IMO documents related to shipborne radiocommunication and navigation equipment and systems
Performance standards constitute the minimum performance thresholds, expectations and requirements for equipment or devices designed for a specific purpose. Throughout the years, a number of performance standards have been adopted by the Organization for shipborne radiocommunications and navigational equipment and systems specified under chapters IV (Radiocommunications) and V (Safety of navigation) of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), 1974.
These performance standards are consolidated in an IMO publication entitled "Performance standards for shipborne radiocommunications and navigational equipment and systems", which includes references to the following list of documents because of their relevance to shipborne radiocommunication and navigation equipment and systems.
| REFERENCE | (dd/mm/yy) WHERE APPLICABLE | TITLE |
|---|---|---|
| COM/Circ.105 + Corr.1 | 6 August 1991, 21 August 1992 (Corr.1) | Clarification of certain provisions of the 1988 SOLAS amendments for the GMDSS |
| COM/Circ.125 | 20 February 1995 | Recommendations on the use of batteries for two-way VHF radiotelephone apparatus |
| COMSAR.1/Circ.32/Rev.3 | 13 December 2024 | Harmonization of GMDSS requirements for radio installations on board SOLAS ships |
| SN1/Circ.227, as amended by SN.1/Circ.245, + Corr.1 + Corr.2 | 6 January 2003 (amended 15 December 2004), 10 December 2008 (Corr.1), 27 April 2017 (Corr.2) | Guidelines for the installation of a shipborne Automatic Identification System (AIS) |
| SN.1/Circ.243/Rev.1 | 23 May 2014 | Amended guidelines for the presentation of navigational-related symbols, terms and abbreviations |
| SN.1/Circ.243/Rev.2 + Corr.1 | 14 June 2019, 11 November 2020 (Corr.1) | Guidelines for the presentation of navigational-related symbols, terms and abbreviations |
| SN.1/Circ.246 | 17 June 2005 | Recommended means for extracting stored data from voyage data recorders (VDRs) and simplified voyage data recorders (S-VDRs) for investigation Authorities |
| SN.1/Circ.265 | 19 October 2007 | Guidelines on the application of SOLAS regulation V/15 to INS, IBS and bridge design |
| SN.1/Circ.271 | 22 May 2008 | Guidelines for the installation of shipborne radar equipment |
| SN.1/Circ.288 | 2 June 2010 | Guidelines for bridge equipment and systems, their arrangement and integration (BES) |
| SN.1/Circ.289 | 2 June 2010 | Guidance on the use of AIS Application-Specific-Messages |
| SN.1/Circ.290 | 2 June 2010 | Guidance for the presentation and display of AIS Application-Specific Messages information |
| SN.1/Circ.322 | 24 June 2013 | Information on the display of AIS-SART, AIS Man Overboard and EPIRB-AIS devices |
| MSC.1/Circ.862 | 22 May 1998 | Clarifications of certain requirements in IMO performance standards for GMDSS equipment |
| MSC.1/Circ.1039/Rev.1 | 18 October 2021 | Guidelines for shore-based maintenance of emergency position-indicating radio beacons (EPIRBs) |
| MSC.1/Circ.1040/Rev.2 | 18 October 2021 | Guidelines on annual testing of emergency position-indicating radio beacons (EPIRBs) |
| MSC.1/Circ.1210/Rev.1 | 21 November 2014 | Guidance on Cospas-Sarsat International 406 MHz Beacon Registration Database |
| MSC.1/Circ.1222/Rev.1 | 14 June 2019 | Guidelines on annual testing of Voyage Data Recorders (VDR) and simplified Voyage Data Recorders (S-VDR) |
| MSC.1/Circ.1252 | 22 October 2007 | Guidelines on annual testing of the Automatic Identification System (AIS) |
| MSC.1/Circ.1389 | 7 December 2010 | Guidance on procedures for updating shipborne navigation and communication equipment |
| MSC.1/Circ.1460/Rev.5 | 27 January 2025 | Guidance on the validity of radiocommunications equipment installed and used on ships |
| MSC.1/Circ.1474 | 23 May 2014 | Guidance on the bridge naviational watch alarm system (BNWAS) auto function |
| MSC.1/Circ.1503/Rev.2 | 28 November 2022 | ECDIS-Guidance for Good Practice |
| MSC.1/Circ.1575 | 16 June 2017 | Guidelines for shipborne position, navigation and timing (PNT) data processing |
| MSC.1/Circ.1593 | 25 May 2018 | Interim guidelines for the harmonized display of navigation information received via communication equipment |
| MSC.1/Circ.1609 | 14 June 2019 | Guidelines for the standardization of user interface design for navigation equipment |
| MSC.1/Circ.1612 | 14 June 2019 | Guidance for navigation and communication equipment intended for use on ships operating in polar waters |
| MSC.1/Circ.1645 | 16 May 2022 | Guidance for the reception of maritime safety information and search and rescue related information as required in the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) |
| MSC.1/Circ.1676 | 30 June 2023 | Delays affecting the availability of new GMDSS equipment compliant with the revised performance standards set out in resolutions MSC.511(105), MSC.512(105) and MSC.513(105) |
| Resolution A.157(ES.IV) | 27 November 1968 | Recommendation on the use and testing of shipborne navigational equipment |
| Resolution A.615(15) | 4 January 1988 | Radar beacons and transponders |
| Resolution A.696(17) | 25 November 1991 | Type approval of satellite emergency position-indicating radio beacons (EPIRBs) operating in the Cospas-Sarsat system |
| Resolution A.1106(29) | 14 December 2015 | Revised guidelines for the onboard operational use of shipborne automatic identification systems (AIS) |