Marine Operations Note: 01/2008 - Long-Range Identification and Tracking of Ships.

June 20, 2008

MARINE OPERATIONS NOTE 01/2008

Re: Long-Range Identification and Tracking of Ships.

Fax: +1 703 790 5655 Email: Security@liscr.com

Reference: (a) Resolution MSC.202 (81), SOLAS amendment, Ch V-19/1.

1. Resolution MSC.263 (84), “Performance Standards and Functional Requirements for the LRIT System.”
2. Resolution MSC.211 (81), “Arrangements for the Timely Establishment of the Long-Range Identification and Tracking System.”
3. MSC.1/Circ.1256, MSC.1/Circ.1257, MSC.1/Circ.1258

Dear Owner/Operator,

New regulation V/19-1 of SOLAS, 1978, as amended, relating to Long-Range Identification and Tracking of Ships (LRIT) of vessels entered into force 1 January 2008. LRIT is a maritime security initiative that allows SOLAS Contracting Governments to request and receive position reports from vessels operating under their flag, vessels indicating intentions to enter a port under their jurisdiction, or vessels operating within 1000 nautical miles of their coast. In addition to enhancing maritime security, the regulations allow LRIT for search and rescue. LRIT information will be automatically transmitted from shipborne equipment to Liberia’s LRIT Data Center where it will be stored until it is requested. As a flag State, Liberia has the right to protect LRIT information about vessels entitled to fly its flag and where appropriate, to allow or deny access to information.

VESSELS THAT MUST COMPLY:

New regulation V/19-1 applies to the following types of vessels engaged on international voyages:

• passenger ships, including high-speed passenger craft;
• cargo ships, including high-speed craft, of 300 gross tonnage and upwards; o mobile offshore drilling units.

INFORMATION TO BE TRANSMITTED:

The LRIT information vessels will be required to transmit include the ship's identity, location and date and time of the position. Data derived through LRIT will be available only upon request to Contracting Governments who are entitled to receive such information and safeguards to ensure the confidentiality of those data have been built into the LRIT system.

COMPLIANCE TIMEFRAME:

While the regulation entered into force on 1 January 2008, vessels will be required to be fitted with a system to automatically transmit LRIT information as follows:

MARINE OPERATIONS NOTE 01/2008

1. 31 December 2008 - for vessels constructed on or after that date.
2. For vessels constructed before 31 December 2008 and certified for operations:
   1. in sea areas A1 and A2, as defined in regulations IV/2.1.12 and IV/2.1.13; or
   2. in sea areas Al, A2 and A3, as defined in regulations IV/2.1.12, IV/2.1.13 and IV/2.1.14; not later than the first survey of the radio installation after 31 December 2008.

As noted, LRIT is intended to be operational with respect to the transmission of LRIT information by vessels as from 31 December 2008 through a phased approach that will allow vessels constructed before 31 December 2008 to comply not later than the first radio survey after 31 December 2008. Vessels operating in Sea Area A4 must comply not later than the first radio survey after 1 July 2009. Vessels operating exclusively in sea area A1, and fitted with AIS, are not required to comply with the new regulation.

Subject to the applicability provisions of new SOLAS regulation V/19-1, all ships entitled to fly the Liberian flag shall be obliged to comply.

FLAG ADMINISTRATION IMPLEMENTATION:

The Liberian Administration participated in the development of LRIT and intends to implement the obligations in well in advance to ensure shipowner compliance. The Liberian Administration has determined it prudent and necessary to establish an LRIT Data Centre for the receipt of LRIT transmissions from vessels entitled to fly its flag to ensure security and full compliance. Details regarding the Data Center (DC) and Application Service Provider (ASP) will be disseminated in due course.

SHIPOWNER OBLIGATIONS:

It is the responsibility of the ship-owner to ensure provision of compliant shipborne equipment which should be of a type approved by the Liberian Administration and conform to the Performance standards and functional requirements adopted by the IMO as defined in Resolution MSC.263 (84).

Terminals do not have to undergo a separate process of regulatory type approval using IEC standards etc, such as that required for GMDSS equipment.

Shipborne equipment should comply with the following minimum requirements:

1. be capable of automatically and without human intervention on board the ship transmitting the ship’s LRIT information at 6-hour intervals to an LRIT Data Centre;
2. be capable of being configured remotely to transmit LRIT information at variable intervals;
3. be capable of transmitting LRIT information following receipt of polling commands;
4. interface directly to the shipborne global navigation satellite system equipment, or have internal positioning capability;
5. be supplied with energy from the main and emergency source of electrical power; and
6. be tested for electromagnetic compatibility taking into account the recommendations developed by the IMO.

MARINE OPERATIONS NOTE 01/2008

INITIAL SHIPBORNE EQUIPMENT TESTING:

It is expected that, the majority of vessels that are required to comply with this regulation are already fitted with compatible equipment that in most cases will meet the requirements defined in the LRIT performance standards. The Liberian Administration encourages shipowners to test the compatibility of their vessels existing equipment for LRIT compliance at their earliest convenience. Various commercial entities are offering hardware solutions that can provide a quick and relatively low cost solution to vessels that have non compliant equipment or that are interested in a solution that is used solely for LRIT.

Shipowners are invited to contact their existing communication service provider (such as provider for SSAS and vessel tracking) to test the compatibility of their shipborne equipment. Both PoleStar Space Applications and TRANSAS Telematics have informed the Liberian Administration of their readiness to test shipborne equipment. Other service providers may also be prepared to conduct equipment testing.

For further information regarding LRIT compliance, contact the Security Department, David Friesem, at telephone + 1 703 251 2405 email security@liscr.com

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