INTERNATIONAL MARITIME ORGANIZATION (IMO): REPORT OF THE

UNCLAS LONDON 000892 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE PLEASE PASS TO IO/IOC FOR M. MORRISSEY E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: IMO ITU IMSO AORC ASEC UK SUBJECT: INTERNATIONAL MARITIME ORGANIZATION (IMO): REPORT OF THE ELEVENTH SESSION OF THE SUB-COMMITTEE ON RADIOCOMMUNICATIONS AND SEARCH AND RESCUE (COMSAR),LONDON, 16-23 FEBRUARY 2007. ¶1. SUMMARY: COMSAR 11 was attended by 70 administrations and 1 Associate Member, 2 Specialized Agencies, and 19 non- governmental organizations. COMSAR considered the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS),Review of the ITU radio communications matters, Satellite Services (COSPAS-SARSAT and Inmarsat),matters concerning Search and rescue including those related to the 1979 SAR Conference, Developments in maritime radiocommunication systems and technology, Revision of the International Maritime Search and Rescue (IMSAR) Manual, Revision of the performance standards for Search and Rescue Transponder (SART),Amendments to the Collision Regulations (COLREGS) Annex IV relating to distress signals, Guidelines on the control of ships in an emergency, Replacements for use of Narrow Band Direct Printing (NBDP) for maritime distress and safety communications in maritime MF/HF bands, Guidelines for uniform operating limitations of high-speed craft, Development of an e-navigation strategy, Work program and agenda for COMSAR 12, Election of Chairman and Vice-Chairman for 2008. Captain Carlos Salgado of Chile was elected as Chairman of COMSAR 11 to replace Mr. Halberg of Sweden who stepped down. Mr. A. Olopoenia of Nigeria was re-elected to serve as Vice Chairman. Subsequently, both Captain Salgado and Mr. Olopoenia were both re-elected to serve in their respective positions for COMSAR 12 which will be held in April 2008. END SUMMARY. ¶2. GMDSS Navigational Area (NAVAREA) - As instructed by the GMDSS Working Group, a Drafting Group was established under the chairmanship of Mr. Peter Doherty (USA) and representative Mr. Keith Alexander (USA) to consider matters concerning progress in the implementation of GMDSS, namely provisions of maritime safety information services. The Drafting Group considered COMSAR 11/3 (International Health Organization, IHO),11/3/2 (Joint IMO/IHO/WMO),COMSAR 11/3/3 (IHO),11/3/4 (Norway) in relation to the promulgation of Marine Safety Information (MSI) and the extension of World-Wide National Warning Service (WWNWS) to Arctic waters. With regard to COMSAR 11/3, the Chairman noted that the IHO Commission on the Promulgation of Radio Navigational Warnings (CPRNW) had received reports that there were occurrences of SafetyNET "C" codes being used incorrectly, i.e. not in accordance with the International SafetyNET Manual. Accordingly, the Drafting Group discussed and analyzed the incorrect "C" codes promulgated via the Enhanced Call Group (EGC) SafetyNET system, and as a measure to improve its quality, generated a COMSAR Circular to be included as an annex in the final report. Member Governments were invited to bring this circular to the attention of all concerned for information purposes and, in particular, to ensure that "C" codes are used correctly. With regard to COMSAR 11/3/3, the Chairman noted the revised list of NAVAREA Coordinators. Accordingly, the Drafting Group discussed and revised the list and recommended the issuance of a revision circular. This circular replaces COMSAR/Circ.30. and was included as an annex in the final report. Member Governments were invited to bring the revised circular to the attention of all concerned for information purposes. With regard to COMSAR 11/3/2 and COMSAR 11/3/4, the Chairman introduced the Report of the Joint IMO/IHO/WMO Correspondence Group on Artic MSI Services and the Norwegian submission which identified specific NAVAREA boundary limits. The Drafting Group, taking into account resolution A.706(17) as amended by MSC/Circ.685 and MSC/Circ.750, including the relevant decisions of COMSAR 10 and the joint IMO/IHO/WMO Correspondence Group on Arctic MSI Services, agreed to the following: All new Arctic NAVAREAs should extend to 90 degrees North and be responsible for the promulgation of maritime safety information (MSI) in navigable waters; Service shall be a 24/7 operation understanding that certain areas will not be navigable during certain times of the year; There shall be five (5) new Arctic NAVAREAs with the following countries acting as NAVAREA Co-ordinators: Canada for NAVAREA XVII and NAVAREA XVIII, Norway for NAVAREA XIX, and the Russian Federation for NAVAREA XX and NAVAREA XXI; Changes to the coverage areas under the WWNWS, to include the new Arctic NAVAREAs and other existing coverage gaps, shall be implemented at the same time; Boundary limits for the five (5) new Arctic NAVAREAs were agreed and will be forwarded to IHO CPRNW for final approval; Provision of SAR information within these new NAVAREAs will continue to be provided in accordance with currently agreed SAR regions; and All WWNWS guidance and other relevant documents will be updated as part of the IHO WWNWS Guidance Document Review Correspondence Group. In discussions regarding Meteorological Area (METAREA) Issuing Services, the WMO representative informed the Drafting Group of the recent discussions that took place during the second session of the JCOMM/ETMSS meeting in Brazil in January 2007. Though discussions on the final identification of METAREAs Coordinators is still ongoing, the Norwegian Meteorological Institute, Environment Canada and the Russian Federation have agreed in principle to assume those roles and