Editor’s Note This will be the last official newsletter before the 1997 meeting. Information about the meeting will be distributed as a separate mailing. Joe Coburn is in the process of putting together meeting packets, which should go in the mail later this month. Remember, if you plan to stay at the Quality Inn in Falmouth, your reservations must be in by 1 September. For reservations call (508) 540-2000 and tell the receptionist that you are with RVOC. Thanks,
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From the Chair
Well we are rapidly moving towards October and our 1997 RVOC Meeting to be held at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute on 21-23 October. I would appreciate it if you would all take the time to review the enclosed draft agenda and if you have any comments or suggestions please pass them on to Steve Rabalais and myself. I feel we have a lot of ground to cover in what appears to be less and less time. We are trying to change the structure of the meeting this year with special reports being written and distributed ahead of time. This will permit us to have the bulk of the time associated with these reports devoted to questions. At this time we are still making adjustments to the framing of the topics for the work groups, but there will be less time devoted (at least this year) to Work Groups. A significant portion of the second day is devoted to communications as it relates to extending the Internet to sea. One item for the business portion of the meeting, will be to select the host for the RVOC Meeting in the year 1999! I look forward to seeing all of you at the 1997 RVOC Meeting. Paul
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Some people collect Playboy’s, some people collect National Geographic. Not me, I collect old RVOC Newsletters. How many people do you know, that have an almost complete set of this master piece of the literary profession beginning with No. 1, dated: ..... (Well, Jack sort of forgot to put a date on it. For that matter he forgot to put a No. 1 on it too. But, it says right here in the first paragraph, “This is the first newsletter”, that’s good enough for me ; Date: cir. Winter, Spring or Summer 1985) to the most recent edition, Vol 22, No. 2.
I thought it might be fun to extract a few highlights from past editions for your.... entertainment.
No. 1 - 1985
Editor: Jack Bash
Chair: I believe it was Dolly Dieter
New Equipment
“Several new pieces of equipment are working their way into the oceanographic community and will probably become standards before long. These include INMARSAT commercial satellite communication equipment; Global Positioning Systems (GPS); Amtek Straza Doppler Speed Log and Current Profiling and the new “Smart ” winch being developed by R. J. Boudreaux. RVOC members that have experience with any of these new pieces of equipment are encouraged to provide this newsletter with operating experience and potential pit falls.”
New Ship Designs
“The University of Texas has gone to preliminary design stage with John Gilbert. .............. The Navy is also looking into a SWATH hull that will eventually end up in the Academic fleet.” (And still looking !)
No. 2 - September 5, 1985
Officers: Still Jack and Dolly (I assume)
Editor’s Note
“I have not been inundated with articles or materials for the newsletter and its usefulness should be evaluated at our next meeting.” (The more things change the more they stay the same.)
RVOC Members (Let’s show a little respect for the old-timers)
Univ. of Hawaii J.W. Coste
Univ. of Alaska E.R. Dieter
Univ. of Wash. K.W. Jeffers
Oregon State K.M. Palfrey
Moss Landing Larry Jones
Mike Prince
Univ. So. Cal. Don Newman
SIO Jim Williams
Univ. Mich Cliff Tetzloff
(retired w/ no replacement), does
Linda know this?
Tex. A&M T.K. Treadwell
Dean Letzring
Univ. of Texas Bill Mitchell
Univ. of Miami Ron Hutchinson
Skidaway Lee Knight
Duke Eric Nelson
Johns Hopkins Bruce Cornwall
Univ. of Del. Waddy Owens
LDGO John Dudley
Sam Gerard
URI Jack Bash
WHOI John Donnelly
Dick Edwards
Jonathan Leiby
Harbor Branch Marsh Youngbluth
LUMCON Steve Rabalais
Univ. New Hamp. E.E. Allmendinger
UNOLS Bill Barbee
NSF John McMillan
No. 3 - January 10, 1986
Officers: Jack and Dolly
Life Boat Advances
“John Dudley of LDGO sought and received USCG approval to replace the Conrad’s remaining oar-and-sail propelled “rescue boat” with a rigid inflatable rescue craft.”
No. 8 - January 4, 1988
Editor: ?
Chair: Jack Bash
AGOR 23
“Congratulations to the University of Washington on being selected to operate the new construction (?) Navy AGOR 23.”
R/V Cayuse Transferred to Maine
“Title to R/V Cayuse was transferred to the Maine Maritime Academy by the National Science Foundation on Oct. 1, 1987.”
