The report on the outline of the 44th IMO/NAV session
Report from Prof. Y. Iijima, the chairman of ISO/TC 8/SC 6
The 44th IMO/NAV session was held from July 20 to 24, 1998 and Prof. Iijima, SC 6 chairman, attended it, representing ISO. The following is a report on the outline of the session.
The principal agenda item of the IMO/NAV session this time was the amendment to SOLAS Chapter V (Safety of Navigation). The deliberation on it was not finalized at this session and it was agreed to continue its deliberation at the next 45th NAV session (to be held in September 1999).
The performance standards for navigational equipment, which were under another agenda item, were considered, and the following draft performance standards were put forward. They are expected to be approved at the IMO/MSC 70 which is due to be held in December.
(1) Performance standards for Marine Transmitting Magnetic Heading Device (TMHD)
(The previous schedule laid down to establish performance standards for electromagnetic compasses was changed.)
(2) Performance standards for Raster Chart Display Systems (RCDS)
(3) Performance standards for Integrated Navigation Systems
(4) Performance standards for sound reception systems
The consideration on the following items was left unfinished, to be taken up again at the next NAV session.
(1) Performance requirements for night vision equipment for HSC
(2) Guidance on chart datums and the accuracy of position on charts
(3) Daylight signaling lamps
(4) User requirements for heading systems
(5) World-wide radionavigation systems
Among these items, the proceedings of the ones which are most closely connected to SC 6 are described in the following.
1. Performance standards for marine electromagnetic compasses
(1) The subject standards were considered at NAV 43, and then proposed at MSC 69. With regard to electromagnetic compasses, CIRM pointed out the following：
(a) Navigational equipment (other than electromagnetic compasses), e.g. radar equipment, electronic plotting systems and automatic identification systems (AIS) requires input signals showing true bearings when bearing signals are provided.
(b) However, electromagnetic compasses can produce output of magnetic bearing signals, but can not produce output of true bearing signals. Accordingly, the NAV was requested to reconsider this point.
(2) An adhoc group for drafting was established in NAV 44, WG-B, with members of ISO, IEC and CIRM participating, and the related deliberation took place.
(3) The adhoc group considered, at first, the fundamental concept for compasses. They concluded it to be reasonable that, when compasses are to be used as a bearing sensor, they should be categorized into the following three (a),(b),(c), and examples. In line with this concept, electromagnetic compasses came to be thought as magnetic sensors.
