessary information …";

  • .2 must a satellite system offer full global coverage in order to be considered for participation in the GMDSS;

  • .3 should the proposing Government(s) accept responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of the information provided;

  • .4 on what basis can the proposing Government(s) and the Organization establish "… a well-founded confidence that the company concerned will remain viable for the foreseeable future …";

  • .5 how does the COMSAR Sub-Committee undertake its evaluation and produce an evaluation report; and

  • .6 how can the evaluation and recognition process be accomplished within a timescale that coincides with the commercial realities of successful and proper company administration and management?

 Guidance in response to these questions is provided in the following paragraphs:

Parent topic: Annex – Guidance to Prospective GMDSS Satellite Service Providers
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