MSC.1-Circ.1460-Rev.5

INTERNATIONALEMARITIMEORGANIZATION4 ALBERT EMBANKMENTLONDON SE1 7SRTelephone:+44(0)2077357611Fax:+44(0)2075873210MSC.1/Circ.1460/Rev.527 January 2025GUIDANCE ON THE VALIDITY OF RADIOCOMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENTINSTALLED AND USED ON SHIPS1The Maritime Safety Committee,at its 109th session (2 to 6 December 2024),approved the guidance set out in the following paragraphs,taking into account concems overthe availability of VHF radiocommunication equipment compatible with the frequencies andchannelling arrangements set out in appendix 18 of the ITU Radio Regulations (RR)-Edition 2020.This guidance recognizes that incompatibility may exist betweenVHF radiocommunication equipment installed on ships and on shore,and the revisedfrequencies and channelling arrangements in appendix 18 of the RR.This circular replaces MSC.1/Circ.1460/Rev.4,which indicated the need for updatingexisting VHF radiocommunication equipment following the first radio surveyafter 1 January 2028.3The 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 voice communication and digital selective calling(resolution MSC.511(105)),VHF radiocommunication equipment should comply with the RR.gThe Guidance on procedures for updating shipborne navigation and communicationequipment (MSC.1/Circ.1389)notes that updates to application software and firmware tomeet changes in IMO and ITU regulatory requirements are needed.To ensure radiocommunication capability in the ship-to-ship,ship-to-shore andshore-to-ship directions,all VHF radiocommunication equipment on board ships required bySOLAS regulations IV/7.1.1,7.1.2 and 7.1.6,including the duplicated equipment inaccordance with regulations IV/15.6 and 15.7,should comply with the latest channelarrangements in appendix 18 of the RR,by the first radio survey scheduled on orafter 1 January 2028,or earlier,as appropriate.6Ships should be capable of transmitting and receiving VHF radiotelephony with theshore facilities in their area of operation,noting that some administrations may have alreadyimplemented the new available channels prior to 1 January 2028.Member States are invited to bring this information to the attention of the appropriatenational authorities and all other parties concerned.I:CIRCMSC1MSC.1-Circ.1460-Rev.5.docx