RECALLING Article 15(j) of the Convention on the International
Maritime Organization concerning the functions of the Assembly in
relation to regulations and guidelines concerning maritime safety,
RECALLING ALSO that regulation
IV/5 of the International Convention for the Safety of Life
at Sea (SOLAS), 1974, as amended in 1988, requires each Contracting
Government to undertake to make available, either individually or
in co-operation with other Contracting Governments, as they may deem
practical and necessary, appropriate shore-based facilities for space
and terrestrial radiocommunication services, having due regard to
the recommendations of the Organization,
TAKING INTO ACCOUNT resolution 322(Rev.Mob-87) of the World
Administrative Radio Conference, 1987, relating to coast stations
and coast earth stations assuming watchkeeping responsibilities on
certain frequencies in connection with the implementation of distress
and safety communications for the Global Maritime Distress and Safety
System (GMDSS),
TAKING INTO ACCOUNT ALSO resolution 3, “Recommendation
on the early introduction of the Global Maritime Distress and Safety
System (GMDSS) elements”, adopted by the 1988 SOLAS Conference
introducing the system,
NOTING the Provision of radio services for the GMDSS (resolution
A.801(19)), as amended,
NOTING ALSO that future mobile satellite communication systems
might have the potential to offer maritime distress and safety communications,
NOTING FURTHER the decision of the Maritime Safety Committee,
at its eighty-second session, that the oversight of future satellite
providers in the GMDSS should be undertaken by the International Mobile
Satellite Organization (IMSO),
RECOGNIZING that mobile satellite communication systems
for use in the GMDSS should fulfil performance criteria adopted by
the Organization,
RECOGNIZING ALSO the need for the Organization to have in
place criteria against which the capabilities and performance of mobile
satellite communication systems for use in the GMDSS may be verified
and evaluated,
1. ADOPTS the “Criteria for the provision
of mobile satellite communication systems in the Global Maritime Distress
and Safety System (GMDSS)”, set out in the annex to the present
resolution;
2. INVITES Governments, when permitting ships
entitled to fly the flag of their State to carry maritime mobile satellite
equipment for use in the GMDSS, to require those ships to carry equipment
which can utilize only those satellite systems that have been recognized
by IMO and conform to the performance standards adopted by the Organization
for use in the GMDSS, in accordance with the criteria set out in sections
2 to 5 of the annex;
3. REQUESTS the Maritime Safety Committee to:
-
(a) apply the criteria set out in the annex to
the present resolution, through the procedure set out in section 2
of the annex, to evaluate satellite systems notified by Governments
for possible recognition for use in the GMDSS, within the context
of the relevant regulations of SOLAS chapter
IV; and
-
(b) ensure that mobile satellite communication
systems recognized by the Organization for use in the GMDSS are compatible
with all appropriate SOLAS requirements, and also that such recognition
takes into account existing operational procedures and equipment performance
standards;
4. REQUESTS ALSO the Maritime Safety Committee
to keep this resolution under review and take appropriate action as
necessary to secure the long-term integrity of the GMDSS;
5. REVOKES resolution A.888(21) and MSC/Circ.1077.