CHAPTER IV

RADIOCOMMUNICATION

 

With amendments

 

 

 

PART A - GENERAL

 

Regulation 1.
Application

 

1. Unless expressly provided otherwise, this chapter applies to all ships to which the present regulations apply and to cargo ships of 300 tons gross tonnage and upwards.

 

2. This chapter does not apply to ships to which the present regulations would otherwise apply while such ships are being navigated within the Great Lakes of North America and their connecting and tributary waters as far east as the lower exit of the St.Lambert Lock at Montreal in the Province of Quebec, Canada*.

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* Such ships are subject to special requirements relative to radio for safety purposes, as contained in the relevant agreement between Canada and the United States of America.

 

3. No provision in this chapter shall prevent the use by any ship, survival craft or person in distress, of any means at their disposal to attract attention, make known their position and obtain help.

 

Regulation 2.
Terms and definitions

 

1. For the purpose of this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings defined below:

 

.1 Bridge-to-bridge communications means safety communications between ships from the position from which the ships are normally navigated.

 

.2 Continuous watch means that the radio watch concerned shall not be interrupted other than for brief intervals when the ship's receiving capability is impaired or blocked by its own communications or when the facilities are under periodical maintenance or checks.

 

.3 Digital selective calling (DSC) means a technique using digital codes which enables a radio station to establish contact with, and transfer information to, another station or group of stations, and complying with the relevant recommendations of the International Radio Consultative Committee (CCIR).

 

.4 Direct-printing telegraphy means automated telegraphy techniques which comply with the relevant recommendations of the International Radio Consultative Committee (CCIR).

 

.5 General radiocommunication means operational and public correspondence traffic, other than distress, urgency and safety messages, conducted by radio.

 

.6 INMARSAT means the organization established by the Convention on the International Maritime Satellite Organization (INMARSAT) adopted on 3 September 1976.

 

.7 International NAVTEX Service means the co-ordinated broadcast and automatic reception on 518 kHz of maritime safety information by means of narrow-band direct-printing telegraphy using the English language*.

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* Reference is made to the NAVTEX Manual approved by the Organization.

 

.8 Locating means the finding of ships, aircraft, units or persons in distress.

 

.9 Maritime safety information means navigational and meteorological warnings, meteorological forecasts and other urgent safety related messages broadcast to ships.

 

.10 Polar orbiting satellite service means a service which is based on polar orbiting satellites which receive and relay distress alerts from satellite EPIRBs and which provides their position.

 

.11 Radio Regulations means the Radio Regulations annexed to, or regarded as being annexed to, the most recent International Telecommunication Convention which is in force at any time.

 

.12 Sea area A1 means an area, within the radiotelephone coverage of at least one VHF coast station in which continuous DSC alerting is available, as may be defined by a Contracting Government .

 

.13 Sea area A2 means an area, excluding sea area Al, within the radiotelephone coverage of at least one MF coast station in which continuous DSC alerting is available, as may be defined by a Contracting Government*.

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* Reference is made to the Recommendation on the Provision of Radiocommunication Services for the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System, adopted by the Organization by resolution A.801(19).

 

.14 Sea area A3 means an area, excluding sea areas Al and A2, within the coverage of an INMARSAT geostationary satellite in which continuous alerting is available.

 

.15 Sea area A4 means an area outside sea areas Al, A2 and A3.

 

.16 Global Maritime Distress and Safety System identities means maritime mobile services identity, the ship's call sign, Inmarsat identities and serial number identity which may be transmitted by the ship's equipment and used to identify the ship.

 

2. All other terms and abbreviations which are used in this chapter and which are defined in the Radio Regulations and in the International Convention on Maritime Search and Rescue (SAR), 1979, as it may be amended, shall have the meanings as defined in those Regulations and the SAR Convention.

