IMO
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The International
Maritime Organization (IMO) is a London-based United Nations
organization whose decisions have treaty status in the U.S.
and most of the world. The predominant IMO treaty document affecting
maritime communications and other marine electronics is the
Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention. Chapter IV of that
Convention, the chapter defining telecommunications requirements
on passenger ships and ships greater than 300 tons on international
voyages, was amended in 1988, replacing what primarily had been
a Morse telegraphy based system with newer, more modern means
of communications. That system, comprising satellite and terrestrial
radiocommunications, is collectively know as the Global
Maritime Distress & Safety System, or GMDSS. Since SOLAS
Chapter IV defines an international maritime safety telecommunications
system having treaty status, that chapter has become the architect
for maritime telecommunications used by vessels not regulated
by SOLAS, such as recreational boaters and commercial fishing
vessels. Although GMDSS was designed primarily for ships subject
to the SOLAS Convention, it will also affect safety telecommunications
of all vessels.
SOLAS Chapter V (pdf) describes navigation
safety requirements for governments as well as all ships (except
warships) on all voyages. Changes to SOLAS Chapter V, including
requirements for carriage of global navigation satellite systems
such as GPS, electronic chart requirements, ship transponders, and
maritime safety broadcast requirements, etc., are being considered
now.
The U.S. Coast Guard represents the U.S. at meetings of the IMO.
The IMO committee responsible for maritime safety is, not surprisingly,
the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC). The two subcommittees under
the MSC having responsibility for maritime communications and radionavigation,
the Radiocommunications and Search and Rescue (COMSAR) Subcommittee
and the Safety of Navigation (NAV) Subcommittee, meet about once
per year. The Coast Guard holds public advisory meetings, called
Shipping Coordination Committee and Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS)
working group meetings, in Washington DC in preparation for the
IMO meetings in London. The SOLAS WG meeting for Radiocommunications
and Search and Rescue generally meets monthly, on the third Thursday
of the month. The MSC Shipping Coordination Committee meeting and
the SOLAS WG for Navigation generally meets less frequently. These
meetings are open to the public. You may contact the IMO directly
for copies of conventions, codes, Assembly Resolutions and other
information.
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