by Kim Fisher

The meeting of the sub-committee on Navigation, Communications, Search and Rescue was held as a remote meeting under the chairmanship of the new chair, Nigel Clifford of New Zealand. The remote working again limited the time available for the meeting. Some items had been dealt with by correspondence before the meeting and two items, generic performance standards for satellite navigation receivers and revision to Voyage Data Recorder standards were postponed to the next meeting.

A late document from Ukraine was exceptionally added to the agenda. This described the difficulties of managing Search and Rescue operations in warzone areas and requested developing suitable provisions for the next meeting of the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC 106). NCSR members were invited to work with Ukraine on these developments

The previous meeting had completed the revision of Chapter IV (Radiocommunications) of the International Convention on the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) and this meeting completed some supporting Circulars. A report was available concerning the assessment of the Chinese satellite system, BDMSS, proposed to be integrated into the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) as a recognised mobile satellite system alongside Inmarsat and Iridium. The report concluded that BDMSS should be able to meet the IMO requirements but, due to Covid restrictions, it had not been possible to visit China to conduct an on-site assessment. It was therefore proposed to request MSC 106 to consider the issue when all the information was available. There was insufficient time to consider the proposed revision of the resolution A.1001(25) used for the assessment and a correspondence group was established to be led by France. 

The issue of increased costs for Maritime Safety Information (MSI) providers as new GMDSS satellite service providers are recognised in addition to Inmarsat was discussed following the work of a correspondence group which reported to the last meeting of the Maritime Safety Committee. There was insufficient time to progress this work and a further correspondence group was set up to be led by Australia.

The IMO position for the next ITU World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC 23) was completed. There was insufficient time to consider ITU proposals to modify the recommendation M.1371-5 for the Automatic Identification System (AIS) and this will be progressed in a correspondence group to be led by Germany.

Revised performance standards for the electronic chart display and information system (ECDIS) were completed. These facilitate the introduction of the new S-100 electronic charts but a further proposal to include electronic exchange of route information was not accepted. The Circular on guidance for good practice with ECDIS was revised to include guidance on software updates.

Revised performance standards were prepared for the long range identification and tracking system (LRIT) and also a revised NAVTEX Manual and a circular giving guidance on the dissemination of search and rescue information through the enhanced group call service.

A new issue concerning the operation of emergency personal radio devices in multiple casualty situations was addressed with a new Circular.

Changes to the SOLAS Chapter V were prepared to add a requirement for new container ships and bulk carriers over 3000 gross tonnage to be fitted with an electronic inclinometer.
 
The work of the correspondence group on Safety measures for non-SOLAS ships operating in polar waters was completed and amendments prepared to Chapter XIV of the SOLAS Convention and the Polar Code to include fishing vessels of 24 metres and above, pleasure yachts of 300 gross tonnage and above not engaged in trade, and cargo ships of 300 gross tonnage and above but below 500 gross tonnage. 

The work of the correspondence group on Revision of the Guidelines on places of refuge for ships in need of assistance was completed and a revised draft Assembly Resolution prepared.

An expert group on ship’s routing had been held in the week before the meeting. Amendments to the Traffic Separation Scheme in the approaches to the ports of Odessa and Ilichevesk Ukraine were agreed, a recommended route off Cape Shio-no-Misaki Japan was agreed, amendments to the area to be avoided off the coast of Southern California was agreed, the establishment of a no-anchoring area off Pulley Ridge Florida was agreed, and a recommendation on navigation for container ships in the traffic separation schemes off Denmark was agreed. Members were invited to review their mandatory voice reporting systems to determine if they were still required given the now universal use of AIS. A UK proposal for a new mandatory reporting system in the Pentland Firth was not agreed.

The next meeting of NCSR is planned for 8 to 17 May 2023. A meeting of the ICAO/IMO Joint Working Group is planned for 17 to 22 October 2022. A meeting of the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC 106) is planned for 2 to 11 November 2022. A meeting of the Joint IMO/ITU Experts Group is planned for 5 to 9 December 2022.