Regulation 19 - Carriage requirements for shipborne navigational systems and equipment

Summary

Navigational equipment - carriage requirements for new ships.
Requirements are based on tonnage and are cumulative.
Existing ships may continue to meet requirements of SOLAS Chapter V/74, except GNSS / terrestrial navigation receiver to be fitted at first survey after 1 July 2002, and AIS transponder to be fitted by specified dates.
Each item of equipment to comply with the relevant IMO Performance Standards.
Regulations allow for "other means" to be used to comply with the functional requirements of each equipment item.

Regulation 19

1.

Application and requirements
Subject to the provisions of regulation 1.4:

1.1 | Ships constructed on or after 1 July 2002 shall be fitted with navigational systems and equipment which will fulfil the requirements prescribed in paragraphs 2.1 to 2.9
1.2 | Ships constructed before 1 July 2002 shall:

1.2.1 | subject to the provisions of paragraphs 1.2.2 and 1.2.3, unless they comply fully with this regulation, continue to be fitted with equipment which fulfils the requirements prescribed in regulations V/11, V/12 and V/20 of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974 in force prior to 1 July 2002;
1.2.2 | be fitted with the equipment or systems required in paragraph 2.1.6 not later than the first survey after 1 July 2002 at which time the radio direction-finding apparatus referred to in V/12 (p) of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974 in force prior to 1 July 2002 shall no longer be required; and
1.2.3 | be fitted with the system required in paragraph 2.4 not later than the dates specified in paragraphs 2.4.2 and 2.4.3.

2.

Shipborne navigational equipment and systems

2.1 | All ships irrespective of size shall have:

2.1.1

a properly adjusted standard magnetic compass or other means, independent of any power supply to determine the ship's heading and display the reading at the main steering position;

2.1.2 | a pelorus or compass bearing device, or other means, independent of any power supply to take bearings over an arc of the horizon of 360°;
2.1.3 | means of correcting heading and bearings to true at all times;
2.1.4 | nautical charts and nautical publications to plan and display the ship's route for the intended voyage and to plot and monitor positions throughout the voyage; an electronic chart display and information system (ECDIS) may be accepted as meeting the chart carriage requirements of this subparagraph;

2.1.5

back-up arrangements to meet the functional requirements of subparagraph .4, if this function is partly or fully fulfilled by electronic means;*

* An appropriate folio of paper nautical charts may be used as a back-up arrangement for ECDIS. Other back-up arrangements for ECDIS are acceptable (see appendix 6 to resolution A.817(19), as amended).

2.1.6 | a receiver for a global navigation satellite system or a terrestrial radionavigation system, or other means, suitable for use at all times throughout the intended voyage to establish and update the ship's position by automatic means;

2.1.7

if less than 150 gross tonnage and if practicable, a radar reflector or other means, to enable detection by ships navigating by radar at both 9 and 3 GHz;

2.1.8 | when the ship's bridge is totally enclosed and unless the Administration determines otherwise, a sound reception system, or other means, to enable the officer in charge of the navigational watch to hear sound signals and determine their direction;
2.1.9 | a telephone, or other means, to communicate heading information to the emergency steering position, if provided.

2.2 | All ships of 150 gross tonnage and upwards and passenger ships irrespective of size shall, in addition to the requirements of paragraph 2.1, be fitted with:

2.2.1

a spare magnetic compass interchangeable with the magnetic compass, as referred to in paragraph 2.1.1, or other means to perform the function referred to in paragraph 2.1.1 by means of replacement or duplicate equipment;

2.2.2 | a daylight signalling lamp, or other means to communicate by light during day and night using an energy source of electrical power not solely dependent upon the ship's power supply.

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2.3 | All ships of 300 gross tonnage and upwards and passenger ships irrespective of size shall, in addition to meeting the requirements of paragraph 2.2, be fitted with:

2.3.1 | an echo sounding device, or other electronic means, to measure and display the available depth of water;

2.3.2

a 9 GHz radar, or other means to determine and display the range and bearing of radar transponders and of other surface craft, obstructions, buoys, shorelines and navigational marks to assist in navigation and in collision avoidance;

2.3.3 | an electronic plotting aid, or other means, to plot electronically the range and bearing of targets to determine collision risk;
2.3.4 | speed and distance measuring device, or other means, to indicate speed and distance through the water;
2.3.5 | a properly adjusted transmitting heading device, or other means to transmit heading information for input to the equipment referred to in paragraphs 2.3.2, 2.3.3 and 2.4.

