The International Conference on Maritime Security
concluded last week (December 9 and 10, 2002) at the International Maritime
Organization (IMO). The Conference adopted a number of revisions to the
Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention. Of particular interest is the
status of the implementation date for Automatic Identification Systems (AIS).
The conference moved forward the deadline for fitting of AIS on ships engaged in
international voyages. Now all such ships over 300 tons and not required
to fit AIS at an earlier date, will have to fit AIS at the first safety
equipment survey after
On October 22nd, 2003, the Coast Guard published a Final Rule, amending its previously promulgated Temporary Interim Rule regarding Automatic Identification System (AIS) carriage requirements, which reads as follows (significant changes are highlighted in bold for emphasis):
Title
33, Code of Federal Regulations
§ 164.46 Automatic Identification System (AIS).
(a) The following vessels must have a properly installed, operational, type approved AIS as of the date specified:
(1) Self-propelled vessels of 65 feet or more in length, other than passenger and fishing vessels, in commercial service and on an international voyage, not later than December 31, 2004.
(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (a)(1) of this section, the following, self-propelled vessels, that are on an international voyage must also comply with SOLAS, as amended, Chapter V, regulation 19.2.1.6, 19.2.4, and 19.2.3.5 or 19.2.5.1 as appropriate (Incorporated by reference, see § 164.03):
(i) Passenger vessels, of 150 gross tonnage or more, not later than July 1, 2003;
(ii) Tankers, regardless of tonnage, not later than the first safety survey for safety equipment on or after July 1, 2003;
(iii) Vessels, other than passenger vessels or tankers, of 50,000 gross tonnage or more, not later than July 1, 2004; and
(iv) Vessels, other than passenger vessels or tankers, of 300 gross tonnage or more but less than 50,000 gross tonnage, not later than the first safety survey for safety equipment on or after July 1, 2004, but no later than December 31, 2004.
(3) Notwithstanding paragraphs (a)(1) and (a)(2) of this section, the following vessels, when navigating an area denoted in table 161.12(c) of § 161.12 of this chapter, not later than December 31, 2004.
(i) Self-propelled vessels of 65 feet or more in length, other than fishing vessels and passenger vessels certificated to carry less than 151 passengers-for-hire, in commercial service;
(ii) Towing vessels of 26 feet or more in length and more than 600 horsepower, in commercial service;
(iii) Passenger vessels certificated to carry more than 150 passengers-for-hire.
Note to § 164.46(a): "Properly installed" refers to an installation using the guidelines set forth in IMO SN/Circ.227 (incorporated by reference, see § 164.03). Not all AIS units are able to broadcast position, course, and speed without the input of an external positioning device (e.g. dGPS); the use of other external devices (e.g. transmitting heading device, gyro, rate of turn indicator) is highly recommended, however, not required except as stated in § 164.46(a)(2). "Type approved" refers to an approval by an IMO recognized Administration as to comply with IMO Resolution MSC.74(69), ITU-R Recommendation M.1371-1, and IEC 61993-2 (Incorporated by reference, see § 164.03). "Length" refers to "registered length" as defined in 46 CFR part 69. "Gross tonnage" refers to tonnage as defined under the International Convention on Tonnage Measurement of Ships, 1969.
(b) The requirements for Vessel Bridge-to-Bridge radiotelephones in §§ 26.04(a) and (c), 26.05, 26.06 and 26.07 of this chapter also apply to AIS. The term "effective operating condition" used in § 26.06 of this chapter includes accurate input and upkeep of AIS data fields.
(c) The use of a portable AIS is permissible only to the extent that electromagnetic interference does not affect the proper function of existing navigation and communication equipment on board and such that only one AIS unit may be in operation at any one time.
(d) The AIS Pilot Plug, on each vessel over 1,600 gross tons on an international voyage, must be available for pilot use, easily accessible from the primary conning position of the vessel, and near a 120 Volt, AC power, 3-prong receptacle.
(a) Each of the following vessels must use an Automatic Identification System (AIS) transponder to transit the Seaway:
(1) Each commercial vessel that requires pre-clearance in accordance with § 401.22 and has a 300 gross tonnage or greater, has a Length Over All (LOA) over 20 meters, or carries more than 50 passengers for hire; and
(2) Each dredge, floating plant or towing vessel over 8 meters in length, except only each lead unit of combined and multiple units (tugs and tows).
(b) Each vessel listed in paragraph (a) of this section must meet the following requirements to transit the Seaway:
(1) International Maritime Organization (IMO) Resolution MSC.74(69), Annex 3, Recommendation on Performance Standards for a Universal Shipborne AIS, as amended;
(2) International Telecommunication Union, ITU-R Recommendation M.1371-1: 2000, Technical Characteristics For A Universal Shipborne AIS Using Time Division Multiple Access In The VHF Maritime Mobile Band, as amended;
(3) International Electrotechnical Commission, IEC 61993-2 Ed.1, Maritime Navigation and Radio Communication Equipment and Systems -- AIS -- Part 2: Class A Shipborne Equipment of the Universal AIS -- Operational and Performance Requirements, Methods of Test and Required Test Results, as amended;
(4) International Maritime Organization (IMO) Guidelines for Installation of Shipborne Automatic Identification System (AIS), NAV 48/18, 6 January 2003, as amended, and, for ocean vessels only, with a pilot plug, as specified in Section 3.2 of those Guidelines, installed close to the primary conning position in the navigation bridge and a standard 120 Volt, AC, 3-prong power receptacle accessible for the pilot's laptop computer; and
(5) Computation of AIS position reports using differential GPS corrections from the U.S. and Canadian Coast Guards' maritime Differential Global Positioning System radiobeacon services; or
(6) The use of a temporary unit meeting the requirements of paragraphs (b)(1) through (5) of this section is permissible; or
(7) For each vessel less with LOA less than 30 meters, the use of portable AIS compatible with the requirements of paragraphs (b)(1) through (3) and paragraph (5) of this section is permissible.
[68 FR 9551, Feb. 28, 2003; 68 FR
11974, Mar. 13, 2003]