CONCENTRATED INSPECTION CAMPAIGN ON RADIO DISTRESS AND SAFETY SYSTEMS

CIC on GMDSS

The 22 Maritime Authorities (EU Members together with Canada, Croatia, Iceland, Norway and the Russian Federation) of the Paris Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control (PSC) will carry out a Concentrated Inspection Campaign (CIC) with the purpose to ensure that the ship’s radio station complies with Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS).  

This will also include verification that radio operators are able to demonstrate that the station is in a satisfactory working condition and used for its intended purpose. The CIC will commence on 1st September 2005 and will last 3 months, concluding on 30th November 2005.

During every port State control inspection the ship’s GMDSS, its equipment, operation and correct recording of communications and maintenance shall be verified in more detail for compliance with SOLAS, STCW Code and ISM Code.

For this purpose port State control officers (PSCO) will apply a questionnaire listing 15 questions in total to cover this concentrated inspection. When there are clear grounds for believing that the requirements are not met, a more detailed inspection may be carried out. Deficiencies will be recorded and the master will be instructed by the PSCO to rectify these before departure, at the next port, or within 14 days. Serious deficiencies may lead to the detention of the ship until they have been rectified.

In case of a detention it will be entered in the monthly list of detentions published by the Secretariat of the Paris MOU.

As with all PSC inspections any outstanding deficiencies (GMDSS or other types) will warrant a further and possibly more detailed inspection at any other Paris MOU region port until the ship is clear of deficiencies. 

It is expected that approximately 4000 inspections will be carried out during the CIC.

All inspections will be inserted in the SIReNaC database of the Paris MOU and will be recorded on an evaluation form. The results of the campaign shall be analysed early next year. A report will be submitted to the Port State Control Committee of the Paris MOU and made available for publication.

 Some examples (as applicable) of the 15 items that will be inspected during the CIC on GMDSS include:
- Is the fitted equipment complying with the Record of Equipment?
- Are MMSI and other radio/EPIRB codes programmed and conform the ship's documents?
- Are ship's operators able to use the GMDSS equipment?
- Is the SART capable of transmitting signals?
- Is the required GMDSS INMARSAT installation capable of transmittingand receiving distress and safety alerts and distress and safety traffic?
- Is the condition of the radio reserve source of energy (including charger unit) satisfactory?
 
In case deficiencies are found in the GMDSS area on board, the PSCO will have "clear grounds for a more detailed inspection" and additional items in the GMDSS (and other areas) could be subject to verification.