The IMO Navigation, Communications and Search and Rescue Sub-Committee (NCSR) 10, will take place 10 to 19 May 2023 where all matters related to navigation and communication, search and rescue and the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System will be discussed.
Lloyd Register’s The Agenda Preview presents a summary of what is to come. Below are some of the topics expected to be discussed at NCSR 10 which will have some impact on current practices. NCSR 10 is expected to consider the report of the correspondence group on the Development of Generic Performance Standards for shipborne satellite navigation system receiver equipment and finalise the draft consolidated performance standards.
Key items:
- NCSR 10 is expected to begin the work to develop revisions to SOLAS regulation V/23 and associated instruments to improve the safety of pilot transfer arrangements. The intent is to include the fundamental provisions for design, installation, inspection, maintenance and rigging of pilot transfer arrangements in SOLAS V/23 and to develop a performance standard for pilot transfer arrangements covering detailed technical aspects relevant to the approval of equipment and
- NCSR 10 is also expected to begin the work to develop performance standards for a digital navigational system (NAVDAT) which is mooted to be the successor to A roadmap for the development and implementation of NAVDAT will also be developed.
- As part of the revision to the GMDSS, NCSR 9 approved 1/Circ.32/Rev.1 Harmonisation of GMDSS Requirements for Radio Installations on board SOLAS Ships. Subsequently, a number of discrepancies, gaps and inconsistencies have been found in the circular. NCSR 10 is expected to urgently consider the findings and proposed amendments as this circular supports the new requirements for the GMDSS which enter into force 1 January 2024.
1) Amendments to ECDIS Performance Standards (resolution MSC.530(106)) to facilitate a standardized digital exchange of ships’ route plans
NCSR 10 will continue to consider a proposal to develop a standardised and cyber-secure method for route exchange from ship-to-shore and from shore-to-ship to be added as an additional functionality in ECDIS. It is not proposed that it will be mandatory for masters of the ships to use this additional functionality but given that masters already use external input for route planning, a standardised, cyber- secure, method may reduce workload and encourage the use of a common method instead of non-standardised solutions.
2) Development of amendments to VDR performance standards and carriage requirements
MSC 101 agreed to a new output to amend SOLAS regulation V/20 on Voyage Data Recorders and resolutions MSC.333(90) Performance standards for shipborne voyage data recorders (VDRs) and MSC.163(78) Performance standards for shipborne simplified voyage data recorders (S-VDRs). The aim of this proposal is to expand the requirement for float-free arrangements on all new VDR installations and to capture both sides of a ship’s internal telephone calls.
3) Revision of SOLAS regulation V/23 and associated instruments to improve the safety of pilot transfer arrangements
NCSR 10 is expected to consider:
- Draft amendments to SOLAS regulation V/23 together with draft revisions to 1045(27) and the following two options:
- Option 1: SOLAS V/23 should contain all the detailed requirements for design, installation, inspection, maintenance and rigging of pilot transfer arrangements, making resolution A.1045(27) Pilot Transfer Arrangements
- Option 2: SOLAS V/23 contains fundamental provisions for design, installation, inspection, maintenance and rigging of pilot transfer arrangements and makes resolution A.1045(27), as amended, a performance standard for pilot transfer arrangements covering detailed technical aspects relevant to the approval of equipment and
- Clarification of the application of the updated footnote in the SOLAS consolidated edition 2020 publication and potential modifications to 1/Circ.1428.
Application: If finalised, approved and adopted by 1 July 2026 the amendments are expected to enter into force 1 January 2028 and will be applicable to new ships from that date. Existing ships will need to comply not later than the first survey required by SOLAS regulations I/7 or I/8 after 1 January 2028.
NCSR 10 is also expected to note information on the results of the IMPA Safety Campaign/Survey 2022 and an assessment of Safety Campaign/Survey results, 2018 to 2022.
4) Development of amendments to SOLAS chapters IV and V and performance standards and guidelines to introduce VHF data exchange system (VDES)
NCSR 10 will consider preliminary draft performance standards for VDES, the necessity of amendments to both SOLAS chapters IV and V and a proposal for an intersessional correspondence group.
If the work is finalised at NCSR 11 as expected, then any amendments to SOLAS will enter into force 1 January 2028. However, as the system is already in use, MSC 103 agreed that any amendments to SOLAS that are developed could be considered exempt from the usual four-year amendment cycle although this is yet to be agreed.
5) Development of performance standards for a digital navigational data system (NAVDAT)
NCSR 10 is expected to consider:
- A proposed draft MSC resolution on Performance standards for the reception of maritime safety information and search and rescue related information by MF and HF
- Proposed draft amendments to resolution MSC.509(105) on Provision of radio services for the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS).
- A proposed draft NAVDAT Manual
- Proposals on the way forward with the introduction of NAVDAT.
6) Revision of the Criteria for the provision of mobile satellite communication services in the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) (Resolution A.1001(25))
NCSR 10 will consider the report of the intersessional correspondence group and the proposed draft MSC resolution which is intended to replace resolution A.1001(25).
Application: Once finalised and adopted the revised resolution will apply:
- to the evaluation of mobile satellite services notified by Governments for possible recognition for use in the GMDSS, within the context of the relevant regulations of SOLAS chapter IV; and
- to the oversight of existing satellite systems and services for use in the GMDSS, within the context of the relevant regulations of SOLAS chapter IV.
7) Amendments to the IAMSAR Manual
NCSR 10 will consider if the IAMSAR Manual should be amended to include guidance on emergency notification devices given the growth in the number of providers of a satellite distress communication service that does not fall within GMDSS or the typical international distress alerting system.
The sub-committee is also expected to refer the issues to the ICAO/IMO Joint Working Group to review the IAMSAR Manual and provide advice to NCSR 11.
8) Concerns on the implementation of GMDSS requirements due to the gaps and/or inconsistencies existing in COMSAR.1/Circ.32/Rev.1
NCSR 10 is expected to consider the several gaps and inconsistencies that have been identified in the revised text together with the extensive amendments that have been proposed.
9) Clarification on the requirements for the location of the EPIRB
As part of the discussion on the necessary revisions to COMSAR.1/Circ.32/Rev.1, NCSR 10 is expected to consider whether the common practise of locating the EPIRB on top of the navigation bridge is compliant with the requirement that it is ‘located so that it may easily be released manually and brought to the survival craft by one person’.
10) Progress on standards development by IEC
IEC TC 80 prepares standards to support performance standards and other IMO instruments. This is a standard report of the progress on standards under development by the IEC including (but not limited to):
- Bridge alert management which includes the document Bridge alert management for mariners (Bridge Alert Management (iec.ch))
- Digital interfaces
- GMDSS
- GNSS
- ECDIS
NCSR 10 is expected to note the information.
11) Delays affecting the availability of new GMDSS radio equipment from 1 January 2024
NCSR 10 will consider extending the continued installation of GMDSS radio equipment conforming to the previous performance standards until 1 January 2026.
12) Development of guidelines for the use of electronic record books under SOLAS regulation V/28 SOLAS regulation V/28.1
NCSR 10 will consider a proposal to develop the necessary guidance for both the shipping industry and the Administration when approving the use of electronic record books.
