RECALLING Article 28(b) of the Convention on the International
Maritime Organization concerning the functions of the Committee,
RECALLING ALSO resolution A.886(21), by which the Assembly
resolved that the functions of adopting performance standards and
technical specifications for radio and navigational equipment, as
well as amendments thereto, shall be performed by the Maritime Safety
Committee on behalf of the Organization,
RECALLING FURTHER resolution MSC.74(69), annex 3: Recommendation on Performance
Standards for Universal Shipborne Automatic Identification System
(AIS),
REALIZING the application of AIS devices to safety of navigation
as well as security,
NOTING that the International Telecommunication Union Sector
for Radiocommunications (ITU-R) recognizes a Class A category of AIS
which meets the requirements of resolution
MSC.74(69), as well as a Class B and other categories of AIS
which do not meet the requirements of resolution MSC.74(69), annex 3,
NOTING ALSO that Class A devices are intended to meet the
requirements for compulsory AIS fitting under the 1974 SOLAS Convention,
and that Class B devices are intended to meet the needs of ships which
fit AIS on a voluntary basis,
NOTING FURTHER the benefit of Class B and other AIS devices,
RECOGNIZING that the radio channels used by AIS, particularly
AIS 1 (161.975 MHz) and AIS 2 (162.025 MHz), are regarded as an AIS
network, and that any disruption to those channels by any one AIS
device could affect the operation of all AIS devices on that network,
RECOGNIZING FURTHER the compelling need to ensure the integrity
of the AIS VHF data link,
1 RECOMMENDS that:
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1 any device which transmits on the radio channels
allocated for AIS, should meet the appropriate requirements of Recommendation
ITU-R M.1371;
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2 all such transmitting devices should be approved
by the Administration; and
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3 Administrations should take the steps necessary
to ensure the integrity of the radio channels used for AIS in their
waters.
2 REVOKES resolution MSC.140(76).