28.11.09 10:26 Age: 282 days
Reederei Blue Star Fleet Fully LRIT Compliant
Category: Reederei Bluestar
By: Shawkat Iqbal
Long Range Identification and Tracking (LRIT) was proposed to IMO during the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks to track large ships around the world by the US Coast Guard.
LRIT of ships was established as an international maritime security initiative system on 19 May 2006 by the IMO as resolution MSC.202(81), amending chapter V of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), regulation 19-1.
It allows SOLAS Contracting Governments to request and receive position reports from vessels operating under their flag, vessels indicating intentions to enter a port under their jurisdiction, or vessels operating within 1000 nautical miles of their coast. In addition to enhancing maritime security, the regulations allow LRIT for search and rescue. LRIT information will be automatically transmitted from ship borne equipment to Flag State’s LRIT Data Center where it will be stored until it is requested.
The LRIT equipment must be capable of being configured to transmit the following minimum information automatically, at reporting intervals from 15 minutes to 6 hours, to the LRIT Data Center designated by the Flag Administration:
- The identity of the ship;
- The position of the ship;
- The date and time of the position.
LRIT regulations came into force on 1 January 2008. Vessels found to be non-compliant with IMO specifications may be denied entry to territorial waters or ports and face significant fines. Information collected by LRIT Data Centers can be used by Flag authorities for vessel traffic monitoring, transport planning, locating vessels in distress and monitoring vessels involved in illegal activities.
Any vessel that is required to transmit LRIT data must compliant by 31 December 2008 or by the first radio survey after this date. According to Lloyds List (03 November 2009) half the world fleet is failing on LRIT rules.
Reederei Blue Star with the announcement of LRIT requirement becoming mandatory acted positively and swiftly to make their fleet LRIT compliant by the first radio survey date after 31 December 2008.
The process involved compiling data and assessing suitability of equipment on board by the RBS Nautical Team and where required, upgrading of the system to make the equipment compatible. Once that was achieved, the testing phase began and the system was tested through Flag state appointed Application Service Provider (ASP).
On 11 November 2009 Reederei Blue Star successfully completed the LRIT testing process of its entire fleet of 34 large vessels and became LRIT compliant well ahead of many other shipping operators.
