The 7th session of the IMO’s Sub-Committee on Navigation, Communications and Search and Rescue (NCSR 7) was held from 15 to 24 Jan 2020.
CIRM had a large delegation in attendance at the meeting, and members joined both the plenary and Working Group sessions. The Communications Working Group was extremely busy this year, reflecting its busy agenda.
Outcomes of the meeting of interest to CIRM members include:
- Preparation of a draft Circular on Recognition of the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) as a component of the Worldwide Radionavigation System;
- Approval of a draft MSC Resolution on Performance standards for shipborne QZSS receiver equipment, for adoption by the Committee;
- Approval of a draft Assembly resolution on revised Guidelines for Vessel Traffic Services;
- Agreement to invite interested parties to progress the work to update the E-navigation Strategy Implementation Plan (SIP) intersessionally;
- Preparation of a draft Corrigendum to Circular SN.1/Circ.243/Rev.2 addressing portrayal of MSI symbology;
- Establishment of a Correspondence Group on safety measures for non-SOLAS ships operating in polar waters;
- Furtherment of the work to develop amendments to SOLAS chapters III and IV for the Modernization of the GMDSS, alongside consequential amendments to existing instruments;
- Preparation of a liaison statement to ITU Working Party 5B on the revision of recommendation ITU-R M.585-7 on Assignment and use of identities in the maritime mobile service, for AMRD Group B using AIS technology;
- Preparation of a liaison statement to CEPT ECC relating to the protection of L-band maritime satellite communications;
- Approval of the draft terms of reference for the 16th meeting of the Joint IMO/ITU Experts Group on Maritime Radiocommunication Matters;
- Agreement that expired primary batteries could be used for no other purpose than to examine and check the operation of two-way VHF radiotelephone apparatus;
- Agreement that CIRM’s unified interpretation regarding the battery validity dates for survival craft portable two-way VHF radiotelephone apparatus should be addressed by amending resolution MSC.149(77), when it would be revised as part of the work related to the modernization of the GMDSS.
Draft documents prepared by NCSR 7 have been forwarded to the Maritime Safety Committee for approval.
A more detailed report of NCSR 7 will be circulated to CIRM members in due course.