EXPLANATORY NOTES ON IMSO DOCUMENTS TO MSC 101 D OCUMENT MSC 101/11/5 Comments on document MSC 101/11 This document p roposes amendments to resolution A.705(17) additional to those proposed by the Chairs of IHO World-Wide Navigational Warning Service Sub-Committee (WWNWS-SC) and Joint WMO-UNESCO IOC , which will be considered by MSC 101 according to the request at paragraph 2.1.16 of document MSC 101/11, summarizing the report of NCSR 6 . IMSO firmly believes that the proposal for deletion of IMSO role f ro m this resolution after 28 years of practice is unreasonable and will create a gap on the provision of MSI and SAR related messages . Ever since GMDSS was established, IMSO has been ensuring the successful provisioning of MSI and SAR related messages by addressing, among others, “cases of difficulty” linked to IMSO’s oversight role on subject matters such as satellite service outages, changes in service area coverage as satellite services migrate from one satellite generation to another, etc. No adequate reasoning has accompanied the proposed removal of the phrase “cases of difficulty” and the IMSO name from resolution A.705(17) , nor has guidance been provided on how to handle the resulting gap in responsibilities . Therefore, IMSO has submitted the se additional proposals because it feels that the revisions as initially proposed on resolution A.705(17), particularly at clause 6.2 under document NCSR 6/9/3 , fail to take account of the oversight role of the IMSO , through which it has been contributing to the overall coordination o n transmissions of maritime safety information and SAR related information over the systems of recognized mobile satellite service providers in the GMDSS ensuring the reliability and integrity . Going beyond the limited space allowed in a comment submission, IMSO would like to share with you some further points in support our proposals. We would like to remove any confusion over wording and intentions regarding what is meant by "coordination" and "cases of difficulty" when applied to the management of MSI and SAR related messages. IMSO believes the resolution originally contained “coordination” in an ‘optimum’ level/context that included IMSO responsibilities on how the recognized satellite service providers (Inmarsat now and other providers in future, e.g., Iridium and BeiDou), deliver Enhanced Group Call (EGC) services to end-users, taking into account any technical issues that might affect the actual transmission of messages over the networks of the satellite service providers. When the issue was discussed earlier during NCSR 6 , IMSO's concerns as expressed in document NCSR 6/9/10, were mistakenly seen by some delegations as IMSO trying to encroach on IHO’s role in coordinating the content of EGC messages. IMSO now wishes to clarify through this document ( MSC 101/11/5 ) that its intention is to address only those difficulties of a technical nature that may hamper or disturb the transmission of EGC broadcasts over the networks of recognized satellite service providers in the GMDSS. Our hope is that d ocument MSC 101/11/5 will be the least contentious way of introducing these additional changes to resolution A.705(17) at IMO and seeks the support of your administration in doing so, given that the interventions of several /majority of delegations during NCSR 6 recognized the positive role of IMSO in maintaining the quality and availability of the transmission s of EGC broadcasts since the adoption of resolution A.705(17) in 1991 . However, if discussions at MSC 101 on all the proposed amendments to resolution A.705/17) become protracted or show that further clarification is needed on the responsibility of the various aspects of coordinating, promulgating and transmitting EGC broadcasts of MSI and SAR related information, then deferring the subject for further consideration at NCSR 7 would be a sensible outcome. DOCUMENT MSC 101/21/19 Proposal for a new output for a revision of resolution A.1001(25) on Criteria for the provision of mobile satellite communication systems in the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) This document proposes a new output for the Sub-Committee on Navigation, Communications and Search and Rescue (NCSR) for a revision of resolution A.1001(25) on Criteria for the provision of mobile satellite communication systems in the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS). Besides IMSO, this proposal is co-sponsored by the administrations of Antigua and Barbuda, Brazil, Islamic Republic of Iran, Jamaica, Nigeria, Peru, Russian Federation and Vanuatu. With the application by Iridium to become a recognized satellite service provider in the GMDSS already approved, and further applications expected, it is now urgent to revise resolution A.1001(25). IMSO anticipated this situation in 2011 and advised COMSAR 15 accordingly, such that COMSAR 15/WP.5 records at the Working Group to have noted that “the current requirements of SOLAS chapter IV related specifically to Inmarsat and, in particular, to the satellite coverage of Inmarsat” (see paragraph 3.19) . It was further noted that “these specific references to Inmarsat in the Convention might need to be addressed before including additional satellite system providers” , but that “nothing would prevent the application and study process from starting while the SOLAS Convention was under review” . Moreover, it was also anticipated at paragraph 3.20 that “The inclusion of additional satellite system providers in the GMDSS could involve satellite coverage other than that defined for the existing sea areas which would then impact on interworking, carriage requirements, promulgation of MSIs and SAR coordination” . In contrast, when considering the question of revising resolution A.1001(25), NCSR 4 noted only the view that revision of resolution A.1001(25) could wait until after revising SOLAS chapter IV. IMSO therefore took up the issue again during NCSR 5, reiterating the urgent need to start the revision process (documents NCSR 5/14/6 and NCSR 5/14/2, paragraph 14, refer), with the result that NCSR 5 advised MSC 99 that , in particular, a future revision of resolution A.1001(25) should accommodate future GMDSS satellite service providers, and that work on amendments to resolution A.1001(25) would require a new output (document NCSR 5/23, paragraphs 14.57 to 14.59, refer). The need for timely action is reinforced by the recent advice of NCSR 6, contained in annex 1 to document NCSR6/WP.5, that a revision of the resolution A.1001(25) is required in response to the new multi-provider environment for Enhanced Group call (EGC) broadcasting of MSI and SAR related information. IMSO thanks the co-sponsors for giving support to document MSC 101/21/19 and the need for a new work item to carry out the revision of resolution A:1001(25). IMSO would encourage all other recipients to give their support to this initiative during MSC 101. ___________
Teema: FW: Documents to MSC 101 on IMSO working arrangements
Manused: MSC 101 Explanatory Notes (7 May).docx
From: Moin Ahmed <
[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, June 09, 2019 9:12 AM
To: Rene Arikas <
[email protected]>
Cc: John Shaw <
[email protected]>
Subject: FW: Documents to MSC 101 on IMSO working arrangements
Captain Rene Arikas,
Director General
Estonian Maritime Administration
Valge4 / 11413 Tallin
Estonia
Dear Director General,
It was a good opportunity to discuss with you on last Friday about IMSO submissions to MSC 101. In this
regard, may I refer to our (IMSO) documents MSC 101/11/5 and MSC 101/21/19 have been submitted
to MSC 101 concerning IMSO�s working arrangements. In order to respond to any question and also to
provide clarity on the documents, we would be prepared to meet you or your delegation on Monday 10
June at 0845 hours Room no. 2 (2nd floor) at IMO building. We have attached some explanatory notes
(with links to documents) for your ready reference. Since IMSO has submitted these documents based
on its professional judgment, to protect the interest of its Member States, in particular to ensure
safety of life at sea, we are hoping that they would be supported by our Member States and SOLAS
parties.
With warmest regards and best wishes,
Moin Ahmed (Capt.)
Director General
International Mobile Satellite Organization
4 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7SR, UK
e:
[email protected]| w: imso.org | t: +44(0) 20 3970 1061