No. 9 - July 20, 1988
Editor: ?
Chair: Jack Bash
Title of article from clipping section: “Drug, Alcohol Testing Proposed for U.S. Merchant Seamen.”
Vol. 10 - March 15, 1989
Editor: Bruce Cornwall
Chair: ? (Was it Jim Williams?)
NSF Names Ship Ops Program Manager
“Dolly Dieter has been named by the NSF to fill the position of Ship Operations Program Manager.....”
Video Tapes
“The committee (Safety) discussed the use of video tapes for three purposes: (1) as an indoctrination tape for ship users; ......” (Eight years later a contract is signed for the production of ship user indoctrination video tape. We are good!)
Vol. 11 - August 18, 1989
Officers: Still Bruce and Jim, I believe.
RVOC Logo
“The logo printed below is being considered for the cover of the RVOC Safety Training Manual.......It might also be used as the “official” RVOC logo for the Newsletter and other RVOC correspondence.”
News from NSF
“Dolly Dieter would like to let all RVOC Operators know that she has
finally arrived at the NSF .....”
_____________
I think you get the picture. RVOC has been around for a while.
In fact, our first official meeting was in Washington, DC on April 25,
1962. I’ve included a list of our meetings in the clippings section
(Misc. XVII.), if you’re interested.
ATLANTIS - ATLANTIS is through the canal and on her way to San Diego
to begin her first series of dives in the Pacific. She will be in
the big ocean for the next one to one and a half years. In the fall,
ATLANTIS will take the ROV off THOMPSON for a few dives off the Pacific
NW while that ship attempts repairs to a gear in her azimuthing thruster.
From the NW, ATLANTIS will go south to Manzanillo for work on the East
Pacific Rise. After the first of the year she will return to U.S.
waters for her Post Shakedown Availability (PSA). According to Joe
all is well with the new vessel and he is quite pleased with the ship’s
performance to date.
Craig Van Wagner of Marine Sat/MCN wrote Paul in May of this year with the following offer: “I wanted to offer you the opportunity to experience the new MarineSat system through our Trial Program. We are offering you and any other of your affiliate entities the chance to evaluate the viability of the MarineSat service through a 60 day no obligation trial. We will supply you any selected model of equipment for use on your vessel. After 60 days if you do not want to keep the unit, you can return it to us (no questions asked). All you would pay for is air time used with no monthly service charge. If you decide to keep it, then you would pay us the LOW Marine Sat discounted price.” Mr. Van Wagner can be reached at:
MarineSat/MCN
6650 Indiantown Rd.
Suite 120
Jupiter, FL 33458
(1-800-848-9660)
As you know, we announced the formation of the GSR R/V Insurance Program last fall at the Annual RVOC Conference in St. Petersburg. We outlined our perspective on how best to meet the marine insurance needs of this elite group.
We are pleased to report that since the meeting, Columbia University, Duke University, University of Rhode Island and Texas A&M have partnered with GSR in recognition of the advantages of our Global Research Vessel Insurance Facility.
GSR and its underwriters understand the risks unique to research vessel
operations, and the funding and budgetary concerns of universities.
To assist UNOLS members in addressing those same internal issues, GSR has
responded by developing multi-year insurance policies. In addition
to providing a long term stable insurance product, premium savings can
be realized on an annual basis for the term of the policy. We offer
a comprehensive marine insurance package at competitive prices, and the
services of dedicated marine claims professionals available 24 hours a
day, 365 days a year. The GSR program is underwritten by "A"-rated
U.S. carriers, and offers the following coverages:
PROTECTION & INDEMNITY
Including divers
Limits up to $35 million any
one accident or occurrence.
HULL FRINGES
Collision, Towers Liability, Sue & Labor,
General Average and Salvage
Limits up to $7.5 million.
HULL & MACHINERY
Limits up to $17.5 million.
OPEN CARGO
Limits up to $5 million any one shipment.
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
Including over side
Limits up to $1 million per scheduled item.
POLLUTION LIABILITY
Limits up to $25 million any
one accident or occurrence.
OTHER COVERAGES AVAILABLE
Charters/Wharfingers Liability
ADDITIONAL OPTIONS
Excess limits
Multi-year contracts
GSR is a subsidiary of the Willis Corroon Group, a global insurance broker recognized for its leadership in marine insurance. We are pleased to provide the university and research vessel community with effective solutions to your special marine exposures.
