CIRM News

The 7^th 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.

From 15th – 24th January the Sub-Committee on Navigation, Communications and Search & Rescue (NCSR) will meet for its seventh session at the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

NCSR is the IMO body dealing with all matters related to navigation and communication, carriage requirements and performance standards for navigational and communication equipment, LRIT, and the development of e-navigation. It also deals with search and rescue matters and the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS).

NCSR meets once per year and CIRM typically has a large presence at the meeting. NCSR 7 will be no different, and many members will come together as part of CIRM’s delegation.

Major items under consideration at NCSR 7 include, but are not limited to, application of the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) and development of performance standards for receiver equipment, recognition of the Japanese regional navigation satellite system Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS) and development of performance standards for receiver equipment, revision of the Guidelines for vessel traffic services (resolution A.857(20)), consideration of descriptions of Maritime Services in the context of e-navigation, and revision of SOLAS chapters III and IV for Modernization of the GMDSS. During NCSR 7 three Working Groups will be convened (Navigation, Communications, SAR) alongside one Experts Group (Ships’ Routeing) and one Drafting Group.

The CIRM Secretatiat will be present for the full duration of the meeting and will report to members on relevant outcomes following the close of the meeting.

CIRM has been shortlisted to win in three categories at the Association Excellence Awards 2019 taking place in London 11^th October.

Founded in 2014, these awards are the acknowledged accolade to recognise and reward the hard-won achievements of trade bodies, professionals membership organisations and associations. Bringing together an outstanding panel of judges, representing associations from every sector, these awards will recognise individuals, teams and initiatives and highlight excellence in how trade bodies operate and serve their members and clients.

CIRM has been shortlisted in the following 3 categories:

• Overall Best Association

• Best Development of an Existing Association Event (under 400 Delegates)

• Best Longstanding Association Event

See more here: https://associationexcellenceawards.co.uk/

Wish us luck!

CIRM’s 72nd Annual General Meeting was held at the Divani Apollon Palace, Greece, on Tuesday 2nd April 2019.

Minutes of the meeting have now been published as Circular 03/19 and posted to MyCIRM. To access the minutes please go to http://cirm.org/prot-members/cirm-circs.asp

CIRM’s delegation will join the 101st session of the IMO’s Maritime Safety Committee (MSC 101) as it meets in London this week and next.

From 5th till 14th June, the MSC will consider a range of issues related to maritime safety, including the Regulatory Scoping Exercise for the use of Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS); consideration of several matters related to cyber risk management; approval of numerous decisions made during the NCSR 6 meeting in January including the adoption of guidelines and amendments to IMO instruments; and consideration of several proposals for new outputs.

MSC meets three times in two years and CIRM typically has a strong delegation at the meeting.

On Friday 12th April, CIRM launched its re-designed website.
Developed by the CIRM Secretariat, the new website offers a more contemporary look-and-fee, alongside some improved functionality.

The Members’ Area of the website (MyCIRM) has been improved and separated from the publicly-available parts of the website. IMO documents can now be downloaded in bulk. Certain tables of information can now be searched and filtered.

The re-design constitutes Phase 1, of 2 planned phases of web improvements. Phase 2 will focus on improving the underlying functionality of the website, and is anticipated to be completed early 2020.

We hope that members enjoy the new website and experience an improvement in usability. We welcome your feedback!

This week and next, CIRM is at ITU in Geneva attending the 2^nd Conference Preparatory Meeting which will prepare a report to be used in support of the work of the World Radiocommunication Conference 2019.

CIRM is participating in the work on the maritime agenda items: GMDSS modernization, autonomous maritime radio devices, and the VDES satellite component. https://www.flickr.com/photos/itupictures/sets/72157689792922763

On the 8th of February 2019, the Maritime Connectivity Platform Consortium (MCC) was established with a signature ceremony during the e-Navigation Underway International conference. The MCC will act as the coordinator for the provision of guidelines and standards for the Maritime Connectivity Platform. CIRM has been invited to become a member of the MCC advisory board.

More information is available on the MCP website: www.maritimeconnectivity.net.

From 16th to 25th January, CIRM will be participating in the sixth session of the IMO’s Sub-Committee on Navigation, Communication and Search & Rescue (NCSR 6), with a large delegation of CIRM members.

Along with presenting our two input papers on Battery Validity Dates & standardization of user interface design for navigation equipment, we will also be contributing to the Navigation, Communications and SAR Working Groups as usual. It’s a packed agenda!

A summary report of the NCSR 6 meeting will be circulated to CIRM members in the week following the meeting.

Comité International Radio-Maritime (CIRM), the international association of marine electronics companies, is pleased to announce publication of its Guideline on Performance Test Procedure for ECDIS.

The Guideline outlines a test procedure to be carried out on a ship’s Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS) installation, to determine if the ECDIS meets the operational requirements defined by the International Maritime Organization (IMO). It describes a range of manufacturer-recommended tests and checks, which correspond to IMO’s requirements for ECDIS as laid down in SOLAS regulations V/19.2 and V/27, MSC.232(82) and MSC.1/Circ.1503/Rev.1.

Development of the Guideline was initiated in response to concerns raised by stakeholders across the maritime industry about the condition of in-service ECDIS, which are often found to have operational issues. Problems typically encountered include inadequate power supply arrangements, the running of outdated software versions, disabled audio signal for alerts, and the incorrect functioning of interfaces to connected equipment, among others. The Guideline was produced by CIRM’s ECDIS Working Group, with the input of ECDIS manufacturers, system integrators, and service providers.

Ultimately the purpose of the Guideline on Performance Test Procedure for ECDIS is to ensure that an in-service ECDIS is functioning properly, in the interests of safety of navigation.

CIRM’s Secretary-General, Frances Baskerville, said ‘I am very pleased that CIRM members have come together to develop a practical solution to industry concerns about the operational condition of ECDIS. The Guideline provides stakeholders with effective measures to identify and address ECDIS operational issues. With ECDIS being the key navigational tool on the bridge, it’s essential that systems function as IMO intended and so we are delighted to support industry with this new publication.”

The Guideline is free-to-use and available on the CIRM website (http://cirm.org/publications)