# UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

# DRAFT PRELIMINARY VIEWS ON WRC-11 

**AGENDA ITEM 1.10**: to examine the frequency allocation requirements
with regard to operation of safety systems for ships and ports and the
related regulatory provisions, in accordance with Resolution **357
(WRC-07)**

**ISSUES**: Resolution **357 (WRC-07)** was adopted at WRC-07 for the
consideration of additional regulatory provisions and spectrum
allocations for use by enhanced maritime safety systems for ships and
ports. The ITU-R is studying satellite detection of Automatic
Identification System (AIS) and communications to support the
identification and security of cargo containers entering and leaving
international ports and ships (noting WRC-11 AI 1.22). ITU-R studies
also include provisions for security communications in Article 33, and
safety and security communications, including e-navigation. The ITU-R
will conduct studies, as a matter of urgency, to determine the spectrum
requirements and potential frequency bands suitable for these systems.
These studies should include the applicability of spectrum efficient
technologies, as well as sharing and compatibility studies with services
already having allocations in potential spectrum for ship safety and
port security systems.

**BACKGROUND**:

**Satellite Detection of AIS**

International Maritime Organization (IMO) Resolution MSC 74(69) required
that AIS "improve the safety of navigation by assisting in the efficient
navigation of ships, protection of the environment, and operation of
Vessel Traffic Services (VTS), by satisfying the following functional
requirements: 1) in a ship-to-ship mode for collision avoidance; 2) as a
means for littoral States to obtain information about a ship and its
cargo; and 3) as a VTS tool, i.e. ship-to-shore (traffic management)."
Although these IMO functional requirements clearly specify safety and
surveillance functions, the ITU-R Radio Regulations only recognize the
AIS-SART operation as having a safety function on the two AIS
frequencies. Topics that may be appropriate for study include:

a)  the need for exclusive maritime mobile-satellite service allocations
    to support additional channels for satellite detection of AIS and
    the impact of these potential new allocations to existing systems
    and services; and

b)  the appropriate RR designation of the AIS channels, taking into
    account the AIS ship-to-ship collision avoidance function, AIS use
    in Vessel Traffic Services (VTS), and AIS general use for
    navigational safety.

**Communications for Ship and Cargo Identification**

The global maritime community has agreed on special measures to enhance
ship and cargo identification and tracking, as well as ship and port
security and safety. Some administrations, as well as the International
Standards Organization (ISO), are studying the spectrum and
standardization requirements for electronic seals and automatic
identification tags used on freight containers and supply chain tags
located on the freight container contents. These tags will provide a
more secure international transportation system. Administrations with
economic dependency upon a maritime environment expect to recognize a
benefit from an international conformity on cargo standards.

**Provisions for Security Communications in Article 33**

Article **33** of the Radio Regulations describes the operational
procedures for maritime urgency and safety communications, including the
transmission of maritime safety information. The ITU-R is studying the
need to modify Article **33** to include security communications and the
transmissions of maritime security information.

**Safety and Security Communications, including E-navigation**

Modernization of shipboard and port safety and security communication
systems, including e-navigation, is another important issue to the
global maritime community. The IMO COMSAR and NAV subcommittees are
reviewing technologies that may require amendments to the Radio
Regulations and possibly new spectrum allocations. The ITU-R is studying
the development of VHF radio systems and technologies, the need to
retain FM voice communications, and the use of 12.5 kHz channel spacing.
Other studies include narrow band digital voice and data communication
using 6.25 kHz channel spacing, and broadband data communications using
two or more 25 kHz adjacent channels.

There is a need to study the data requirements of the 518 kHz NAVTEX and
the Inmarsat C SafetyNET to support the need for graphical navigation
and meteorological, search and rescue, and security information. There
is also a need to study integrated shipboard navigational display
systems to support e-navigation.

**U.S. VIEW**: If studies identified in Resolution **357** (**WRC-07**)
determine the need for additional allocations to the maritime service
and existing services can be protected, the United States supports the
allocation of spectrum required to support ship and port safety and
enhanced maritime safety systems to the maritime mobile service.

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