It may also be recalled, and this has been overlooked up to now, that SOLAS provides (in regulation IV/4.1.7) that every ship, while at sea, must be capable of receiving and transmitting MSI. Such transmission of MSI by a ship cannot be likened to the danger messages in regulation V/2.
2 In fact, the major cause of the problem described above lies in the definition of "MSI service" in resolution A.705 (17) and in circular COMSAR/Circ.15, which replaced the concept of "other urgent safety-related messages" derived from the definition of MSI in SOLAS by "distress alerts".
It is hard to understand why distress alerts, which have always been at the top of the maritime communications "hierarchy", have been relegated to third place. It is not a matter of prestige, but highlighting that there is a big difference, which all captains must keep in mind, between an alert, which is legally binding on the captain to intervene (under SOLAS regulation V/10) and information, although some information may be vital to the ship. In addition, it is a case of being consistent with the traditional presentation so as not to lead captains into error.
That is why it resolution A.705 (17) might be regarded as mistaken in taking a position which means that in following the documents, and sometimes at different places within the same document, the definition of MSI wavers between one related to the nature of the content of the communications (safety information addressed to the captain) and a definition related to the means of communication used NAVTEX or SafetyNET), regardless of the content of the message.
3 The draft Assembly resolution in annex A proposes a new definition of "MSI service" in resolution A.705 (17).
The COMSAR circular, a draft of which is contained in annex B, is intended to clarify the situation in particular for the MRCC personnel and services which broadcast MSI, as well as seafarers, by stating that alerts are never MSI, and by specifying situations related to search and rescue, other than alerts, which may give rise to MSI.
It corrects certain documents, in particular COMSAR/Circ.15.
Action requested of the Sub-Committee
4 The Sub-Committee is invited to approve in principle the proposals contained in this document.
If it does so approve, the Sub-Committee is then invited:
- to request the Maritime Safety Committee to propose to the Assembly the draft resolution amending resolution A.705 (17) contained in annex A;
- to adopt the draft COMSAR circular contained in annex B;
- to request Inmarsat to propose a correction to the International SafetyNET Manual.
