Published on: 16 June 2023
The 10th session of the sub-committee on Navigation, Communication and Search and Rescue (NCSR) was held between 10-19 May 2023 with a full report available to download from the British Marine website. The key items of interest from this meeting were the following:
Potentially Sensitive Sea Area (PSSA) North-Western Mediterranean
The sub-committee agreed to the draft Associated Protective Measures (APMs), for inclusion in the final MEPC resolution (which is expected to be adopted at MEPC 80) on the designation of the NW Med PSSA, aiming to protect cetaceans from international shipping.
There are seven voluntary APMs including reducing speed, increased look out and reporting of cetacean sightings and any collisions.
WWF submitted a proposal to make the APMs mandatory which received no support in plenary. However, now that the APMs have all but been approved, future proposals to make them mandatory can be expected.
NAVDAT
This is a new system, similar to NAVTEX but provides more comprehensive information, capable of transmitting texts, images, graphs, data etc. which is displayed in a more user-friendly way. Different modes of transmission are available as follows:
- General broadcast to all ships
- Selective broadcast – for example, to ships in a specific area or to groups of ships according to MMSI number
- Dedicated message to individual vessels based on MMSI number
NAVDAT is expected to work alongside NAVTEX initially and new equipment developed in the future would likely encompass both systems. Draft performance standards for the reception of maritime safety information and search and rescue related information by MF and HF digital navigational data system (NAVDAT) can be found in the downloadable reports supporting documents.
Electronic record books
SOLAS Chapter V regulation 28 required that all ships engaged on international voyages shall keep on board a record of navigational activities and incidents which are of importance to safety of navigation and which must contain sufficient detail to restore a complete record of the voyage.
The sub-committee considered a proposal for the development of guidelines for electronic record books submitted by China in the attached document NCSR 10/21/6. Whilst the proposal received support it was agreed that a request be made to MSC for the approval of a new output before any work could begin.
Pilot boarding arrangements
The sub-committee agreed that SOLAS V/23 “Pilot transfer arrangements” should be revised. In addition, a draft MSC resolution will be developed intersessionally, via a correspondence group, containing performance standards on pilot transfer arrangements with all of the detailed requirements for design, manufacture, construction, inspection, maintenance, replacement rigging and training, with a view to finalisation at NCSR 11. This SOLAS regulation applies to all vessels engaged on voyages on which pilots may be employed and therefore yachts are included. Whilst pilot transfers to and from yachts are often carried out with the pilot stepping directly between the pilot vessel and the yacht via the main deck bulwark door, compliant equipment will still need to be carried in accordance with the regulations.
If approved and adopted by 1 July 2026 the new regulations are expected to apply to new ships from 1 January 2028 and existing ships not later than the first safety equipment and/or yacht code compliance survey after 1 January 2028.
Amendments to ECDIS performance standards to facilitate a standardised digital exchange of ships’ route plans
The sub-committee approved, the revision of resolution MSC.530(106) on performance standards for electronic chart display and information systems (ECDIS) introducing new ECDIS functionalities for a standardised, cyber-secure, digital exchange of shipsʹ route plans between ships and shore-based authorities.
The aim of this new functionality is to permit Vessel Traffic Services (VTS) controllers to share routing directly with ships in their area of control in order to improve efficiency and safety. The new standards will apply to ECDIS equipment installed on or after 1 January 2029 and, optionally, for equipment installed after 1 January 2026 and before 1 January 2029.
Proposed amendments to the Interim Iridium SafetyCast service manual
The sub-committee agreed to the first edition of the Iridium SafetyCast service manual, with a view to approval by MSC 107.
Full Report
The full IMO report and its associated documents can be downloaded from the British Marine website here.