We are delighted to be working with those universities who have joined us, and are pleased to report discussions with other UNOLS members. We invite all UNOLS/RVOC members to contact us for a quotation, either through your insurance agent or broker, or your local Willis Corroon office, as follows:
New York:
Richard J. Haverlin, Jr.
Global Special Risks, Inc.
Wall Street Plaza
New York. NY l0005
(212) 820-7635 - phone
(212) 809-1220 - fax
Houston:
Jim Hughes
Global Special Risks, Inc.
5847 San Felipe, Ste. 3100
Houston, TX 77057
(713) 952-2774 - phone
(713) 952-3978 - fax
New Orleans:
Mike Garin
Global Special Risks, Inc.
One Lakeway Ctr., Ste. 450
Metairie, LA 70009
(504) 828-7874 - phone
(504) 828-6069 - fax
The following is the tentative agenda for the 1997 RVOC meeting scheduled for October 21-23, 1997 at the Wood Hole Oceanographic Institute. Please notify Paul Ljunggren or Steve Rabalais with revisions or comments.
0800 Tuesday, 21 October 1997
WHOI
0800 REGISTRATION AND COFFEE
Spouses will meet at 0900
0830 WELCOMING REMARKS
- Marine Superintendent
- Director
- Paul Ljunggren, Chairman, RVOC
- Steve Rabalais, Vice-Chair, RVOC
0900 OLD BUSINESS
- Minutes of the 1996 Meeting
- Post Cruise Evaluations
- Van Study, Final Review
- Medical Standards/Job Descriptions
- Primer on Small Research Vessels
- Safety Video for Scientists
- Size Limit on UNOLS Vessels, UNOLS Committee
- New Contract for UNOLS Fleet Inspections
0930 NEW BUSINESS
PLEASE CONTACT PAUL OR STEVE WITH YOUR SUGGESTIONS FOR NEW BUSINESS
ITEMS.
1000-1020 BREAK
1020 COMMITTEE AND LIAISON REPORTS
- UNOLS, Jack Bash & UNOLS Chair, Dr. Ken Johnson (MLML)
- Safety Committee, Tom Smith
- RVTECH, Tim Askew
- FIC & AICC, Joe Coburn
1100 AGENCY REPORTS
- National Science Foundation - Dolly Dieter
- Office of Naval Research - Sujata Millick
- Naval Oceanographic Office - CDR Jim Trees
- NOAA - CDR Elizabeth White
- USCG - CDR George Dupre
- U.S. State Department - Tom Cocke
- Others
1145 LUNCH
1300 SPECIAL REPORTS
NOTE- RATHER THAN HAVE THE AGENDA OVERWHELMED WITH SPECIAL REPORTS, I HAVE OUTLINED SOME POTENTIAL TOPICS FOR CONSIDERATION. PLEASE SUBMIT A WRITE-UP OF YOUR SPECIAL REPORT AT LEAST TWO WEEKS BEFORE THE MEETING. I WANT TO INSURE THAT THE TIME SPENT ON SPECIAL REPORTS DOES NOT GET OUT OF HAND. ANY REPORTS NOT PRESENTED AT THE MEETING WOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE APPENDICES OF THE MINUTES. I WOULD ALSO NOTE THAT IN SOME INSTANCES, FOR SOME PERSONS, PART OF THE JUSTIFICATION FOR ATTENDING THIS MEETING MAY BE THE FACT THAT THEY WILL BE MAKING A PRESENTATION WHICH WOULD NORMALLY BE INCLUDED AS A SPECIAL REPORT; PLEASE ADVISE US OF THIS. PAUL
- Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
- Representatives from other countries:
- SACLANT - Chris Gobey
- NERC - Ken Robertson
- Canadian Coast Guard - Dale Gibb and Mark Cusack
- Instituto de Fomento Pesquero - Enrique Aranda
- Universidad Naciaonal Autonoma de Mexico - Dr. Emilsson
- Other Countries
- MSC- Special Missions - Jim McDiarmid
- Great Lakes Research Vessel Workshop - Linda Goad
- Research vessel updates; new construction, operations, engineering:
- R/V ATLANTIS - Joe Coburn
- R/V REVELLE - Tom Atlhouse
- R/V THOMPSON - Robert Hinton
- Skidaway Institute R/V replacement update - Steve Carignan
- UCONN R/V replacement update - Larry Burch
- MBARI SWATH update - Mark Vandenburg
- RSMAS Catamaran - David Powell
- Any other operators with special reports
- Report On Regulatory Issues - George Ireland
1500-1515 BREAK
1515 INSURANCE AND LIABILITY
- Report by Dennis Nixon on liability and insurance issues
0830 Wednesday, 22 October 1997
WHOI
0830 NSF SHIP INSPECTION PROGRAM
- Jamestown Marine
0900 MARITIME HEALTH ISSUES
- Report by Dr. Ray Jarris on medical support issues
