2003/213/EC: Commission Decision of 25 March 2003 on the application of Article 3(3)(e) of Directive 1999/5/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council to radio equipment intended to be used on non-SOLAS vessels and which is intended to participate in the Automatic Identification System (AIS) (Text with EEA relevance) (notified under document number C(2003) 808)
Date: 2003-03-25
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: intelligent transport system, maritime safety, maritime transport, safety device, satellite navigation, technical standard, telecommunications equipment

L 81/46

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

28.3.2003

COMMISSION

COMMISSION DECISION

of 25 March 2003

on the application of Article 3(3)(e) of Directive 1999/5/EC of the European Parliament and of the
Council to radio equipment intended to be used on non-SOLAS vessels and which is intended to
participate in the Automatic Identification System (AIS)

(notified under document number C(2003) 808)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2003/213/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community,

Having regard to Directive 1999/5/EC of the European Parlia-
ment and of the Council of 9 March 1999 on radio equipment
and telecommunications terminal equipment and the mutual
recognition of their conformity (1), and in particular Article
3(3)(e), thereof,

Other frequencies allocated for maritime communica-
tions may be available to the AIS. All radio equipment
operating on those frequencies should be compatible
with the designated use of
these frequencies and it
should provide a reasonable guarantee of assurance that
it will function correctly in times of operation.

(5)

The measures set out in this Decision are in accordance
with the opinion of the Telecommunications Conformity
Assessment and Market Surveillance Committee,

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

A number of Member States have implemented or
intend to implement common safety principles and rules
for automatic identification system (AIS) equipment on
carriage
non-SOLAS vessels not
requirements of Chapter V of the International Conven-
tion for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974 (SOLAS).

falling under

the

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The harmonisation of radio services contributes to a
safer navigation of non-SOLAS vessels, particularly in
case of distress and bad weather conditions and such
vessels are therefore invited by Member States to partici-
pate in the AIS.

Radio equipment which operates in the maritime mobile
service as defined in Article 1.28 of the International Telecom-
munications Union (ITU) Radio Regulations, or in the maritime
mobile satellite service as defined in Article 1.29 of the ITU
Radio Regulations shall comply with the essential requirements
set out in Article 3(3)(e) of Directive 1999/5/EC.

The AIS is described in the International Maritime Orga-
nisation (IMO) Regulation 19 to Chapter V of SOLAS —
navigational
for
Carriage
systems and equipment, — which sets out navigational
equipment to be carried on board ships, according to
ship type.

requirements

shipborne

To that end such equipment shall be designed in such a way as
to ensure that it operates correctly in its intended maritime
environment when used on non-SOLAS vessels and it shall
meet all the appropriate operational requirements of the Auto-
matic Identification System (AIS).

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Radio
Regulations has designated certain frequencies 161.975
(AIS1) and 162.025 (AIS2) MHz for use by the AIS.

Article 2

(1) OJ L 91, 7.4.1999, p. 10.

The requirements of Article 1 of this Decision shall apply as
from 28 March 2003.

28.3.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 81/47

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Article 3

Done at Brussels, 25 March 2003.

For the Commission

Erkki LIIKANEN

Member of the Commission