Ref.T2/7.01 MSC/Circ.883
14December1998
1 The Sub-CommitteeonRadiocommunicationsandSearchandRescue(COMSAR)atitsfirst, secondandthirdsessions(1996to1998)consideredissuesrelatingtotheuseofsatelliteservicesasan integralpartofshipcommunicationsand,inparticular,inthecontextoftheimpendingimplementationdate
of1February1999fortheGlobalMaritimeDistressandSafetySystem(GMDSS),asmandatedbySOLAS
chapterIV.
2 During this period, the Organization was informed by Inmarsat of the increasing number of InmarsatShipEarthStation(SES)ownerswhohavefailedtheirobligationtopayforservicesprovidedin respectofchargeablecommunicationsemanatingfromSESs.
3 TheOrganizationwasalsoinformedbyInmarsatthatrespectiveterminalsmaybebarredfrom usingtheapplicablesatelliteservicesprovidedbyInmarsatandofthespecialarrangementsthathavebeen putinplacetominimizedisruptiontosafety-relatedcommunicationsfromanySESconcerned.
4 TheMaritimeSafetyCommittee,atitssixty-ninthsession(11-20May1998),beinginformedby
theCOMSARSub-CommitteethatInmarsatSESs,whichserveasthemainGMDSSequipment,maybe barredfromusingallInmarsatcommunicationservices,includingthoserelatedtotheGMDSS,withthe exceptionofdistressprioritycommunications,undersuchcircumstances,expressedseriousconcernfor
thesafetyofsuchashipifitweretosailwhilsttheterminalisbarred.
5 TheCommittee,atitsseventiethsession(7-11December1998),notingthatinformationonbarred terminals may be made available by Inmarsat to appropriate national authorities, invited Member GovernmentstoencouragenationalauthoritiestoconfirmtheoperationalstatusofInmarsatterminals appearingonarelevantsafetycertificatewhenundertakinginspections,asappropriate.
6 MemberGovernmentsarealsoinvitedtotakeallnecessaryactionstoensurethatanysuchshipwill bepreventedfromsailingifitsseaworthinessisaffected,particularlywithregardtonon-compliancewith SOLAS chapterIV,bythenon-availabilityofthesatelliteterminal(s)necessaryforittoperformthe required communicationservices.