Regulation 3 - Shipborne navigational equipment footnote
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Regulation 3 - Shipborne navigational equipment footnote

  (1)

  • (a) Vessels of 24 m in length and over shall be fitted with:

    • (i) a standard magnetic compass, except as provided in subparagraph (d);

    • (ii) a steering magnetic compass, unless heading information provided by the standard compass required under (i) is made available and is clearly readable by the helmsman at the main steering position;

    • (iii) adequate means of communication between the standard compass position and the normal navigation control position to the satisfaction of the Administration; and

    • (iv) means for taking bearings as nearly as practicable over an arc of the horizon of 360°.

  • (b) Each magnetic compass, referred to in subparagraph (a) shall be properly adjusted and its table or curve of residual deviations shall be available at all times.

  • (c) A spare magnetic compass, interchangeable with the standard compass, shall be carried, unless the steering compass mentioned in subparagraph (a)(ii) or a gyro-compass is fitted.

  • (d) The Administration, if it considers it unreasonable or unnecessary to require a standard magnetic compass, may exempt individual vessels or classes of vessels from these requirements if the nature of the voyage, the vessel's proximity to land or the type of vessel does not warrant a standard compass, provided that a suitable steering compass is in all cases carried.

  (2) Vessels of less than 24 m in length shall, as far as the Administration considers it reasonable and practicable, be fitted with a steering compass and have means for taking bearings.

  (3) Vessels of 45 m in length and over constructed on or after 1 September 1984 shall be fitted with a gyro-compass complying with the following requirements:

  • (a) the master gyro-compass or a gyro-repeater shall be clearly readable by the helmsman at the main steering position;

  • (b) on vessels of 75 m in length and over a gyro-repeater of gyro-repeaters shall be provided and shall be suitably placed for taking bearings as nearly as practicable over an arc of the horizon of 360°.

  (4) Vessels of 75 m in length and over constructed before 1 September 1984 shall be fitted with a gyro-compass complying with the requirements of paragraph (3).

  (5) Vessels with emergency steering positions shall at least be provided with a telephone or other means of communication for relaying heading information to such positions. In addition, vessels of 45 m in length and over constructed on or after 1 February 1992 shall be provided with arrangements for supplying visual compass readings to the emergency steering position.

  (6) Vessels of 45 m in length and over constructed on or after 1 September 1984 and vessels of 75 m in length and over constructed before 1 September 1984 shall be fitted with a radar installation. From 1 February 1995, the radar installation shall be capable of operating in the 9 GHz frequency band. In addition, after 1 February 1995, vessels of 35 m in length and over shall be fitted with a radar installation capable of operating in the 9 GHz frequency band. Vessels of 35 m in length and over but less than 45 m may be exempted from compliance with the requirements of paragraph (16) at the discretion of the Administration, provided that the equipment is fully compatible with the radar transponder for search and rescue.

  (7) In vessels of less than 35 m in length where radar is fitted, the installation shall be to the satisfaction of the Administration.

  (8) Facilities for plotting radar readings shall be provided on the navigating bridge of vessels required by paragraph (6) to be fitted with a radar installation. In vessels of 75 m in length and over constructed on or after 1 September 1984 the plotting facilities shall be at least as effective as a reflection plotter.

  (9) Vessels of 75 m in length and over constructed before 25 May 1980 and vessels of 45 m in length and over constructed on or after 25 May 1990 shall be fitted with an echo-sounding device.

  (10) Vessels of less than 45 m in length shall be provided with suitable means to the satisfaction of the Administration for determining the depth of water under the vessel.

  (11) Vessels of 45 m in length and over constructed on or after l September 1984 shall be fitted with a device to indicate speed and distance.

  (12) Vessels of 75 m in length and over constructed before l September 1984 and all vessels of 45 m in length and over constructed on or after 1 September 1984 shall be fitted with indicators showing the rudder angle, the rate of revolution of each propeller and in addition, if fitted with variable pitch propellers or lateral thrust propellers, the pitch and operational mode of such propellers. All these indicators shall be readable from the conning position.

  (13) Except as provided in regulation I/6, while all reasonable steps shall be taken to maintain the apparatus referred to in paragraphs (1) to (12) in efficient working order, malfunctions of the equipment shall not be considered as making a vessel unseaworthy or as a reason for delaying the vessel in ports where repair facilities are not readily available.footnote

  (14) Vessels of 75 m in length and over shall be fitted with a radio direction-finding apparatus. The Administration may exempt a vessel from this requirement if it considers it unreasonable or unnecessary for such apparatus to be carried or if the vessel is provided with other radionavigation equipment suitable for use throughout its intended voyages.

  (15) Until 1 February 1999, vessels of 75 m in length and over constructed on or after 25 May 1980 and before 1 February 1995 shall be fitted with radio equipment for homing on the radiotelephone distress frequency.

  (16) All equipment fitted in compliance with this regulation shall be of a type approved by the Administration. Equipment installed on board vessels on or after 1 September 1984 shall conform to appropriate perfomance standards not inferior to those adopted by the Organization.footnoteEquipment fitted prior to the adoption of related performance standards may be exempted from full compliance with those standards at the discretion of the Administration, having due regard to tile recommended criteria which the Organisation might adopt in connection with the standards concerned.

Parent topic: Chapter X - Shipborne Navigational Equipment and Arrangements
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