responsibilities within the Arctic METAREAs. The WMO representative also informed the Drafting Group of the proposal to prepare an IMO Resolution on Metocean services similar to A.706(17) for navigational warnings. The Drafting Group also issued a revised Terms of Reference for the Joint IMO/IHO/WMO Correspondence Group on Arctic MSI Services with the approval to continue to address the expansion of MSI services and to progress the matter further through consideration of the following salient issues: Who will act as METAREA issuing service? How will warnings be transmitted, and can they be monitored as required? Systems other than Inmarsat (such as High Frequency [HF], Narrow Band Direct Printing [NBDP], NAVTEX and other satellite service providers) need to be considered. How will Inmarsat system definition manual and existing SafetyNET terminals be updated to allow receipt of MSI within the new NAVAREAs? What required training, assistance, and support from IHO/CPRNW is necessary to support new NAVAREA co-ordinators and/or from JCOMM/ETMSS for METAREA issuing services? ¶3. International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Maritime Radiocommunication Matters - The group considered a liaison statement from ITU-R WP.8B to IMO on aural listening watch on distress calling frequencies and agreed that there was no need for listing in the GMDSS Master Plan coast stations maintaining listening watch on distress frequencies other than those used by Digital Selective Calling. A list of these coast stations will be sent to the ITU which will include the list in its relevant publications. ¶4. Developments in Maritime Radiocommunication Systems and Technology - The group agreed there was a need to develop a standardized Extensible Markup Language (XML) format for maritime services. The Group invited Member Governments and International Organizations to submit examples of existing messages and proposals to COMSAR 12. ¶5. Revision of Performance Standards for SART - The group agreed that there is a need to ensure that definitions for Automatic Identification System-Search and Rescue Transponder (AIS-SART) and radar-SART were clear to avoid confusion. Performance standards for both should be a separate resolution. The group recognized that SART devices are not to be used for transmission of distress alerts. The group agreed the NAV Sub-Committee should be invited to consider a need for a presentation symbol for the SART. Furthermore, after the performance standards have been adopted, the ITU should be advised on the need for pre-configured text format for test purposes (SART UNDER TEST) and active state (SART ACTIVE). With full support of the United States delegation, the GMDSS Working Group supported the recommendation to adopt a performance standard for an Automatic Identification System Search and Rescue Transmitter (AIS SART) and amend SOLAS to recognize both radar and AIS SART. AIS SART promises to be more effective and farther reaching than radar transponder SART. ¶6. Revisions to the Mobile Offshore Drilling Unit (MODU) Code - The group prepared revised draft text of amendments to SOLAS regulations III/6.2.2, III/26.2.5 and IV/7.1.3 as set out in Annex 4. The Sub-Committee endorsed the revised text with a view for approval by the Committee at its 83rd session and adoption at its 84th session, and recommended that the Sub-Committee instruct the DE Sub-Committee to review amendments to the MODU Code and incorporate them when revising the MODU code. ¶7. Replacements for the Use of NBDP (Radio Telex) for Maritime Distress and Safety Communications in Maritime MF/HF Bands - The group determined that while there might be a need to develop performance standards as an equivalent of HF-NBDP used in the GMDSS, it would be premature before the new recommendation from the ITU came into force. In light of this, the group recommended that member governments and international organizations consider the proposal by the United States and submit comments to COMSAR 12. The group prepared preliminary text of the draft MSC.1 circular Guidance on ceasing requirements for NBDP on radio telex installations for certain ships sailing in sea Area A3. Member Governments and International Organizations were invited to submit comments to COMSAR 12. ¶8. Matters Concerning Search and Rescue, including those related to the 1979 SAR Conference and the implementation of the GMDSS - The U.S. delegation, with support from the Australian, Swedish, and UK delegations, submitted and had approved by the SAR Working Group for submission to MSC, the circular Matters Concerning Search and Rescue, Including Those Related to the 1979 SAR Conference and other International Instruments, a document that reminds Member States of their SAR obligations. With the full support of the United States delegation, the SAR Working Group reviewed and continued to endorse the International Cospas-Sarsat Program's plan to phase-out the 121.5/243.0 MHz signals set to occur on 01 February 2009. The United States continues to be a key partner in the International Cospas-Sarsat Program, along with Russia, Canada, France, and 36 other participating nations. The United States delegation submitted, and was fully supported by the SAR Working Group, the paper SAR Services Issues Related to the Implementation of the Long-Range Identification and Tracking (LRIT) System, to encourage nations with both SAR and LRIT authorities to consider SAR related issues as LRIT is further developed and implemented internationally. With the full support of the United States delegation, the SAR Working Group supported the recommendation to continue the work of the ICAO/IMO Joint Working