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Class News No. 40/2016

Page 1 of 2

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07 December 2016

Statutory Alert: Clarification of requirements

regarding Global Maritime Distress and Safety
System (GMDSS) high frequency narrow-band direct
printing
Applicability: All owners and operators of vessels equipped with high frequency
narrow-band direct printing equipment

This is further to Class News 12/2016, which advised on new channelling

arrangements for high frequency (HF) narrow-band direct printing (NBDP) in
accordance with MSC.1/Circ.1460.
At IMO meeting MSC 97, amendments to the Guidance on the validity of
radiocommunication equipment installed and used on ships (MSC.1/Circ.1460) were
proposed, with the intention of avoiding any unnecessary updates to equipment that
is already capable of operating NBDP, in accordance with the outcome of the World
Radiocommunication Conference 2012.
The IMO Committee has now agreed to amend the date in paragraph 6 of
MSC.1/Circ.1460 from 1 January 2017 to 1 January 2024. The amended circular will
be published as MSC.1/Circ.1460/Rev.1 Revised guidance on the validity of
radiocommunication equipment installed and used on ships. The revised paragraph
6 will state:
"To ensure GMDSS communication capability, HF radiocommunication equipment
capable of operating narrow-band direct printing (NBDP) should be updated so that
following the first radio survey after 1 January 2024 it meets the channelling
arrangements reflected in sections II and III of part B in appendix 17 of the RR."
The IMO approved the detailed review of the GMDSS, which suggests that, in the
future, NBDP will be removed as a carriage requirement.

http://info.lr.org/webmail/12702/661070032/a23645e4dbe91dcabb6f6fd76cf936d6

9/12/2016