Maintenance of Watch on VHF Channel 16 after 1 February 1999
1 The Sub-Committee on Radiocommunication and Search and Rescue,
at its second session (27 to 31 January 1997), considered the matter of maintenance of
watch on VHF Channel 16 after 1 February 1999.
2 The Sub-Committee has decided that a listening watch on Channel
16 will no longer be mandatory for ships subject to the SOLAS Convention after 1 February
1999.
3 In respect of the use of Channel 16 by coast stations and ships
not subject to the SOLAS Convention, the Sub-Committee urges administrations to:
.1 encourage the installation of GMDSS equipment well before 1
February 1999 on their ships and, in particular, to:
.1.1 make owners of non-SOLAS vessels aware of the need to fit
GMDSS equipment appropriate to the area in which they sail in order to ensure that the
shore-based authorities will be able to make an effective response to an emergency at sea;
.1.2 provide advice on equipment compatibility in particular on
the feasibility of conversion as opposed to new purchase; and
.1.3 provide information on any additional certification
requirements needed to operate GMDSS equipment;
.2 study the degree of compliance with GMDSS requirements among
their ships, recognizing that there will be a surge in demand for GMDSS equipment prior to
1 February 1999 and that it may not be feasible for all ships not subject to SOLAS to be
fitted with appropriate GMDSS equipment by 1 February 1999;
.3 make appropriate arrangements to continue a listening watch at
coast stations under their control if warranted by the number of vessels without an
adequate GMDSS installation in order to:
.3.1 provide adequate ship-to-shore distress alerting facilities
for non-GMDSS ships and
.3.2 discourage the use of non-approved means of communication
(e.g. mobile telephones) which offer no possibility of effective search and rescue or
on-scene communications;
.4 co-operate on a bilateral and/or regional basis to harmonize
their provisions where Channel 16 is retained for watchkeeping on ships and at coast
stations in order to minimize incompatibilities, noting for example the difficulties that
may arise on change of ownership or for visiting ships; and
