Long Range Identification & Tracking (LRIT)

SOLAS Chapter V, makes LRIT mandatory for passenger ships, including high speed craft, cargo ships of 300GT and above and MODU (rigs). Ships must automatically report their identity, date & time and position 4 times daily, Ships constructed after 31st December 2008 must be fitted with LRIT equipment, Ships constructed before then will be phased in depending on their operational area. Ships approved for GMDSS sea areas A1 & A2 or A2 & A3 must comply no later than the first radio survey after 31st December 2008; Ships operating in Sea Area A4 must comply no later than the first radio survey after 1st July 2009. Ships operating only in sea area A1 and fitted with AIS are exempted.

St. Kitts & Nevis International Ship Registry (SKANReg) has contracted with the following Commercial Service Provider to operate our National Data Centre. Any questions regarding interaction with our National Data Centre, should be sent to Securewest with a cc to SKANReg.

Securewest International Inc
420 North Center Drive,
Bldg 11, Suite 206,
Norfolk, Virginia 23502
USA
Tel: +1 757 461 4343
Fax: + 1 757 461 8666
Contact; stuartflynn@securewest.com
Contact; stanayscue@securewest.com
website: www.securewest.com

Authorised Service Providers (ASP) for the conformance testing of ship's LRIT equipment are currently as follows:

PDF Forms - You will require Adobe Acrobat Reader to view PDF files.
 Adobe 
Pole Star Space Applications Ltd PolestarTesting (pdf)
Securewest International Inc SecurewestTesting (pdf)
Transas Telematics Ltd TranasTesting (pdf)
Fulcrum Maritime Authorised ASP Fulcrum (pdf)
Morsviazsputnik Authorised ASP Morsviazsputnik (pdf)
Instructions to ASP Regarding Conformance Testing Instructions to ASP's (pdf)

Ship owners should contact these ASP’s as soon as possible and certainly before 31st December 2008 for conformance testing of their LRIT equipment. The ASP will test the equipment. There will be a fee involved for this that will have to be paid by the Owners to the ASP. The ASP will issue a Conformance Certificate to the ship with a copy to us.

When the first Safety Radio Survey after 31st December 2008 is carried out, the Recognised Organisation (Class Society) will check that the equipment is operating satisfactorily and that it has been set up to transmit the position of the ship 4 times daily to Securewest as our National Data Centre. Therefore, at least 7 days before the date of the Safety Radio Survey, owners should send an email to Securewest advising them of the date of the Radio Survey so that Securewest can remotely turn on the LRIT equipment (Poll the equipment) and start it transmitting the ships position.

The same instructions apply for any ships flagging into SKANReg.

We will accept a Conformance Test carried out for another flag by one of the ASP’s we have authorised when a ship flags into SKANReg. If a ship coming onto our flag does not have a Conformance Test Certificate issued by one of our recognised ASP’s, the owner will have to get one from one of our authorised ASP’s.

It is most important that owners start testing their equipment as soon as possible. Equipment more than 7 years old is unlikely to be LRIT compliant and the chances of that between 5 and 7 years old being compliant is also low. Even equipment that is less than 5 years old may not be compliant with the performance standards of the LRIT requirements. There is currently no facility within SOLAS IV Regulation 19.1 to allow exemption from LRIT for a ship, though this is being discussed further at the 85th Session of The Maritime Safety Committee in December.

Pertinent IMO Documents on LRIT

Resolution on Performance Standards LRIT Resolution Annex 2 (pdf)
Interim Guidance on the Implementation of LRIT Interim Guidance (pdf)
Guidance on Survey & Certification & Compliance Guidance on Compliance (pdf)
Adoption of Amendments to the Performance Standards Amendment to Performance (pdf)
Adoption of Amendments to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea Amendment to Safety (pdf)