LONG RANGE IDENTIFICATION AND TRACKING (LRIT)

A FLAG STATE PERSPECTIVE

Presented By: Rear Admiral Robert C. North

Regulatory Advisor to the

Marshall Islands Registry

OVERVIEW – MARSHALL ISLANDS

50,188,785 GT

2059 Ships – 45% tankers by tonnage

Predominant ownership in United States, Greece, Germany, Norway

Quality focus

BACKGROUND

Maritime security origin

Resolution MSC.202(81), adopted 19 May 2006 amends SOLAS, Chapter V, Regulation 19-1

Enters into force 1 January 2008 with a Transitional Period expiring 30 June 2009

Resolution MSC.263(84), Performance Standards and Functional Requirements

RESOLUTION MSC.263(84)

Provides performance standards and functional requirements, including:

Application Service Providers (ASP)

LRIT Data Centers – International, Regional, Cooperative and National

International Data Exchange (IDE)

LRIT Data Distribution Plan

System security and performance

LRIT Coordinator

Guidance to Administrations, Contracting Governments and SAR services

LRIT BASIC CONCEPT

NATIONAL, REGIONAL, COOPERATIVE OR INTERNATIONAL DATA CENTER

INTERNATIONAL DATA EXCHANGE –

ESSENTIAL COMPONENT

FLAG STATE – SHIP IN ANY LOCATION

COASTAL STATE - SHIPS WITHIN 1000 NM OF COAST

PORT STATE – SHIPS ENROUTE THEIR PORTS

SHIP ID, LOCATION,DATE, TIME

GOVERNMENTS PAY CAPITAL COSTUSER FEE FOR DATA

$$$

ASPDATA DISTRIBUTION

PLAN

SAR SERVICES

LRIT DATA COORDINATOR

APPLICATION

Passenger ship, any GT

Cargo ships of 300 GT and upwards

Self-propelled MODUs not on location

Commercial yachts of 300 GT and upwards

Commercial fishing vessels, any GT, any area of operation

BASIC COMPLIANCE DATES

Ships constructed before 31 December 2008 phased in at first radio survey, after 31 December 2008 for ships operating in sea areas A1, A2 and A3. 1 July 2009 for ships in A4

Ships constructed after 31 December 2008 must be compliant when placed in service

Ships fitted with AIS operating exclusively in sea area A1 are exempt

REQUIREMENTS FOR SHIP CERTIFICATION

There are number of steps in the process for any ship to be certified for LRIT participation, including:

Equipment type approval

Equipment conformance testing

Annual Radio Survey

Copy of Conformance Test Report on board, Record of Equipment amended

At this point, most ships should be certified or well on their way

ESTABLISHMENT OF DATA CENTERS

Data Centers should have been developed, tested and fully established by 30 June 2009

Numerous national, regional and cooperative data centers now established but many Administrations not associated with a Data Center

PSC implications?

MARSHALL ISLANDS LRIT IMPLEMENTATION

National Data Center established in 2007 and tracking begun

Provided trials and testing opportunity for IMO

Worked with United States to establish interim Data Exchange

LRIT information used for a broad range of purposes

Shipowner guidance online at: www.register-iri.com

MARSHALL ISLANDS OFFICES

BENEFITS OF LRIT

As a Flag Administration, layout of higher security risk geographic areas, worldwide, and associated ship notification

As a Port State, more effective management of Marshall Islands port State control activity, including security risk assessment

As a Coastal State, to monitor coastal traffic for safety, security and environmental protection needs

Locating overdue ships Reducing risk of piracy attacks As a Flag Administration, locating ships for Flag and Class compliance

surveys – safety, security, environment

LRIT

OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVEMENT

Creation of a permanent IDE

Reassessment of the IDC concept

Elimination of duplication of LRIT information in AIS coastal and port areas

SUMMARY

LRIT was developed as a tool to manage

maritime security risk and incorporated into SOLAS

In addition to security it serves a range of potential safety and environmental functions

LRIT functions well today and continues to evolve as IMO, SOLAS Parties and Coordinator plan for the future

Marshall Islands has been fully involved from the beginning as both a flag State and a SOLAS Party and remains so today

THANK YOU

THANK YOU