AWP Web Blog

Sharing Experience and Best Practice to Raise Safety Standards across the Marine Industry.

This Regulatory News provides guidance on the revised SOLAS Chapter IV: Radiocommunications Equipment, the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS), and vessel operations. These changes reflect the IMO's effort to modernize the GMDSS, effective January 1, 2024. It also addresses the challenges related to sea area coverage, equipment requirements and requisite actions for new and existing ships.

The 10th session of the IMO’s Sub-Committee on Navigation, Communications, Search and Rescue (NCSR 10) was held from 10 to 19 May. NCSR 10 approved guidelines on the communication of emergency and safety information on board ships to reflect the new radio installation requirements in SOLAS Chapter IV that enters into force on 1 January 2024

This marine notice provides information on how the automatic channel switching feature in VHF digital selective calling (DSC) radios may impact voice communications during safety critical operations.

The rollover effect on certain GPS equipment may generate errors in position’s date/time stamp as regards Long Range Identification and Tracking (LRIT) reporting.

This marine notice highlights the importance of ensuring navigation bridge visibility on all vessels sailing in Australian waters. Vessel operators, masters and navigational officers should take note of its content.