IMO Circular MSC.1/Circ.1460
IMO has issued MSC.1/Circ.1460 including Guidance on the Validity of Radio communications Equipment Installed and Used on Ships.
The World Radiocommunication Conference 2012 made extensive changes toappendices 17 and 18 of the RR. Whilst these changes do not affect the GMDSS, they do affectthe use of other frequencies that would be used by services such as Port Operations and VTS.
The RR provisions apply as from the dates of application indicated in article 59 andresolution 98 of the RR. Timely action is required by ships to ensure that radiocommunicationequipment complies with the RR. Replacement of operating hardware may be necessary to meet thechanged requirements.
According to the Performance standards for shipborne VHF radio installations capable ofcommunication and digital selective calling (resolution A.803(19)), the equipment should complywith the Radio Regulations.
Attention is drawn to MSC.1/Circ.1389, which contains Guidance on procedures forupdating shipborne navigation and communication equipment, and that updates to applicationsoftware and firmware to meet changes in IMO and ITU regulatory requirements were needed.
To ensure GMDSS communication capability, HF radiocommunication equipment capable ofoperatingnarrow-banddirect printing (NBDP)should be updated so that following the first radio surveyafter 1 January 2017 it meets the channelling arrangements reflected in sections II and III of part Bin appendix 17 of the RR.
Radiocommunication equipment, other than HF radiocommunication equipmentcapable of operating NBDP, does not necessarily need to be updated by the first radio surveyafter 1 January 2017, but may be updated appropriately in accordance with the decisions ofthe Administration.
Member Governments are invited to bring this information to the attention of the appropriatenational authorities and all other parties concerned.
Source: IMO (MSC.1/Circl.1460)