 

Regulation 3.
Exemptions

 

1. The Contracting Governments consider it highly desirable not to deviate from the requirements of this chapter; nevertheless the Administration may grant partial or conditional exemptions to individual ships from the requirements of regulations IV/7 to 11 provided:

 

.1 such ships comply with the functional requirements of regulation IV/4; and

 

.2 the Administration has taken into account the effect such exemptions may have upon the general efficiency of the service for the safety of all ships.

 

2. An exemption may be granted under paragraph 1 only:

 

.1 if the conditions affecting safety are such as to render the full application or regulations IV/7 to 11 unreasonable or unnecessary.

 

.2 in exceptional circumstances, for a single voyage outside the sea area or sea areas for which the ship is equipped.

 

3. Each Administration shall submit to the Organization, as soon as possible after the first of January in each year, a report showing all exemptions granted under paragraphs 1 and 2 during the previous calendar year and giving the reasons for granting such exemptions.

 

Regulation 4.
Functional requirements

 

1. Every ship, while at sea, shall be capable:

 

.1 except as provided in regulations IV/8.1.1 and 10.1.4.3, of transmitting ship-to-shore distress alerts by at least two separate and independent means, each using a different radiocommunication service;

 

.2 of receiving shore-to-ship distress alerts;

 

.3 of transmitting and receiving ship-to-ship distress alerts;

 

.4 of transmitting and receiving search and rescue co-ordinating communications;

 

.5 of transmitting and receiving on-scene communications;

 

.6 of transmitting and, as required by regulation V/19.2.3.2, receiving signals for locating*;

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* Reference is made to Resolution A.614(15) on Carnage of Radar Operating in the Frequency Band 9,300—9,500 MHz adopted by the Organization.

 

.7 of transmitting and receiving* maritime safety information;

 

.8 of transmitting and receiving general radiocommunication to and from shore-based radio systems or networks subject to regulation IV/15.8; and

 

.9 of transmitting and receiving bridge-to-bridge communications.

 

PART В - UNDERTAKINGS BY CONTRACTING GOVERNMENTS**

 

Regulation 5.
Provision of radiocommunication services

 

1. Each Contracting Government undertakes to make available, as it deems practical and necessary either individually or in cooperation with other Contracting Governments, appropriate shorebased facilities for space and terrestrial radiocommunication services having due regard to the recommendations of the Organization***. These services are:

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* It should be noted that ships may have a need for reception of certain maritime safety information while in port.

 

**

1. Each Contracting Government is not required to provide all radiocommunication services.

2. The requirements should be specified for shore-based facilities to cover the various sea areas.

 

*** Reference is made to the Recommendation on the Provision of Radiocommunication Services for the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System, adopted by the Organization by resolution A.801(19).

 

.1 a radiocommunication service utilizing geostationary satellites in the Maritime Mobile-Satellite Service;

 

.2 a radiocommunication service utilizing polar orbiting satellites in the Mobile-Satellite Service;

 

.3 the Maritime Mobile Service in the bands between 156 MHz and 174 MHz;

 

.4 the Maritime Mobile Service in the bands between 4,000 kHz and 27,500 kHz; and

 

.5 the Maritime Mobile Service in the bands between 415 kHz and 535 kHz and between 1,606 kHz and 4,000 kHz.

 

2. Each Contracting Government undertakes to provide the Organization with pertinent information concerning the shore-based facilities in the Maritime Mobile Service, Mobile-Satellite Service and Maritime Mobile-Satellite Service, established for sea areas which it has designated off its coasts.

 

Regulation 5-1
Global Maritime Distress and Safety System identities

 

1. This regulation applies to all ships on all voyages.

 

2. Each Contracting Government undertakes to ensure that suitable arrangements are made for registering Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) identities and for making information on these identities available to Rescue Co-ordination Centres on a 24-hour basis. Where appropriate, international organizations maintaining a registry of these identities shall be notified by the Contracting Government of these assignments.

 

PART С - SHIP REQUIREMENTS

 

Regulation 6.
Radio installations

 

1. Every ship shall be provided with radio installations capable of complying with the functional requirements prescribed by regulation IV/4 throughout its intended voyage and, unless exempted under regulation IV/3, complying with the requirements of regulation IV/7 and, as appropriate for the sea area or areas through which it will pass during its intended voyage, the requirements of either regulation IV/8, 9, 10 or 11.

