MSC 106 plans to formally recognise China’s Beidou message service as a new regional mobile satellite service for use in the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS), says an article published on Riviera.
Emergency communications
Beidou will join global satellite owners Inmarsat and Iridium, which provide global GMDSS messages and emergency communications to shipping.
International enhanced group
MSC 106 will also approve a draft MSC circular covering guidance for training on and operating emergency personal radio devices in multiple casualty situations.
Guidance on for disseminating search and rescue (SAR) related information through the international enhanced group call service is also expected to be approved.
Performance standards
In another decision, MSC 106 will adopt revised performance standards and functional requirements for the long-range identification and tracking (LRIT) of ships.
Plus, the committee will approve draft amendments to a number of LRIT-related circulars and will propose amendments to SOLAS regulation V/19-1 to allow coastal states to receive LRIT at the standard transmission rate free of charge.
Draft revised
MSC 106 plans to approve the draft revised manual for using the onboard navigational messaging NavTex devices, to be issued as MSC.1/Circ.1403/Rev.2, with an effective date of 1 January 2023.
Latest electronic charts
On the ship navigation side, MSC 106 will approve a revision of the ECDIS Guidance for good practice, to be issued as MSC.1/Circ.1503/Rev.2.
This updated guidance includes a new section on onboard ECDIS updates to ensure this navigational information display system has the latest electronic charts and safety information.
New requirements
MSC 106 will also adopt a draft revision of the ECDIS performance standards, and will incorporate new requirements for non-SOLAS ships concerning the safety of navigation and voyage planning in Polar waters.
Did you subscribe to our newsletter?
It’s free! Click here to subscribe!
Source: Riviera
