ClassNK has issued Technical Information No. TEC-1364 on 20 October 2025, informing stakeholders that the Liberia Maritime Authority (LiMA) revised Marine Notice ISP-003 in July 2025. The revision introduces new validity and testing requirements for LRIT (Long Range Identification and Tracking) Conformance Test Reports, replacing ClassNK’s earlier circular TEC-1319 from March 2024.
New Annual Validity and Testing Schedule
Under the revised Liberian rules, each LRIT Conformance Test Report issued on or after 1 January 2024 must have a validity period not exceeding 12 months from the test completion anniversary date. From 1 April 2024, all vessels including those newly registered, re-registered, or fitted with new LRIT equipment must undergo annual conformance tests based on that anniversary.
ClassNK confirmed that its surveyors will verify report validity during annual, periodical, and renewal Safety Equipment surveys.
Additional Clarifications and Security Protocols
According to Liberia’s Marine Advisory 20/2024-Rev.1, issued on 9 July 2025, conformance tests submitted for vessel registration or re-registration must be less than one month old, except for newbuildings. The advisory also provides detailed examples of the new anniversary-based testing schedule.
For confidentiality and security reasons, all LRIT tests must be conducted exclusively via the online portal of LiMA’s Authorized Testing ASP, operated by Pole Star Space Applications Limited. This portal is accessible to shipowners, operators, and approved third-party distributors.
Circumstances Requiring a New Conformance Test Report
LiMA’s revised notice outlines several cases where a new test report is mandatory, including:
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Equipment replacement or malfunction
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Change of flag
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Operation outside the approved sea area
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Annually, on or before the anniversary date of the previous conformance test
The revised Liberian framework reinforces consistency and traceability in LRIT compliance, ensuring more rigorous oversight of vessel tracking systems. ClassNK’s advisory underscores the importance of timely revalidation and strict adherence to LiMA’s secure testing procedures to maintain international compliance standards.
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Source: PORT NEWS
