GUIDELINES FOR THE LICENSING OF SHIPBORNE LONG RANGE IDENTIFICATION AND TRACKING (LRIT) EQUIPMENT
1979, and in conformity with the 1974 International Convention for the
Safety of Life at Sea (SO- LAS), as amended, the National Telecommunications Commission (Commission) hereby promulgates the
following guidelines for the licensing of shipborne LRIT equipment in
accordance with Chapter V/Regulation 19-1 of SOLAS Convention.
Section 1. Coverage. This Memorandum Circular shall apply to all Philippine registered ships engaged in international voyages such as:
1.1 Passenger ships, including high-speed passenger craft;
1.2 Cargo ships, including high-speed craft of 300 gross tonnage and upwards; and
1.3 Mobile offshore drilling units.
Section 2. Mandatory Dates. All ships as specified
herein below shall be fitted with a system to automatically transmit the
information specified in Section 3 as follows:
2.1 Ships constructed on or after 31 December 2008;
2.2 Ships constructed before 31 December 2008 and certified for operations:
2.2.1 In sea areas A1 and A2, as defined in regulations IV/2.1.12 and IV/2.1.13; or
2.2.2 In sea areas A1, A2 and A3, as defined in regulations IV/2.1.12, IV/2.1.13 and IV/2.1.14;
not later than the first survey of the radio installation after 31 December 2008;
2.2.3Ships constructed before 31 December 2008 and certified for
operations in sea areas A1, A2, A3 and A4, as defined in regulations
IV/2.1.12, IV/2.1.13, IV/2.1.14 and IV/2.1.15, not later than the first
survey of the radio installation after 01 July 2009. However, these
ships shall comply with the provisions of subparagraph 2.2.2 above
whilst they operate within sea areas A1, A2 and A3.Ships operating exclusively within coastal sea area A1 and which
are fitted with an Automatic Identification System (AIS) shall be exempt
from the coverage of this provision.
Section 3. Technical Parameters and Performance Standards
3.1 Subject to the provisions of Section 2 above, ships shall
automatically transmit the following long-range identification and
tracking information:3.1.1 The identity of the ship;
3.1.2 The position of the ship (latitude and longitude); and
3.1.3 The date and time of the position provided.3.2 In addition to the general requirements contained in Assembly
Resolution A.694(17) on the Recommendations on General Requirements for
Shipborne Radio Equipment which forms part of the Global Maritime
Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) and Electronic Navigational Aids
(reference e), the shipborne equipment should be compliant with the
minimum requirements as follows:3.2.1 Shall be capable of automatically and without human
intervention transmitting the ship’s LRIT information at 6-hour
intervals to an LRIT Data Center;
3.2.2 Shall be capable of being configured remotely to transmit LRIT information at variable intervals;
3.2.3 Shall be capable of transmitting information following receipt of polling commands;
3.2.4 Must be able to interface directly to the shipborne global
navigation satellite system (GNSS) equipment or must have internal
positioning capability;
3.2.5 Shall be supplied with energy from the main and emergency source of electrical power; and
3.2.6 Shall be tested for electromagnetic compatibility taking into
account the recommendations developed by the International Maritime
Organization (IMO).3.3 In addition to the provisions specified in Section 3.2 above,
the shipborne equipment should provide the functionalities specified in
the Table below:
Parameter Comments Shipborne Equipment Identifier The identifier used by the shipborne equipment Positional Data The GNSS position (latitude and longitude) of the ship (based on the WGS84 datum). Position: The equipment should be capable of
transmitting GNSS position (longitude and latitude) of the ship (based
on WGS84 datum) as prescribed by SOLAS regulations V/19-1, without
human interaction on board the ship.On-demand[1]
position reports: The equipment should be capable of responding to a
request to transmit LRIT information on demand without human interaction
onboard the ship, irrespective of where the ship is located.Pre-scheduled[2] position reports:
The equipment should be capable of being remotely configured to
transmit LRIT information at intervals ranging from a minimum of 15
minutes to periods of 6 hours to the LRIT Data Center, irrespective of
where the ship is located and without human interaction on board the
ship.Time Stamp 1 The date and time[3] associated with the GNSS position. The equipment should be capable of transmitting the time
associated with the GNSS position with each transmission of LRIT
information.3.4 The shipborne equipment should transmit the LRIT information
using a communication system which provides coverage in all areas where
the ship operates.
Section 4. Equipment Conformance Test
4.1 The Conformance Test should be conducted by any IMO recognized
Application Service Provider (ASP) or by any testing ASP appointed by
the Administration.4.2 On satisfactory completion of the Conformance Tests, the ASP
conducting the Test should issue a Conformance Test Report on behalf of
the Administration, and Certification for licensing purposes.4.3 The Conformance Test should be conducted within a period of
three (3) months prior to the date on which a ship would need to
demonstrate compliance with the requirements of Regulation V/19-1.4.4 Stand alone shipborne LRIT terminals must be initially
activated by the Flag’s authorized Point Service Activation (PSA) entity.
Section 5. Licensing Requirements
5.1 Philippine registered ships that are mandated to be equipped
and fitted with LRIT system shall be required to secure necessary
permits and/or licenses as specified hereunder:For Stand Alone LRIT Terminal
5.1.1 Permit to Purchase;
5.1.2 Permit to Possess/Construct;
5.1.3 Radio Station License;
5.1.4 Valid General Operator Certificate (GOC);
5.1.5 Certificate of Activation by the PSA; and
5.1.6 Certification and Conformance Test Result issued by recognized ASPFor Existing INMARS AT – C or Mini – C
5.1.7 Certification and Conformance Test Result issued by recognized ASP
5.2 Application forms are available and can be secured at the
Radio Regulations and Licensing Department/Safety and Special Radio
Services Division of this Commission.
Section 6. Fees and Charges
Filing Fee – P180.00 per station
Permit to Purchase – P360.00 per station
Permit to Possess – P360.00 per station
Construction Permit – P1200.00 per station
Annual License Fee – P1440.00 per station/year
Annual Inspection Fee – P1200.00 per station/year
Section 7. Administrative Sanctions. Any person, company or
corporation found violating any provisions of this Circular, after due
notice and hearing, shall be imposed appropriate administrative and
penal sanctions for each violation in accordance with existing laws,
rules and regulations as follows:
First Offense – PhP 5,000.00/offense
Second and Succeeding Offense/s – PhP10,000.00/offense
Section 8. Repealing Clause. All Memorandum Circulars,
Rules and Regulations and other issuances inconsistent with this
Memorandum Circular are hereby amended, repealed or modified
accordingly.
Section 9. Effectivity . This Circular shall take effect fifteen (15) days after publication in a newspaper of general
circulation and three (3) certified copies furnished the University of
the Philippines (UP) Law Center.
Adopted: 13 Jan. 2009
(SGD.) RUEL VILLA CANOBAS
Commissioner
(SGD.) JORGE V. SARMIENTO
Deputy Commissioner
(SGD.) JAIME M. FORTES, JR.
Deputy Commissioner
[1] On-demand position
report means transmission of LRIT information as a result of either
receipt of polling command or of emote configuration of the equipment so
as to transmit at interval other than the preset ones.
[2] Pre-scheduled position report means transmission of LRIT information at the preset transmit intervals.
[3] All times should be indicated as Universal Co-ordinated Time (UTC)