2.21 The Working Group, taking into account MSC 69/INF.4/Add. 1, MSC 69/INF.7 and
MSC 69/INF.13, as instructed by MSC 69, considered the proposal by IEC (NAV 44/7/3) and agreed the draft performance standards for INS, given in annex 2, for adoption by the Committee.
Development of performance standards for sound reception systems
2.22 The Working Group considered the report of the Technical Working Group (NAV 44/7, paragraph 2.3 and annex 3) regarding the draft recommendation on performance standards for sound reception systems and the comments by Norway (NAV 44/7/12) and agreed the draft performance standards, given in annex 2, for adoption by the Committee.
Development of new performance standards for electromagnetic compasses
2.23 The Working Group noted that at its at its forty-third session, it had considered the draft recommendation on performance standards for marine electromagnetic compasses (NAV 43/7, annex 2) developed by the Technical Working Group at NAV 42 and the editorial comments by ISO (NAV 43/7/15) and agreed the draft performance standards, given in annex 21 of NAV 43/15, for adoption by the Committee.
2.24 The Working Group also noted that at MSC 69, CIRM (MSC 69/5/4) pointed out that a discrepancy exists between the text of the draft performance standard and the requirements of three equipment listed in the draft SOLAS regulation V/20, namely, a 9 GHz radar or other means, an electronic plotting aid or other means and an automatic identification system (AIS). These three equipment all require a transmission of a common reference of true (not magnetic) heading. The magnetic compass required by paragraph 1.4.1 of draft regulation V/20 would not necessarily be capable of providing the common reference of true heading and, moreover, it is not clear whether the draft performance standards for the electromagnetic compass (EMC) would also be applicable to a Transmitting Magnetic Compass (TMC), which could be carried in compliance with draft regulation V/20. If not, then separate performance standards for the TMC might be necessary. CIRM also recommended that the matter should be referred to NAV 44 and the work programme of the Sub-Committee be amended accordingly.
In view of CIRM's comments, MSC 69 decided not to approve the draft new Performance Standards for Marine Electromagnetic Compasses and, instead, instructed NAV 44 to consider document MSC 69/5/4,review, as necessary, the draft performance standards and also consider whether separate performance standards for Transmitting Magnetic Compasses were necessary.
2.25 The Working Group considered the CIRM proposal (MSC 69/5/4) and was of the opinion that a single performance standard could be prepared including all types of Transmitting Magnetic Heading Devices and agreed the draft performance standards, given in annex 2, for adoption by the Committee.
However, the Working Group was of the opinion that further study is required on the user requirements for heading systems and requested the Sub-Committee to invite the Committee to include a new item dealing with the matter with the completion date of this item for one session.
