Performance Standards for Shipborne Radio-Communications and Navigational Equipment (KF978E) - (2020 Edition)

Under resolution A.825(19), and its superseding resolution A.886(21), the adoption of performance standards, as well as their amendments, has been performed by the Maritime Safety Committee on behalf of the International Maritime Organization. The present edition includes consolidated updates and new requirements adopted up to October 2020 in the areas of:

• Integrated navigation systems (INS)
• navigational displays
• navigation-related symbols, terms and abbreviations
• shipborne radionavigation receivers
• long-range identification and tracking of ships (LRIT)
• equipment for the reception of navigational and meteorological warnings and urgent information to ships (NAVTEX)
• enhanced group call (EGC) equipment
• ship earth stations for use in the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS)
• emergency position-indicating radio beacons (EPIRB).

Foreword

Rapid technological advances in the areas of shipborne radiocommunications and navigational equipment have led to the revision and adoption of a number of performance standards since the International Maritime Organization first published the basis document on the subject, Performance Standards for Navigational Equipment, in 1988. Regular revisions ensure that mariners, Administrations, shipowners and manufacturers, and industry have access to the most current performance standards, in a consolidated format.

International Maritime Organization performance standards had usually been adopted by the Assembly until its nineteenth session in 1995, where by Procedure for adoption and amendment of performance standards for radio and navigational equipment (resolution A.825(19)), which was later superseded by resolution A.886(21), it resolved that the function of adopting performance standards and technical specifications, as well as amendments thereto, shall be performed by the Maritime Safety Committee on behalf of the Organization. The present publication incorporates all updated performance standards for radiocommunications and navigational equipment and all amendments thereto adopted up to October 2020.

Foreword

General requirements

Shipborne navigational equipment

Heading control systems and automatic pilots

Radar and ancillary equipment

Electronic chart display and information systems (ECDIS)

Radionavigation equipment

Echo-sounding equipment

Speed and distance indicators

Rate-of-turn indicators

Radar beacons, transponders and reflectors

Automatic identification systems (AIS)

Long-range identification and tracking (LRIT)

Voyage data recorder (VDR)

Integrated navigation systems (INS)

Lights

Others

Shipborne radio equipment

GMDSS terrestrial communications

Satellite communications

Emergency position-indicating radio beacons (EPIRB)

Others

Appendix

A??s a specialized agency of the United Nations, IMO is the global standard-setting authority for the safety, security and environmental performance of international shipping. Its main role is to create a regulatory framework for the shipping industry that is fair and effective, universally adopted and universally implemented.

In other words, its role is to create a level playing-field so that ship operators cannot address their financial issues by simply cutting corners and compromising on safety, security and environmental performance. This approach also encourages innovation and efficiency.

Shipping is a truly international industry, and it can only operate effectively if the regulations and standards are themselves agreed, adopted and implemented on an international basis. And IMO is the forum at which this process takes place.