The Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) issued a Marine Safety Advisory, in order to urge operators for compliance with revised VHF (Very High Frequency) and GMDSS (Global Maritime Distress and Safety System) HF NBDP (Narrow-band Direct Printing ) channeling requirements.
In particular, RMI informs that the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has pushed back the compliance date for ensuring (GMDSS) communication capability to 01 January 2024.
Very High Frequency
At the latest meeting of the Sub-committee on Navigation, Communications, and Search and Rescue (NCSR) , 4th session, held 06-10 March 2017, IMO postponed the implementation of NBDP changes for Very High Frequency (note that VHF changes do not apply to mandatory GMDSS channels but only apply to public correspondence channels).
Therefore, Owners and Masters of vessels equipped with VHF NBDP equipment should ensure it is compliant in time for the first safety radio survey after 01 January 2024. As soon as IMO publishes MSC.1/Circ.1460/Rev.2 which contains this postponed date, the Administrator will update this
document.
GMDSS High Frequency NBDP
The IMO also requires that High Frequency (HF) radiocommunications equipment capable of operating NBDP be updated to meet the new channeling arrangements, contained in the 2012 Radio Regulations HF, Appendix 17, Part B, Sections II and III, by the first safety radio survey after 01 January 2024.
By that time, while most existing equipment should already be in compliance with these requirements, equipment that is unable to comply with the Radio Regulations will need to be replaced, and the newly installed HF NBDP equipment should be suitably type approved per guidance issued in the revised IMO Circular MSC.1/Circ.1460/Rev.1: which will soon be revised and republished. The Administrator will monitor the situation and update this MSA accordingly.
Owners and Masters of vessels equipped with HF NBDP equipment should therefore ensure it is HF direct-printing telegraphy compliant in time for the first safety radio survey after 01 January 2024.
Source: RMI
