Resolution MSC.166(78)

APPLICATION OF PERFORMANCE STANDARDS FOR TRANSMITTING HEADING DEVICES (THDS) TO MARINE TRANSMITTING MAGNETIC HEADING DEVICES (TMHDS)

(adopted on 20 May 2004)

THE MARITIME SAFETY COMMITTEE,

RECALLING Article (28(b) of the Convention on the International Maritime Organization concerning the functions of the Committee,

RECALLING ALSO resolution A.886(21), by which the Assembly resolved that the function of adopting performance standards and technical specifications, as well as amendments thereto shall be performed by the Maritime Safety Committee and/or the Marine Environment Protection Committee, as appropriate, on behalf of the Organization,

RECALLING FURTHER that, in accordance with chapter V of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) 1974, as amended, ships of 300 gross tonnage and upwards and less than 500 gross tonnage, which do not carry a gyro compass, are required to carry a Transmitting Heading Device (THD), or other means to transmit heading information,

RECALLING FURTHER ALSO that, at its seventieth and seventy-third sessions, it adopted resolution MSC.86(70) on Adoption of new and amended performance standards for navigational equipment (which includes, in annex 2, Performance Standards for Marine Transmitting Magnetic Heading Devices (TMHDs)) and resolution MSC.116(73)on Performance Standards for Marine Transmitting Heading Devices (THDs),

RECOGNIZING that the magnetic principle of THDs is covered by both the aforementioned resolutions, which has created an inconsistency and misinterpretation in application of the relevant performance standards to TMHDs,

1. RECOMMENDS Member Governments to ensure that TMHDs installed on or after 1 July 2002 conform to performance standards not inferior to those specified in resolution MSC.116(73);

2. FURTHER RECOMMENDS Member Governments continue to accept installations fitted before 1 July 2002 in accordance with annex 2 to resolution MSC.86(70);