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2.4 | All ships of 300 gross tonnage and upwards engaged on international voyages and cargo ships of 500 gross tonnage and upwards not engaged on international voyages and passenger ships irrespective of size shall be fitted with an automatic identification system (AIS), as follows:

2.4.1 | ships constructed on or after 1 July 2002;
2.4.2 | ships engaged on international voyages constructed before 1 July 2002:

2.4.2.1 | in the case of passenger ships, not later than 1 July 2003;

2.4.2.2

in the case of tankers, not later than the first survey for safety equipment* on or after 1 July 2003;

* Refer to regulation I/8

2.4.2.3 | in the case of ships, other than passenger ships and tankers, of 50,000 gross tonnage and upwards, not later than 1 July 2004;
2.4.2.4 | in the case of ships, other than passenger ships and tankers, of 300 gross tonnage and upwards but less than 50,000 gross tonnage, not later than the first safety survey after 1 July 2004 or by 31 December 2004, whichever occurs earlier; and

2.4.3 | ships not engaged on international voyages constructed before 1 July 2002, not later than 1 July 2008;
2.4.4 | the Administration may exempt ships from the application of the requirements of this paragraph when such ships will be taken permanently out of service within two years after the implementation date specified in subparagraphs .2 and .3;
2.4.5 | AIS shall:

2.4.5.1 | provide automatically to appropriately equipped shore stations, other ships and aircraft information, including the ship's identity, type, position, course, speed, navigational status and other safety-related information;
2.4.5.2 | receive automatically such information from similarly fitted ships;
2.4.5.3 | monitor and track ships; and
2.4.5.4 | exchange data with shore-based facilities;

2.4.6

the requirements of paragraph 2.4.5 shall not be applied to cases where international agreements, rules or standards provide for the protection of navigational information; and

2.4.7

AIS shall be operated taking into account the guidelines adopted by the Organization.* Ships fitted with AIS shall maintain AIS in operation at all times except where international agreements, rules or standards provide for the protection of navigational information.
* Refer to the Guidelines for the Operation of AIS on Ships

2.5 | All ships of 500 gross tonnage and upwards shall, in addition to meeting the requirements of paragraph 2.3 with the exception of paragraphs 2.3.3 and 2.3.5, and the requirements of paragraph 2.4, have:

2.5.1 | a gyro compass, or other means, to determine and display their heading by shipborne non-magnetic means, being clearly readable by the helmsman at the main steering position. These means shall also transmit heading information for input to the equipment referred in paragraphs 2.3.2, 2.4 and 2.5.5;;
2.5.2 | a gyro compass heading repeater, or other means, to supply heading information visually at the emergency steering position if provided;
2.5.3 | a gyro compass bearing repeater, or other means, to take bearings, over an arc of the horizon of 360º, using the gyro compass or other means referred to in subparagraph .1. However ships less than 1,600 gross tonnage shall be fitted with such means as far as possible;
2.5.4 | rudder, propeller, thrust, pitch and operational mode indicators, or other means to determine and display rudder angle, propeller revolutions, the force and direction of thrust and, if applicable, the force and direction of lateral thrust and the pitch and operational mode, all to be readable from the conning position; and
2.5.5 | an automatic tracking aid, or other means, to plot automatically the range and bearing of other targets to determine collision risk.

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2.6 | On all ships of 500 gross tonnage and upwards, failure of one piece of equipment should not reduce the ship's ability to meet the requirements of paragraphs 2.1.1, 2.1.2 and 2.1.4.
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2.7 | All ships of 3000 gross tonnage and upwards shall, in addition to meeting the requirements of paragraph 2.5, have:

2.7.1 | a 3 GHz radar or where considered appropriate by the Administration a second 9 GHz radar, or other means to determine and display the range and bearing of other surface craft, obstructions, buoys, shorelines and navigational marks to assist in navigation and in collision avoidance, which are functionally independent of those referred to in paragraph 2.3.2; and
2.7.2 | a second automatic tracking aid, or other means to plot automatically the range and bearing of other targets to determine collision risk which are functionally independent of those referred to in paragraph 2.5.5.

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2.8 | All ships of 10,000 gross tonnage and upwards shall, in addition to meeting the requirements of paragraph 2.7 with the exception of paragraph 2.7.2, have:

2.8.1 | an automatic radar plotting aid, or other means, to plot automatically the range and bearing of at least 20 other targets, connected to a device to indicate speed and distance through the water, to determine collision risks and simulate a trial manoeuvre; and
2.8.2 | a heading or track control system, or other means, to automatically control and keep to a heading and/or straight track.

