INTERNATIONAL MARITIME ORGANIZATION (IMO): REPORT OF THE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 LONDON 005615

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

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SUBJECT: INTERNATIONAL MARITIME ORGANIZATION (IMO): REPORT OF THE
SUBCOMMITTEE ON SAFETY OF NAVIGATION, 52ND SESSION, 17 - 21 JULY

2006.

SUMMARY: The 52nd Session of the Safety of Navigation (NAV) S/C was
held July 17 to 21, 2006 under the chairmanship of Mr. K. Polderman
(Netherlands). The session was attended by 53 member governments,
one associate member government, one non-member, and 14
intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations. The S/C
unanimously re-elected Mr. K. Polderman as chairman and Mr. J. M.
Sollosi (United States) as vice-chairman for 2007. All U.S.
objectives were achieved. Major accomplishments of NAV52 were: the
S/C approved the U.S. amendment to the traffic separation scheme
(TSS) in the approach to Boston. The S/C approved a substantial
number of additional routing measures. A proposal by Norway to
establish a mandatory TSS and a proposal by Ecuador for a mandatory
area to be avoided (ATBA) near the Galapagos were adopted after
significant alterations proposed by the U.S. The S/C established a
correspondence group under the chairmanship of the UK to address
enhanced navigation (E-NAV). Amended performance standards for ECDIS
were approved. Japan intervened to condemn DPRK missile launches.
USDEL intervened in support of Japan and was joined by statements of
concern from the Russian Federation, UK, France, Italy, Korea, and
Finland. DPRK responded in an invective-filled discourse condemning
the UNSC and the USG. USDEL intervened in support of Singapore's
statement opposing Australia's mandatory pilotage regime in the
Torres Strait. END SUMMARY.


1. ROUTING OF SHIPS, SHIP REPORTING AND RELATED MATTERS:
The S/C approved all proposals on the agenda, with amendments as
appropriate. The S/C noted, at Ecuador's request, but did not
consider or approve two traffic separation schemes (TSS) because the
U.S. intervened to clarify that these TSS's provide entry and exit
to/from an area to be avoided (ATBA) around the Galapagos
archipelago by ships bound to/from the Galapagos. The U.S. proposal
to amend the TSS in the approach to Boston to reduce the risk of
ship strikes of right and other whales was approved without debate.
The proposal by Norway for a series of TSS joined by a recommended
route from Vardo to Rost was approved after significant revisions.
Norway expressed appreciation to the U.S. for assistance in revising
their proposal. Italy's proposed ATBA and mandatory no anchorage
area to protect shipping in the vicinity of a proposed LNG
offloading and regasification facility in the Italian territorial
sea was approved. The proposal originally included a safety zone,
which is not an IMO recognized routing measure. Italy noted for the
record that the associated 2000 meter safety zone would apply only
to ships calling at the LNG facility or Italian ports. The S/C
approved a mandatory ship reporting measure by Ecuador for the
Galapagos ATBA after significant assistance from the U.S. to put the
proposal in proper form. The S/C approved all other proposals on
its agenda, all of which were unremarkable. Quality of submitted
proposals improved markedly after the chairman had agreed at NAV51
to conduct a preliminary review of proposals in conjunction with
submitting states. However, some proposals still needed revisions
in order to be in complete conformance with the General Provisions
on Ships Routeing.


2. AMENDMENTS TO THE ELECTRONIC CHART DISPLAY AND INFORMATION SYSTEM
(ECDIS) PERFORMANCE STANDARDS: After noting a comprehensive report
prepared by the correspondence group on ECDIS led by Norway, the S/C
agreed to approve the draft performance standards for ECDIS and
invite the Committee to adopt them as a resolution at its 82nd
session. Recognizing the need to make progress on this issue, U.S.
supported this position.


3. REVISION OF THE PERFORMANCE STANDARDS FOR INTEGRATED NAVIGATION
SYSTEM (INS) AND INTEGRATED BRIDGE SYSTEM (IBS):
The S/C considered all input documents on INS/IBS. The S/C approved
the continuation of the correspondence group on INS and IBS and
revised its terms of reference. The S/C requested the committee to
extend the target completion date for the review of performance
standards for INS and IBS to 2007.