 

2. Every radio installation shall:

 

.1 be so located that no harmful interference of mechanical, electrical or other origin affects its proper use, and so as to ensure electromagnetic compatibility and avoidance or harmful interaction with other equipment and systems;

 

.2 be so located as to ensure the greatest possible degree of safety and operational availability;

 

.3 be protected against harmful effects of water, extremes of temperature and other adverse environmental conditions;

 

.4 be provided with reliable, permanently arranged electrical lighting, independent of the main and emergency sources of electrical power, for the adequate illumination of the radio controls for operating the radio installation; and

 

.5 be clearly marked with the call sign, the ship station identity and other codes as applicable for the use of the radio installation.

 

3. Control of the VHF radiotelephone channels, required for navigational safety, shall be immediately available on the navigating bridge convenient to the conning position and, where necessary, facilities should be available to permit radiocommunication from the wings of the navigating bridge. Portable VHF equipment may be used to meet the latter provision.

 

4. In passenger ships, a distress panel shall be installed at the conning position. This panel shall contain either one single button which, when pressed, initiates a distress alert using all radiocommunication installations required on board for that purpose or one button for each individual installation. The panel shall clearly and visually indicate whenever any button or buttons have been pressed. Means shall be provided to prevent inadvertent activation of the button or buttons. If the satellite EPIRB is used as the secondary means of distress alerting and is not remotely activated, it shall be acceptable to have an additional EPIRB installed in the wheelhouse near the conning position.

 

5. In passenger ships, information on the ship's position shall be continuously and automatically provided to all relevant radiocommunication equipment to be included in the initial distress alert when the button or buttons on the distress panel is pressed.

 

6. In passenger ships, a distress alarm panel shall be installed at the conning position. The distress alarm panel shall provide visual and aural indication of any distress alert or alerts received on board and shall also indicate through which radiocommunication service the distress alerts have been received.

 

Regulation 7.
Radio equipment — General

 

1. Every ship shall be provided with:

 

.1 a VHF radio installation capable of transmitting and receiving:

 

.1 DSC on the frequency 156.525 VHz (channel 70). It shall be possible to initiate the transmission of distress alerts on channel 70 from the position from which the ship is normally navigated*; and

.2 radiotelephony on the frequencies 156.300 MHz (channel 6), 156.650 MHz (channel 13) and 156.800 MHz (channel 16);

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* Certain ships may be exempted from this requirement (see regulation IV/9.4).

 

.2 a radio installation capable of maintaining a continuous DSC watch on VHF channel 70 which may be separate from or combined with, that required by subparagraph .1.1;

 

.3 a radar transponder capable of operating in the 9 GHz band, which:

 

.1 shall be so stowed that it can be easily utilized; and

.2 may be one of those required by regulation III/6.2.2 for a survival craft;

 

.4 a receiver capable of receiving International NAVTEX service broadcasts if the ship is engaged on voyages in any area in which an International NAVTEX service is provided;

 

.5 a radio facility for reception of maritime safety information by the INMARSAT enhanced group calling system if the ship is engaged on voyages in any area of INMARSAT coverage but in which an International NAVTEX service is not provided. However, ships engaged exclusively on voyages in areas where an HF direct-printing telegraphy maritime safety information service is provided and fitted with equipment capable of receiving such service, may be exempt from this requirement*;

 

.6 subject to the provisions of regulation IV/8.3, a satellite emergency position-indicating radio beacon (satellite EPIRB) which shall be:

 

.1 capable of transmitting a distress alert either through the polar orbiting satellite service operating in the 406 MHz band or, if the ship is engaged only on voyages within INMARSAT geostationary satellite service operating in the 1.6 GHz band**;

.2 installed in an easily accessible position;

.3 ready to be manually released and capable of being carried by one person into a survival craft;

.4 capable of floating free if the ship sinks and of being automatically activated when afloat; and

.5 capable of being activated manually.

