Merchant Shipping Directorate

LONG RANGE IDENTIFICATION AND TRACKING OF SHIPS
Merchant Shipping Notice 77 Rev.1
Notice to Ship-owners, Ship Operators, Managers, Masters,Owners’ Representatives and Recognized Organizations

The Directorate wishes to draw the attention of all concerned to Chapter V Regulation 19-1 of theInternational Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), 1974 relating to Long Range
Identification and Tracking of Ships (LRIT).
Regulation 19 introduces the requirement for ships engaged on international voyages as specified
hereunder to transmit LRIT information. These include:• passenger ships, including high speed passenger craft;• cargo ships, including high speed craft, of 300 gross tonnage and above; and,• mobile offshore drilling units.

Shipborne equipment
Owners of vessels operating under the Malta flag must ensure provision of compliant shipborne
equipment which is type approved by this Administration or a recognised organisation acting on
its behalf.
Compliance of the shipborne equipment with the requirements of SOLAS regulation V/19-1.6 may
be demonstrated by the equipment being:
1.
2.

of a type approved in accordance with the provisions of SOLAS regulation V/19.1 andsection 4 of the revised performance standards; orcertified as meeting the requirements of SOLAS regulation IV/14 and satisfactorily
completing a conformance test in accordance with the procedures and provisions set
out in Appendix 1 of MSC.1/Circ.1307/Rev.1, by an authorised testing Application
Service Provider (ASP) or by a recognised ASP; or certified as meeting therequirements of IEC 60945(2002-08) and IEC 60945 Corr.1 (2008-04) as amended on
Maritime navigation and radiocommunication equipment and systems – General
requirements - Methods of testing and required test results and satisfactorily
completing a conformance test in accordance with the procedures and provisions set

Malta Transport CentreĦal Lija LJA 2021, Malta

Tel: +356 2125 0360
Email: lrit.tm@transport.gov.mt
www.transport.gov.mt/ship-registration

Transport Malta is the Authority for Transport in Malta set up by Act XV of 2009

Merchant Shipping Directorate
Merchant Shipping Notice 77 Rev.1
Page 2 of 3

3.

4.

out in Appendix 1 of MSC.1/Circ.1307/Rev.1 by a authorised testing ASP or by arecognised ASP; ora ship security alert system complying with the provisions of regulation XI-2/6, theprovisions of either resolution MSC.136(76) on Performance Standards for a Ship
Security Alert System or of resolution MSC.147(77) on Adoption of the Revised
Performance Standards for a Ship Security Alert System and, the provisions of section
4 of the revised performance standards and satisfactorily completing a conformance
test in accordance with the procedures and, provisions set out in Appendix 1 ofMSC.1/Circ.1307/Rev.1 by an authorised testing ASP or by a recognised ASP.
Existing shipborne terminals need not undergo a separate process of regulatory typeapproval using IEC standards such as that required for GMDSS equipment.
Compliance with the requirements of SOLAS regulation V/19-1.6 in relation to typeapproval of shipboard equipment may be demonstrated by conducting a conformance
test in accordance with the provisions and procedures set out in Appendix 1 ofMSC.1/Circ.1307/Rev.1 and by demonstrating performance of the shipborne
equipment that meets the acceptance criteria within the range of the tolerances setout in Appendix 1 of this same circular.

Conformance Test Report
Existing Inmarsat C equipment will in most cases be technically compliant. There might beequipment however, that does not conform with the performance standards and functionalrequirements referred to above. However, full compliance with the performance standards andfunctional requirements requires that the correct operational procedures are followed on board
the vessel.
On satisfactory completion of a conformance test, the ASP conducting the test will issue a test
report on behalf of this Administration in accordance with the model set out in appendix 2 ofMSC.1/Circ. 1307/Rev.1.
In order to ensure, a continuous uninterrupted operation, the shipborne conformance test, by oneof the authorised testing ASPs should be carried out as soon as possible but prior to the datewhen the ship needs to demonstrate compliance with the requirements of SOLAS regulation V/191. The list of authorised testing ASPs is contained in Merchant Shipping Notice 78, as amended.

Malta Transport CentreĦal Lija LJA 2021, Malta

Tel: +356 2125 0360
Email: lrit.tm@transport.gov.mt
www.transport.gov.mt/ship-registration

Transport Malta is the Authority for Transport in Malta set up by Act XV of 2009

Merchant Shipping Directorate
Merchant Shipping Notice 77 Rev.1
Page 3 of 3

Transfer of flag
When a ship transfers to the Malta flag, the conformance test report will be considered asremaining valid if the LRIT equipment is not being replaced and if the testing ASP that conducted
the conformance test for the previous flag is an authorised testing ASP for the new flag.
Otherwise, a new conformance test should be conducted.
When the original testing ASP is an authorised ASP for the new flag, the conformance test reportis to be re-issued by the testing ASP indicating the new particulars of the ship but without retestingor altering the date of completion of the original conformance test.

Survey and certification
Prior to the issue or endorsement of a Passenger Ship Safety Certificate or Cargo Ship Safety
Equipment Certificate following an initial, renewal or annual survey, as the case may be, or theamendment of the associated record of equipment, this Administration or the recognisedorganisation acting on its behalf will verify that the shipborne equipment has satisfactorily
completed a conformance test, is supplied from the main and emergency source of electrical
power and conforms with the requirements of section 4 of MSC.1/Circ.1307/Rev.1.
During any subsequent annual or renewal survey following initial certification of compliance of aship with the requirements of regulation V/19.1, the related safety certificate should be issued or
endorsed provided the conformance test report is still valid.

Additional information
All enquiries related to LRIT matters and the application of SOLAS regulation V/19-1, shall be
addressed to this Directorate on lrit.tm@transport.gov.mt .

Merchant Shipping Directorate

10 July 2024

Malta Transport CentreĦal Lija LJA 2021, Malta

Tel: +356 2125 0360
Email: lrit.tm@transport.gov.mt
www.transport.gov.mt/ship-registration

Transport Malta is the Authority for Transport in Malta set up by Act XV of 2009