Marine Advisory: 37/2023 - Updated Requirements in Relation to Long Range Identification and Tracking of Ships (LRIT)(This Marine Advisory supersedes Marine Advisory 15/2022)

Marine Advisory: 37/2023

(This Marine Advisory supersedes Marine Advisory 15/2022)

Subject: Updated Requirements in Relation to Long Range Identification and Tracking of Ships (LRIT)

Ref: Marine Notice ISP-003 ‘LONG RANGE IDENTIFICATION AND TRACKING OF SHIPS (LRIT)’

The following changes have been included:

1. Requirements for the annual Conformance Testing were added.
2. Testing ASP details were updated.

Dear Shipowners/Operators/Masters:

The purpose of this Marine Advisory is to inform shipowners, operators and masters of revised requirements in Marine Notice ISP-003 on implementation, maintenance and compliance with the requirements for Liberian flag ships to transmit Long Range Tracking and Identification (LRIT) information.

Requirements for Conformance Testing

Following the recent adoption of IMO Assembly Resolution A.1192(33), noting concern about ships engaging in illegal operations in the maritime sector and calling upon flag States to take measures against ships concealing their identity and intentionally avoiding detection, including while engaged in STS operations; to ensure that all ships also adhere to the safety requirements in regulation 19-1 of SOLAS Chapter V to carry operational LRIT equipment at all times; and to exercise due diligence to prevent non-reporting and frequent failure of shipborne LRIT equipment, a conformance test is required:

1. For all new installations of and changes to LRIT equipment;
2. For all existing LRIT equipment at the time of change of flag (from a different Administration to the Liberian flag);
3. For all existing LRIT equipment at the time of re-registration to a different owner under the Liberian flag (excluding registration from bareboat charter in to direct registry);
4. When the Administration has been notified by the Recognized ASP that the shipborne equipment is not operating within the parameters of the Conformance Test Report and/or in accordance with the LRIT performance standards;
5. When the ship is intended to operate outside the sea area noted on the Conformance Test Report; and
6. For all existing LRIT equipment on an annual basis.

The conformance test submitted for registration or re-registration shall be less than one month old (excluding newbuilding for which there is no time limitation). The annual conformance test will commence from 1 April 2024 and shall be done based on the anniversary date of the last conformance test.

Commencing 1 January 2024, all Conformance Test Reports shall be issued with validity not exceeding twelve (12) months from the conformance test completion date.

For confidentiality and security reasons, all conformance tests shall be conducted directly by the Liberian Administration Authorized Testing Application Service Provider (herein referred to as “Testing ASP”) in accordance with paragraph 5.2 of Marine Notice ISP-003 through the dedicated online portal as per details below.

Portal for online applications: https://ondemand.polestarglobal.com/?page=login

Pole Star Space Applications Limited Email: lrittesting@polestarglobal.com

(T) +44 (0)20 7313 7400

(F) +44 (0)20 7313 7401

The Testing ASP will not accept tests ordered through a third party or a distributor.

Shipborne Equipment

Marine Notice ISP-003 no longer provides list of shipborne equipment. For information on recognized maritime mobile satellite service ship earth station models, contact the Recognized ASP or the equipment manufacturer to determine suitability for LRIT.

For Inmarsat C shipborne equipment, if the equipment appears to be LRIT capable, the following steps should be taken:

• Contact the manufacturer to confirm that the shipborne equipment has current software/firmware versions; and
• Ensure that Polling & Data Reporting (PDR) functions are enabled; and
• Ensure that Macro Encoded Message 11 (MEM-11) is enabled.

For Iridium shipborne equipment, all models listed are suitable for LRIT without further configuration.

On 31 December 2021, IsatM2M satellite service was withdrawn and ships with this equipment installed will no longer be compliant with LRIT regulations.

If you have additional questions or concerns, please contact LRIT@liscr.com.

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