4. EVALUATION OF THE USE OF (ECDIS) AND ELECTRONIC NAVIGATIONAL
CHART (ENC) DEVELOPMENT:
The S/C considered Australia's proposal to amend the circular
SN/Circ. 207 relating to differences between raster nautical charts
(RNC) and electronic navigational charts (ENC). Norway stated that
observations by a lone member state should not be sufficient
justification to change a S/N Circular. Denmark stated that based
on a limited test that Australia performed it also does not want to
amend the circular. Although U.S. supported Australia's proposal,
the S/C agreed to defer refining S/N Circ 207 until after proposed
amendments to the ECDIS performance standards were adopted by the
committee. The S/C discussed whether the International Hydrographic
Organization (IHO) catalogue should focus on ENC and show RNC only
where ENC is not available. The S/C agreed that the IHO catalogue
should include ENC, RNC where ENC is not available, a coastal state
recommendation on the appropriate folio of up-to-date paper charts
for areas where paper charts might be necessary in the event there

LONDON 00005615 002.2 OF 002


2006.

is not an ENC and RNC provides a limited display, and an index of
all available paper charts.


5. GUIDELINES FOR THE INSTALLATION OF RADAR, TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS TO
THE COLLISION REGULATIONS (COLREGS),INTERNATIONAL
TELECOMMUNICATIONS UNION (ITU) MATTERS, AND OTHER TECHNICAL
MATTERS:
The S/C considered a guideline on the installation of shipborne
radar equipment that was intended to allow ships to realize the
maximum performance potential of the equipment. Target completion
date for this issue is 2008. The S/C considered a proposal by Norway
to amend Annex I of the COLREGS with respect to the color
specification of navigation lights. Given that the International
Commission on Illumination has revised the definitions of colors
specified in Annex I, the Annex is in need of revision in order to
reflect these changes. These revisions are necessary due to
increased use of light emitting diodes in place of incandescent
light sources. Target completion date for this issue is 2007. The
S/C approved a liaison statement to ITU on maintenance and
administration of Automatic Identification System binary messages.
The S/C also approved draft performance standards for shipborne
Galileo receiver equipment and forwarded them to Committee.


6. ENHANCED NAVIGATION (E-NAV):
The S/C established a correspondence group under the chairmanship of
the UK to address the emerging e-NAV concept. Terms of reference
for the correspondence group direct them to define the concept of
e-Navigation; identify issues and priorities in a policy framework
on e-Navigation; identify benefits and obstacles that may arise;
identify the roles of the organization, its member states, other
bodies and industry; and formulate a work program for further
development of the concept. Target completion for this work is

2008.


7. NAVIGATIONAL WARNINGS:
Japan, responding to multiple missile launches conducted by North
Korea (DPRK),called attention to Assembly resolution A 706(17) and
MSC Circular 893 which recommends all member States give prior
notice of operations which might endanger safety of navigation,
expressly including missile launches, and noted that North Korea
failed to give such notice prior to its missile launches earlier
this month. U.S. supported Japan along with Russian Federation, UK,
France, Italy, Republic of Korea and Finland. U.S. intervention
called attention to recent Security Council resolution condemning
DPRK actions and failure to provide required navigation warnings.
U.S. further noted additional maritime safety deficiencies
associated with DPRK flag ships. Russia urged IMO action on the
matter while expressing support for efforts to achieve a peaceful
conclusion to this situation. UK largely echoed the statements of
the U.S. and Japanese delegations. France, Italy, Korea and Finland
also expressed concern over DPRK's disregard for IMO resolutions and
the threat to maritime navigation. DPRK delegation responded with a
statement accusing Japan of slander and stating that its right to
launch missiles is a sovereign matter not to be discussed in
international fora. DPRK then quoted from a statement condemning
the UNSC resolution and stating the U.S. created a dangerous
situation on the Korean peninsula. The Chairman interrupted to end
the DPRK intervention by reminding the DPRK delegation that NAV 52
was a forum for safety of navigation and not the appropriate venue
to express political opinions on UNSC resolutions. Complete U.S
intervention to be included as an annex to the S/C report.


8. MANDATORY PILOTAGE:
Singapore stated opposition to Australia's recently declared
mandatory pilotage regime in the Torres Strait. U.S. intervened
stating mandatory pilotage should apply only to ships bound to or
from Australian ports and not to ships in transit passage. Position
was supported by Russian Federation, Japan, Panama, China, Norway,
Greece, Liberia, Brazil, UK, Cyprus, Bahamas, South Africa, ICS and
BIMCO. Australia responded by stating they were confident they were
acting in accordance with international law and that they felt it
was not appropriate to discuss the matter at NAV.

JOHNSON