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2.9 | All ships of 50,000 gross tonnage and upwards shall, in addition to meeting the requirements of paragraph 2.8, have:

2.9.1 | a rate of turn indicator, or other means, to determine and display the rate of turn; and
2.9.2 | a speed and distance measuring device, or other means, to indicate speed and distance over the ground in the forward and athwartships direction.

3. | When "other means" are permitted under this regulation, such means must be approved by Administration in accordance with regulation 18.
4. | The navigational equipment and systems referred to in this regulation shall be so installed, tested and maintained as to minimize malfunction.
5. | Navigational equipment and systems offering alternative modes of operation shall indicate the actual mode of use.
6. | Integrated bridge systems* shall be so arranged that failure of one sub-system is brought to immediate attention of the officer in charge of the navigational watch by audible and visual alarms, and does not cause failure to any other sub-system. In case of failure in one part of an integrated navigational system,** it shall be possible to operate each other individual item of equipment or part of the system separately.

* Refer to resolution MSC.64(67), annex 1 - Performance standard for Integrated bridge systems.
** Refer to resolution MSC.86(70), annex 3 - Performance standard for Integrated navigational systems.

MCA Guidance

1.

This Regulation applies to all UK-flagged ships EXCEPT ships, other than passenger ships, which do not go to sea, Class V passenger ships, fishing vessels and pleasure vessels under 150 gt. However all pleasure vessels are required to comply with Regulation 19.2.1.7 (carriage of a radar reflector if practicable.)

2.

New ships (1 July 2002) must comply fully with the requirements of this regulation.
(See ANNEX 11 - Navigational equipment - New Ships)

3.

Existing ships may continue to comply with the regulations in force before 1 July 2002 except that they must be fitted with a GNSS receiver (which replaces the requirement for a RDF receiver) and AIS in accordance with the timetable specified in Reg. 19.2.4. (See ANNEX 12 - Navigational equipment - existing ships)

4.

The carriage requirements are based on ships' tonnage and are cumulative. Tonnage groups are summarised in ANNEX 11

5. | Chapter 13 of the IMO High Speed Craft Code lays down special requirements for navigational equipment on High Speed Craft. These are detailed in ANNEX 19 - HSC Code- Navigational Equipment

6.

"Other means" - MSC.1/Circ.1224 gives guidance on a unified interpretation of the term "other means" as used in Regulation 19. This guidance should be applied to equipment installed on or after 1 July 2007.

7.

Because of the complexity of this Regulation, Guidance Notes and IMO Guidelines for the various items of equipment are contained in the following Annexes, Merchant Shipping Notices and IMO Circulars:
ANNEX 3 - Nautical Charts and Publications
ANNEX 11 - Navigational Equipment- New Ships
ANNEX 12 - Navigational Equipment - Existing Ships
ANNEX 13 - Magnetic Compasses
ANNEX 14 - Electronic Charts
ANNEX 15 - Radar Reflectors
ANNEX 16 - Radar Equipment
ANNEX 17 - Guidance Notes and IMO Guidelines - AIS
ANNEX 18 - Steering Gear, Heading & Track Control Systems
ANNEX 19 - HSC Code- Navigational Equipment
MGN 63 - Use of Electronic Aids to Navigation
MGN 285 - Electronic Charts - risk assessment
MGN 293 - Electronic Charts - Paper chart alternatives for Fishing Vessels
MGN 321 - AIS on double-ended passenger ships
MGN 324 - Use of VHF and AIS at sea
MSC/Circ.982- Guidelines on Ergonomic Criteria for Bridge Equipment and Layout
MSC.1/Circ.1224 - Unified interpretations of SOLAS Chapter V

8.

Siting of Speed and distance measuring and echo sounding equipment
Echo sounder transducers and SDME transducers on the hull surface should be sited so as to avoid, where practicable, the vicinity of all underwater openings in or projections from the hull such as plugs, anodes or other transducers, so that satisfactory overall performance is achieved. Further information on siting of transducers is contained in ANNEX 20 - Inspection and Survey of Navigational Equipment

9.

Siting of Bridge Displays
Bridge displays should be sited, where practicable, in a position to facilitate easy access and viewing and where the effect of any lighting necessary for the equipment does not interfere with the keeping of an effective lookout. Further guidance is given in MSC/Circ.982.

10.

Siting of Radar Antennae
Radar performance is critically dependant upon the siting of the antenna. Further details on siting of radar antennae may be found in ANNEX 20 - Inspection and Survey of Navigational Equipment

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