Group for the Harmonization on SAR. The United States Coast Guard has been selected to chair this body of maritime and aeronautical SAR experts, whose next meeting is at La Reunion, 11-14 September 2007. ¶9. E-Navigation and Long-Range Identification and Tracking of Ships (LRIT) - The Sub-committee (S/C) considered documents COMSAR11/14, 11/14/1, 11/14/2, 11/14/3, 11/14/4, 11/14/5, 11/14/6 and 11/6/1 on E-Navigation and LRIT. With regard to E-Navigation, the S/C concluded that SAR, data communications, and GMSS were the potential components of the proposed E-Navigation strategy and system architecture that fell within its remit. The S/C decided that the GMDSS infrastructure could support E-Navigation but that broadband satellite technology would be necessary. The views of the S/C will be forwarded to the NAV S/C. With regard to LRIT, the S/C noted the Marshall Islands paper regarding legacy shipborne equipment (i.e., certain older Inmarsat-C equipment) not being able to meet LRIT performance standards, and requested that this issue be brought to the attention of the Committee. The S/C forwarded a provisional matrix prepared by the Secretariat of those agreements which may be required to establish the LRIT system. The S/C thanked the US for its offer to host, build, and operate the International LRIT Data Center (IDC) on an interim basis, but did not feel that this was the time to debate or discuss the offer. A number of delegations encouraged the US to re-submit this offer for consideration at MSC 83. The Russian Federation informed the S/C that it intends to establish a National LRIT Data Center which could become a Regional or even the International LRIT Data Center, or serve as a backup for the IDC. The S/C considered various costing and billing options for LRIT. Formulas were developed for the calculation of four different overhead costs: LRIT Coordinator, International Data Center (IDC), International Data Exchange (IDE),and SAR. Despite strong and repeated interventions by Greece, supported by Panama, Bahamas, and others, the MSC will be asked to note the S/C's opinion - led by a US intervention - that Contracting Governments that have established their own National, Regional, or Cooperative LRIT Data Centers should have to pay for the initial setup and recurring costs for 4 reports per day for their respective flag ships. The S/C recommended that Contracting Governments should be able to recover their costs associated with LRIT, but not be able to profit. The Ad Hoc WG on Engineering Aspects of LRIT met the week preceding COMSAR 11 to further develop technical specifications and to discuss costing and billing. The Ad Hoc WG developed a consensus response (COMSAR 11/WP.4/Add.1 Annex 2) to 8 costing and billing policy questions raised at MSC 82 to which CIRM and US submitted similar proposed responses (COMSAR 11/14/2, 11/14/5). Based on those discussions and the results of COMSAR 11, the Ad Hoc WG is expected to provide MSC 83 with various cost recovery mechanisms. The US has been asked by the Ad Hoc WG to host its next meeting, tentatively 8-10 May 2007, St. Petersburg Beach, FL, in conjunction with the Radio Technical Commission for Maritime Services (RTCM) Annual Assembly. ¶10. Satellite services (COSPAS-SARSAT and Inmarsat) Resolution A.888 and SOLAS IV Amendments - The group considered amendments to Draft Resolution A.888 (21) recognition and oversight of new GMDSS providers. The terms of reference were restricted to making only those changes necessary to reflect decisions by MSC 82 that recognition and approval of new providers would be by MSC vice International Mobile Satellite Organization (IMSO). IMSO retains oversight. The group also proposed consequential amendments to SOLAS IV. The group accepted the IMO Secretariat's proposed changes to previously approved draft amended Resolution A.888 (21). To accomplish this limited purpose, the group also recommended change to SOLAS IV Regulation 4-1. This means that the MSC specifies the criteria, procedures, and arrangements for the evaluation, recognition, review, and oversight of the provision of mobile satellite communications services in the GMDSS. ¶11. The U.S. Coast Guard Attachi to Malta, in concert with the delegation from Malta, lobbied those IMO member states present from Africa, the Mediterranean and the Middle East to send personnel from their respective countries to attend the Armed Forces of Malta (AFM) Search and Rescue Training Center (SARTC). This lobbying effort included an information paper, a presentation and numerous sidebar discussions. The AFM is able to offer full scholarships (including travel and per diem) to 20 international students per year through generous funding from the U.S. European Command. This lobbying effort resulted in Algeria, Cyprus, Mauritania and Tunisia committing to send two officers each to the March 2007 Search and Rescue Mission Coordinator (SMC) course. Additionally, Nigeria, Morocco and Greece expressed interest in sending representatives to the June 2007 SMC class. The International Lifeboat Federation will explore the possibility of having Kenya send students to attend future SMC classes in Malta as a result of the recent opening of the sub-regional Maritime Rescue Coordination Center in Mombassa, Kenya. Two of the SARTC goals are to increase regional SAR capabilities in the Mediterranean and Africa, as well as assisting in the development of personal relationships among those same regional SAR authorities and personnel. The U.S. Coast Guard Attachi to Malta is on the SARTC faculty and assists the AFM in teaching a four-week long SMC course to international and Maltese students. TUTTLE