SUB-COMMITTEE ON
RADIOCOMMUNICATIONS AND SEARCH
AND RESCUE
4th session
Agenda item 6
COMSAR 4/6
12 April 1999
Original: ENGLISH
SATELLITE SERVICES (INMARSAT AND COSPAS-SARSAT)
Inmarsat-C Vessel Monitoring Systems (VMSs) and their impact upon SAR
Note by Australia
SUMMARY
Executive summary: An information paper updating the situation with VMS in Australia.
Action to be taken: Paragraph 6
Related documents: COMSAR 3/9/15, COMSAR 3/14, paragraph 9.27
Introduction
1 At COMSAR 3 Australia raised the issue of Inmarsat-C transceivers being fitted for vessel monitoring system (VMS) purposes without terminal equipment (printers and/or display monitors) (COMSAR 3/9/15). This document seeks to update the situation in Australia.
Action post COMSAR 3
2 Australia wishes to acknowledge the prompt actions taken by Inmarsat following the discussion of this issue at COMSAR 3. Australia was able to use the documentation produced by Inmarsat to highlight to users the preferred installation requirements. The attention and focus brought to the issue has effectively reduced the number of distress alerts from VMS installations to a minimal level. Additionally, most users have indicated their intention to progressively fit full Inmarsat-C systems.
3 What might have turned into a potentially un-recoverable situation now appears to be manageable.
4 Attention is now focused upon harnessing VMS systems as potential SAR assets by requesting access to the positional data. The idea is to employ the fisheries' surface pictures in a similar way to a normal Ship Reporting System. There is sensitivity about releasing fishing data and Australia awaits approval from the relevant Fishery Management Committees. It is expected that the information will be released only when relevant to a particular SAR activity. The greatest potential use will be when the subject of a SAR is also a fishing vessel.
Conclusion
5 Prompt action by Inmarsat and others has largely resolved the VMS distress alert problem in Australia. Attention is now focused upon the potential to improve the surface picture by adding VMS data to that of other Ship Reporting Systems.
Action requested of the Sub-Committee
6 The Sub-Committee is invited to note the information provided.
