IMO Sub-Committee on Safety of Navigation
The Sub-Committee approved a standard for the use of symbols for AIS aids to navigation. The purpose of the standard is to meet the navigating officer’s need for information and to provide guidance to authorities using this type of AIS symbols.
At the meeting, Denmark gained support for the principle that symbols for AIS aids to navigation should be used cautiously since not all ships are capable of displaying the symbols and several layers of the same information should not be displayed at the same time.
Another issue of special interest to Danish shipping was the approval of a number of comprehensive amendments to the routeing systems in the Netherland part of the North Sea applicable from 1 August 2013.
Summary of the 58th session of the IMO Sub-Committee on Safety of Navigation
The meeting was held at the IMO headquarters in London from 2 to 6 July 2012.
Routeing systems and new ship reporting system
The Sub-Committee approved a number of proposals for new and amended routeing systems, including a comprehensive amendment of the routeing systems in the southern, Netherland part of the North Sea. These amendments in Netherland waters consist of a new traffic separation scheme; an amendment of two existing traffic separation schemes; three new precautionary areas; two new areas to be avoided; a new recommended route; an amendment of two deep-water routes as well as minor adjustments of existing routeing systems in the area. The amendments in Netherland waters are expected to enter into force on 1 August 2013.
In addition, the following proposals were approved:
- Amendment of the traffic separation scheme “Off Gogland Island” in Russian waters in the Gulf of Finland as well as the revocation of the deep-water route partly situated in the traffic separation. Russia has announced that the amendment is urgent and that it will, therefore, enter into force on 1 September 2012.
- Amended routeing system “Off Ushant” in France.
- Amended routeing systems “In the Santa Barbara Channel”, “Off San Francisco” and “In the Approaches to L.A. – Long Beach” in the USA. These amendments are based on the desire to reduce the risk of striking whales.
- A no anchoring area as well as an area to be avoided (ATBA), which will in the future apply to ships of or above 300 GT, on Saba Bank at the Netherlands Antilles.
- An area to be avoided (ATBA) off the coast of Australia.
- Two oil production areas to be avoided (ATBA) off the coast of Brazil.
- A new ship reporting system (SRS) in the Barents Sea, covering the ship traffic in Norwegian and Russian waters. This system is based on the principle of extensive use of AIS as well as e-mail correspondence, which is also applied in Danish and Swedish waters.
Standard for symbols for AIS aids to navigation
It had previously been proposed to introduce an extensive use of symbols for AIS aids to navigation. In this connection, a number of countries, including Denmark, expressed concern that no IMO standard or guidance hereon had been developed. Consequently, it was decided that a standard should be drawn up for use by administrations using symbols for AIS aids to navigation as well as information hereon for navigating officers. Denmark has taken an active part in the work developing a policy on the use of symbols for AIS aids to navigation, and at this Sub-Committee session the Danish view enjoyed support, whereafter the standard was approved.
Denmark has stated that symbols for AIS aids to navigation should be used with caution where, for example a buoy is already displayed in an official electronic navigational chart (ENC). In such cases, there is a risk that the same information would be displayed as one layer upon another in AIS, ENC and radar objects on modern electronic equipment. On the other hand, for many years ahead ships will be operating with navigational equipment without the capability of displaying AIS symbols. Furthermore, it is necessary with close coordination between the authorities using symbols for AIS aids to navigation and the authorities updating ENCs so as to avoid information duplication.
Symbols for AIS aids to navigation are considered of great value for fast marking of new risks such as a wreck or any other sudden obstacle that may pose a danger to shipping. However, in this connection attention should be paid to the fact that not all ships are fitted with equipment capable of displaying the symbols and, therefore, the AIS symbols will be only a supplement to the already known ways of warning ships, such as the issuing of navigational warnings and marking by means of physical buoys.
Denmark has also proposed that the information on AIS symbols should be focused on the needs of the navigating officers since the more specific descriptions aimed at the authorities are already covered by other standards. Until next year’s meeting, a correspondence group is tasked with defining the specific AIS symbols to be used for navigational purposes.
Now, work has to be made until the next year’s Sub-Committee session drawing up the specific AIS symbols to be shown.
Navigation bridge visibility
In recent years, the IMO has considered the regulations on navigation bridge visibility. It has been a difficult issue because it is of importance to how much a ship can carry on deck or how a ship can be designed to ensure sufficient navigation bridge visibility. Denmark has forwarded a submission to a previous session of the Sub-Committee proposing that on ships carrying cargo on deck the master must be able to demonstrate that the provisions on navigation bridge visibility are met.
This issue was considered finalized at the last session of the Sub-Committee, but the result was not subsequently approved by the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC). Also at this session, the Sub-Committee had to conclude that agreement could not be reached for which reason proposals for renewed consideration must be forwarded to the MSC.
New circular on anomalies identified in ECDIS equipment
A new circular was approved the intention of which is to inform about operational anomalies identified in ECDIS equipment. It, inter alia, stresses the importance of keeping ECDIS equipment updated in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
E-navigation
The Sub-Committee continued its deliberations on e-navigation. The purpose of e-navigation is to rethink the way in which modern navigation is organized, including the use of communication and information systems.
Previously, agreement has been reached about a structure for data exchange and various data standards. Now, a risk and cost effectiveness analysis remains to be made and, in this connection, an analysis of lacking technologies and procedures has been made (gap analysis). This analysis was comprehensive and thus much time at the meeting was devoted to assessing and categorizing the outstanding issues that are now considered necessary in the ongoing work. In addition, it was decided to continue the work in a correspondence group until the next meeting.
Performance standard for inclinometers
Recently finalized work on an amendment of the performance standard of Voyage Data Recorders (VDR) meant that, in the future, it must be possible to save data from an electronic inclinometer. Consequently, work was initiated in the NAV Sub-Committee with a view to developing a performance standard for inclinometers. This work was finalized at the meeting.
The decisions taken at the 58th session of the NAV Sub-Committee are to be endorsed by the coming session of the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC 91), which will be held from 26 to 30 November 2012.
Source: Danish Maritime Authority
