IMO NCSR10: 10 – 19 May 2023

The meeting of the sub-committee on Navigation, Communications, Search and Rescue (NCSR) was held under the chairmanship Nigel Clifford of New Zealand. This was the first in person meeting since Covid so there was more time available to catch up on items which had been deferred. The agenda still proved to be quite challenging however and some items could not be completed for lack of time. Some hybrid working possible was possible for members who were unable to attend in person.

A document had been received from Ukraine expressing concerns on the Russian Federation's actions impacting the functioning of Ukraine's system of navigational and hydrographic support of shipping in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. This led to considerable debate although some of the issues raised were outside of the scope of the sub-committee. In conclusion Member States were encouraged to ensure that the functioning of key navigational aids and systems was protected at all times and particularly during any conflict situation in order to guarantee the safety of international shipping and protect the lives of seafarers.

Following the work of the last meeting in preparing revised performance standards for the electronic chart display and information system (ECDIS), amendments were agreed to add a requirement for standardised digital exchange of ship’s route plans. No input had been received on proposals to amend the performance standards for the Voyage Data Recorder (VDR) so this item was deleted from the work programme.

There was considerable discussion on proposals to amend SOLAS to improve the safety of pilot transfer arrangements. The way forward was concluded to be the development of a new resolution containing performance standards and this task was referred to a correspondence group led by China.

Maritime Safety Information (MSI) Providers

The issue of increased costs for Maritime Safety Information (MSI) providers as new GMDSS satellite service providers are recognised in addition to Inmarsat had been referred by the last meeting to a correspondence group led by Australia. The group had defined a number of options but none of the options could offer a perfect outcome. The issue will now be referred to the Maritime Safety Committee for further advice. Revisions were prepared to the Iridium SafetyCast service manual, the Joint IMO/IHO/WMO Manual on Maritime Safety Information and MSC.1/Circ.1610 concerning the description of maritime services in the context of e-navigation. Proposals to revise the criteria for the provision of new GMDSS satellite service providers (resolution A.1001(25)) received from a correspondence group set up by the last meeting were referred back to the group led by France.

Various liaison statements to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) were prepared concerning the IMO position for the next ITU World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC 23); proposals to modify the recommendation M.1371-5 for the Automatic Identification System (AIS), issues on coding of emergency indicating radio beacons (EPIRBs), and digital selective calling alarms relating to bridge alert management.

The meeting noted information provided by radio manufacturers that it would not be realistic to produce new GMDSS radios in time for deadline of installations after 1 January 2024. Proposals were prepared for the Committee to consider a revised date of 1 January 2028. COMSAR/Circ.32 relating to the availability of radio equipment was revised following experience of its use.

The issue of unlawful practices associated with the manipulation of data transmissions from the automatic identification system (AIS) and tampering of AIS transponders was discussed with a view to possibly identifying improved technical arrangements.

Some items had been received but were not considered to be sufficiently mature to be actioned. Proposals for performance standards for NAVDAT, intended to be a possible replacement for NAVTEX, were referred to the next meeting. Proposals for generic performance standards for shipborne satellite navigation system receiver equipment were referred back to the correspondence group led by Germany. Proposals for the introduction of a VHF data exchange system (VDES) were referred to a correspondence group led by Japan.

There were no ship’s routeing proposals submitted to the meeting. A UK proposal for a new mandatory reporting system in the Pentland Firth, which was not agreed at the previous meeting, was agreed as a voluntary system. Associated protective measures within a particularly sensitive sea area in the North-Western Mediterranean Sea were prepared to protect cetaceans. The chair of the Experts Group on Ship’s Routeing, George Detweiller of the USA, announced that this would be his last meeting as he was retiring. He had chaired the group since NCSR4.

Upcoming Meetings Relating To Maritime Safety

The next meeting of NCSR is planned for 4 to 13 June 2024. A meeting of the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC 107) is planned for 31 May to 9 June 2023. A meeting of the Joint IMO/ITU Experts Group is planned for 9 to 13 October 2023. A meeting of the ICAO/IMO Joint Working Group is planned for 6 to 10 November 2023. The meeting proposed to invite the Committee to authorize the holding of annual meetings of the Joint IMO/ITU Experts Group and the ICAO/IMO Joint Working Group in future until advised otherwise.