NT/RADIO/ 01 /2009
No. 24-NT(1)/2007 |
Date : 22nd January, 2009 |
406 MHz EPIRB Shore Base Maintenance Contract (SBMC) & Annual Testing.
- The Maritime Safety Committee, vide its circular MSC/Circ.1039, approved the guidelines for shore-based maintenance of satellite EPIRBs, for the purpose of establishing standardized procedures and minimum levels of service for the testing and maintenance of satellite EPIRBs to ensure maximum reliability whilst minimizing the risk of false distress alerts.
- The Maritime Safety Committee, vide its circular MSC/Circ.1040, approved the guidelines on annual testing of 406 MHz satellite EPIRBs.
- Various shipping companies in past have reported that when the vessels are conducting SRC survey abroad they are asked for the shore-based maintenance for EPIRBs as per MSC Circ 1039 and Annual testing of 406 MHz EPIRB Certificate as per MSC Circ 1040.
- Copies of both the Shore Base Maintenance Contract (SBMC) and 406 MHz annual test record certificate are exhibited at Annex I & Annex II respectively.
- EPIRB Service stations in India are required to comply with the above and put the service station for inspections to IRS/MMDs by March 2009. Based on the recommendation of IRS/MMDs in line with MSC Circ 1039, to issue Shore-Based Maintenance of Satellite EPIRBs and in line with MSC Circ 1040 to issue annual test record certificate for 406 MHz EPIRB.
- Copies of MSC Circ 1039 and 1040 are attached as Annex III & IV respectively
- This issues with the approval of the Nautical Adviser to the Govt. of India.
Sd/-
[K. H. Mehta]
Sr. Radio Surveyor-
cum-ADG (GMDSS)