MSC.1-Circ.1460-Rev.3-GuidanceOnTheValidityOfRadiocommunicationsEquipmentInstalledAndUsedOnShips(Secretariat)

INTERNATIONALEMARITIMEORGANIZATION4 ALBERT EMBANKMENTLONDON SE1 7SRTelephone:+44(0)2077357611Fax:+44(0)2075873210MSC.1/Circ.1460/Rev.318 October 2021GUIDANCE ON THE VALIDITY OF RADIOCOMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENTINSTALLED AND USED ON SHIPS1The Maritime Safety Committee,at its 104th session (4 to 8 October 2021),approved this circular,taking into account the recommendation of the Sub-Committee onNavigation,Communications and Search and Rescue at its eighth session(19 to 23 April 2021).The guidance in this circular recognizes that incompatibility may existbetween VHF radiocommunication equipment installed on ships and on shore,and therevised frequencies and channelling arrangements for the maritime VHF bands as containedin appendix 18 to the ITU Radio Regulations(RR)-Edition 2020.2This circular replaces MSC.1/Circ.1460/Rev.2,which addressed both MF/HFradiocommunication equipment that is capable of operating narrow band direct-printing(NBDP)and VHF radiocommunication equipment.Since NBDP radiocommunicationequipment will no longer be required under forthcoming amendments to SOLAS chapter IV,that equipment is not addressed in this circular.The ITU World Radiocommunication Conferences in 2012.2015 and 2019 madeextensive changes to appendix 18 of the RR.While these changes do not affect the GlobalMaritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS),they do affect the use of other frequenciesused for VHF meteorological,navigational and urgent marine information broadcasts,portoperations and Vessel Traffic Service (VTS).According to the Performance standards forshipborne VHF radio installations capable of communication and digital selective calling(resolution A.803(19),as amended),VHF radiocommunication equipment should comply withthe RR.The Guidance on procedures for updating shipbome navigation and communicationequipment(MSC.1/Circ.1389)notes that updates to application software and fimmware to meetchanges in IMO and ITU regulatory requirements are needed.To ensure GMDSS communication capability and the availability of appropriateGMDSS radiocommunication equipment,and without prejudice to the arrangementscontained in appendix 18 of the RR,VHF radiocommunication equipment should be updatedso that following the first radio survey after 1 January 2024,at the earliest,it meets thearrangements which will be in force by then.6Member States are invited to bring this information to the attention of the appropriatenational authorities and all other parties concemed.I:CIRCMSC1MSC.1-Circ.1460-Rev.3.docx0202