Regulation 18
Approval, surveys and performance standards of navigational systems and equipment and voyage data recorder
Regulation
1 Systems and equipment required to meet the requirements of regulations 19 and 20 shall be of a type approved by the Administration.
2 Systems and equipment, including associated back-up arrangements, where applicable, installed on or after 1 July 2002 to perform the functional requirements of regulations 19 and 20 shall conform to appropriate performance standards not inferior to those adopted by the Organization.*
* Refer to the following recommendations adopted by the Organization by the resolutions indicated:
Recommendations on general requirements for shipborne radio equipment forming part of the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) and for Electronic Navigational Aids (resolution A.694(17));
Recommendation on Performance Standards for gyro-compasses (resolution A.424(XI));
Recommendation on Performance Standards for radar equipment (resolution MSC.64(67), annex 4);
Performance Standards for automatic radar plotting aids (resolution A.823(19));
Recommendation on Performance Standards for Electronic Chart Display and Information Systems (ECDIS) (resolution A.817(19)), as amended by resolutions MSC.64(67), annex 5 and MSC.86(70),annex 4, as appropriate;
Recommendation on accuracy standards for navigation (resolution A.529(13));
Recommendation on Performance Standards for shipborne Loran-C and Chayka receivers (resolution A.818(19));
Recommendation on Performance Standards for shipborne global positioning system receiver equipment (resolution A.819(19)) as amended by resolution MSC.112(73);
Recommendation on Performance Standards for shipborne GLONASS receiver equipment (resolution MSC.53(66)) as amended by resolution MSC.113(73);
Recommendation on Performance Standards for shipborne DGPS and DGLONASS maritime radio beacon receiver equipment (resolution MSC.64(67), annex 2) as amended by resolution MSC.114(73);
Recommendation on Performance Standards for combined GPS/GLONASS receiver equipment (resolution MSC.74(69), annex 1) as amended by resolution MSC.115(73);
Recommendation on Performance Standards for heading control systems (resolution MSC.64(67), annex 3);
Recommendation on Performance Standards for track control systems (resolution MSC.74(69), annex 2);
Recommendation on Performance Standards for a universal shipborne automatic identification system (AIS) (resolution MSC.74(69), annex 3);
Recommendation on Performance Standards for echo-sounding equipment (resolution A.224(VII), as amended by resolution MSC.74(69), annex 4);
Recommendation on Performance Standards for devices to indicate speed and distance (resolution A.824(19)), as amended by resolution MSC.96(72);
Performance Standards for rate-of-turn indicators (resolution A.526(13));
Recommendation on unification of Performance Standards for navigational equipment (resolution A.575(14));
Recommendation on methods of measuring noise levels at listening posts (resolution A.343(IX));
Recommendation on Performance Standards for radar reflectors (resolution A.384(X));
Recommendation on Performance Standards for magnetic compasses (resolution A.382(X));
Recommendation on Performance Standards for daylight signalling lamps (resolution MSC.95(72));
Recommendation on Performance Standards for sound reception systems (resolution MSC.86(70), annex 1);
Recommendation on Performance Standards for marine transmitting magnetic heading devices (TMHDs)(resolution MSC.86(70), annex 2);
Recommendation on Performance Standards for voyage data recorders (VDRs) (resolution A.861(20));
Recommendations on Performance Standards for marine transmitting heading devices (THDs) (resolution MSC.116(73)).
3 When systems and equipment are replaced or added to on ships constructed before 1 July 2002, such systems and equipment shall, in so far as is reasonable and practicable, comply with the requirements of paragraph 2.
4 Systems and equipment installed prior to the adoption of performance standards by the Organization may subsequently be exempted from full compliance with such standards at the discretion of the Administration, having due regard to the recommended criteria adopted by the Organization. However, for an electronic chart display and information system (ECDIS) to be accepted as satisfying the chart carriage requirement of regulation 19.2.1.4, that system shall conform to the relevant performance standards not inferior to those adopted by the Organization in effect on the date of installation, or, for systems installed before 1 January 1999, not inferior to the performance standards adopted by the Organization on 23 November 1995 **.
5 The Administration shall require that the manufacturers have a quality control system audited by a competent authority to ensure continuous compliance with the type approval conditions. Alternatively, the Administration may use final product verification procedures where the compliance with the type approval certificate is verified by a competent authority before the product is installed on board ships.
6 Before giving approval to systems or equipment embodying new features not covered by this chapter, the Administration shall ensure that such features support functions at least as effective as those required by this chapter.
7 When equipment, for which performance standards have been developed by the Organization, is carried on ships in addition to those items of equipment required by regulations 19 and 20, such equipment shall be subject to approval and shall as far as practicable comply with performance standards not inferior to those adopted by the Organization.
8 The voyage data recorder system, including all sensors, shall be subjected to an annual performance test. The test shall be conducted by an approved testing or servicing facility to verify the accuracy, duration and recoverability of the recorded data. In addition, tests and inspections shall be conducted to determine the serviceability of all protective enclosures and devices fitted to aid location. A copy of the certificate of compliance issued by the testing facility, stating the date of compliance and the applicable performance standards, shall be retained on board the ship.
** Recommendation on Performance Standards for Electronic Chart Display and Information Systems (ECDIS) (resolution A.817(19)).
Go to Guidance
notes on Performance Standards and Type Approval
Summary
Navigational equipment items covered by Regulations 19 and 20 fitted after 1 July 2002 must meet the relevant IMO Performance Standards.
The Administration is responsible to ensure that equipment items meet the relevant standards and that quality procedures ensure final product verification.
Equipment fitted on ships built before 1 July 2002 must comply as closely as possible with the IMO Standards.
Equipment additional to the carriage requirements must be approved and comply as closely as possible with the IMO Standards.
VDRs and their sensors require and annual performance test.
Guidance Notes