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* Reference is made to the Recommendation on Promulgation of Maritime Safety Information, Assembly resolution A.705(17).

** Subject to the availability of appropriate receiving and processing ground facilities for each ocean region covered by INMARSAT satellites.

 

2. Every passenger ship shall be provided with means for two-way on-scene radiocommunication for search and rescue purposes using the aeronautical frequencies 121.5 MHz and 123.1 MHz from the position from which the ship is normally navigated.

 

Regulation 8.
Radio equipment — Sea area A1

 

1. In addition to meeting the requirements of regulation IV/7, every ship engaged on voyages exclusively in sea area Al shall be provided with a radio installation capable of initiating the transmission of ship-to-shore distress alerts from the position from which the ship is normally navigated, operating either:

 

.1 on VHF using DSC; this requirement may be fulfilled by the EPIRB prescribed by paragraph 3, either by installing the EPIRB close to, or by remote activation from, the position from which the ship is normally navigated; or

 

.2 through the polar orbiting satellite service on 406 MHz; this requirement may be fulfilled by the satellite EPIRB, required by regulation IV/7.1.6, either by installing the satellite EPIRB close to, or by remote activation from, the position from which the ship is normally navigated; or

 

.3 if the ship is engaged on voyages within coverage of MF coast stations equipped with DSC, on MF using DSC; or

 

.4 on HF using DSC; or

 

.5 through the INMARSAT geostationary satellite service; this requirement may be fulfilled by:

 

.1 an INMARSAT ship earth station*; or

.2 the satellite EPIRB, required by regulation IV/7.1.6, either by installing the satellite EPIRB close to, or by remote activation from, the position from which the ship is normally navigated.

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* This requirement can be met by INMARSAT ship earth stations capable of two-way communications, such as Standard-A or Standard-C ship earth stations. Unless otherwise specified, this footnote applies to all requirements for an INMARSAT ship earth station prescribed by this chapter.

 

2. The VHF radio installation, required by regulation IV/7.1.1, shall also be capable of transmitting and receiving general radiocommunications using radiotelephony.

 

3. Ships engaged on voyages exclusively in sea area A1 may carry, in lieu of the satellite EPIRB required by regulation IV/7.1.6, an EPIRB which shall be:

 

.1 capable of transmitting a distress alert using DSC on VHF channel 70 and providing for locating by means of a radar transponder operating in the 9 GHz band;

 

.2 installed in an easily accessible position;

 

.3 ready to be manually released and capable of being carried by one person into a survival craft;

 

.4 capable of floating free if the ship sinks and being automatically activated when afloat; and

 

.5 capable of being activated manually.

 

Regulation 9.
Radio equipment — Sea areas A1 and A2

 

1. In addition to meeting the requirements of regulation IV/7, every ship engaged on voyages beyond sea area Al, but remaining within sea area A2, shall be provided with:

 

.1 an MF radio installation capable of transmitting and receiving, for distress and safety purposes, on the frequencies:

 

.1 2,187.5 kHz using DSC; and

.2 2,182 kHz using radiotelephony;

 

.2 a radio installation capable of maintaining a continuous DSC watch on the frequency 2,187.5 kHz which may be separate from, or combined with, that required by subparagraph .1.1; and

 

.3 means of initiating the transmission of ship-to-shore distress alerts by a radio service other than MF operating either:

 

.1 through the polar orbiting satellite service on 406 MHz; this requirement may be fulfilled by the satellite EPIRB, required by regulation IV/7.1.6, either by installing the satellite EPIRB close to, or by remote activation from, the position from which the ship is normally navigated; or

 

.2 on HF using DSC; or

 

.3 through the INMARSAT geostationary satellite service; this requirement may be fulfilled by:

 

.1 the equipment specified in paragraph 3.2; or

.2 the satellite EPIRB, required by regulation IV/7.1.6, either by installing the satellite EPIRB close to, or by remote activation from, the position from which the ship is