Bulletin No.: 04/1999

Date (Y-M-D): 1999-03-25
 

Subject: Navigational Equipment Performance Standards

In recent years the International Maritime Organization ( IMO ) has developed many new performance standards for navigational equipment and has extensively amended many of the existing standards. As a result, most of the standards contained in the TC publication Standards for Navigating Appliances and Equipment (TP3668), which are incorporated into the Navigating Appliances and Equipment Regulations ( NAER ), are now out-of-date. Furthermore, ship owners may not be aware of the many new standards that now exist and apply to navigation equipment.

The attached table (Annex I) compares the IMO standards referenced in TP3668 with the current IMO performance standards. The table also lists standards for equipment not required by regulations to be carried. IMO standards are developed and amended, as necessary, to ensure the operational reliability and suitability of equipment for safety purposes. They take into account such things as advances in technology, operational capabilities, the marine environment and operator design considerations. The International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea ( SOLAS ) requires all shipborne navigational equipment to conform to appropriate performance standards not inferior to those adopted by IMO. The standards that apply are those that were valid when the equipment was installed.

Navigational equipment may also have a technical standard that has been developed by the International Electrotechnical Commission ( IEC ) or International Standards Organization ( ISO ). The IEC standards are important in that they support the applicable IMO standard and set out technical specifications, which allows testing and type approval.

Until such time as the Navigating Appliances and Equipment Regulations are amended accordingly, ship owners might wish to ensure that when installing new navigational equipment required by the NAER , the equipment meets as a minimum the current international standards. It is recommended that voluntarily fitted equipment also meet the appropriate international standards.

Information on where copies of the standards can be obtained is provided in Annex II.

Annex I

1. General requirements for electromagnetic compatibility for all electrical and electronic ship's equipment.
2. Standard is for equipment on high speed craft.
3. Amendment to existing standard.
4. Equipment not the subject of a carriage requirement.
5. Under development
6. Automatic Tracking Aids ( ATA )

Annex II

Information on IMO publications:

Publications Section, International Maritime Organization, 4 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7SR, United Kingdom. Telephone: 0171-735-7611, Fax no. 0171-587-3210, Internet http://www.imo.org (section: IMO Publication Catalogue) e-mail: info@imo.org

Information on the International Electrotechnical Commission ( IEC ) standards or International Standards Organization ( ISO ) :

Standard Council of Canada, 45 O'Connor Street, Ottawa, Ontario, K1P 6N7 tel: 613-238-3222, fax: 613-995-4564, http://www.scc.ca, e-mail: info@scc.ca

Global Info Centre, IHS Canada/Micromedia, 240 Catherine Street, Suite 305, Ottawa, Ontario, K2P 2G8, e-mail: gic@micromedia.on.ca, Phone: 613-237-4250, Fax: 613-237-4251, http://global.ihs.com

To add or change your address, contact us at: marinesafety@tc.gc.ca

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