1000 BREAK
1015 WORKSHOP
MARINE COMMUNICATION
- Status of the current systems for extending the Internet to sea, what is available now and what are its capabilities. Future trends, where will communications be in the next decade, will reliability, and capabilities increase and costs decrease, how soon will this take place and what can we do to plan for the future and help guarantee that trends develop to our benefit. (Approx two hours) Rex Buddenberg
- Seanet - In conjunction with a marine communications workshop we plan to have a presentation on JOI's recently funded proposal to provide five Inmarsat B installations on R/Vs. (Approx one hour) Andy Maffei, Ellen Kappel
1200 LUNCH
1330?- CONTINUATION MARINE COMMUNICATIONS TOPIC
1430 BREAK
1445 WORK GROUPS
Possible Topics:
Identification and standardization of ancillary costs incurred by operators and passed on to PIs. For example; E- mail, how people charge, what is charged in terms of satellite communications, what level of E-mail support is provided as part of ship operations etc., and the larger topic of ancillary charges (for crane service, copier charges, fax costs, agent fees incurred for the incoming or off-going science party, shipping charges incurred for science equipment etc, etc, etc.) and what the oncoming PI can expect to be billed.
- Medical standards workshop - Follow-on to last year's work group.
- Tech./Operator workshop - Invite reps. from RVTEC to discuss
their needs and what operators should do to increase the technical viability
of their platforms.
0830 Thursday, 23 October 1997
WHOI
0830 REPORTS FROM WORKSHOP GROUPS AND OTHER UNFINISHED BUSINESS
1000 ROUND TABLE DISCUSSION
Marine Superintendents will select and discuss topics of mutual interest.
Please submit a list of items that you would like to discuss. Other items will be developed during the course of the meeting.
Some items already suggested:
- Update/comments on marine insurance program.
- GMDSS progress
- Fleet description book for scientists outlining services and charges.
Distribution to Program officers NOAA, NSF, ONR, etc.
- Change in meeting schedule, start future meetings with a brief session
Sunday afternoon.
- Post cruise evaluations.
- Documentation of research vessels
- NSF Cooperative Agreement
- Shipboard Scientific Support Equipment Proposals. What type
of equipment has been requested and what has been approved.
- Skyphone experience and usage.
1200 LUNCH
1300 CONTINUE ROUND TABLE
1400 BUSINESS MEETING
- Assignments to committees, panels and work groups
- Review of action items pending
- Suggestions for the 1998 Agenda and meeting format
- Vote on host for 1999 meeting.
1500 ADJOURN
Regulatory (UNOLS office has hardcopies of II. through VII.)
I. GMDSS Information
II. The future in Marine Radio Communications
IV. IMO Considers Mandatory Liability Insurance Treaty
V. SOLAS ‘74 and Reg. Tonnage
VI. Radiofax Charts Available on E- Mail
VII. IMO Revised Raster Chart Standards
VIII. Employment Verifications
New Products (UNOLS office has hardcopies of I. through IV.)
I. Vessel Data File software
II. Hand Held Global E-Mail Messenger
III. Inmarsat Satellite EPIRB
IV. The Future of on-Board Power
Misc. (UNOLS office has hardcopies of I through XVII.)
I. MTS Rope Committee News
II. Mapping Wreckage of Flt. 800
III. New SWATH Design
IV. GLONASS Issues
V. New Vessel Design “Penguin”
VI. Making Bad Habits Work
VII. Rope Technology Workshop
VIII. New Generation of Lift Boats
IX. Insurance
X. Arresting a Ship
XI. Traction Winch in Deep Water
XI. Firefighting Schools
XII. Raster vs. Vector Technology
XIII. Ship Repairs
XIV. Marine Injury Claims Clarified
XV. Surviving Extreme Water Emergencies
XVI. Communication Providers
XVII.RVOC Meetings
Memo To: New 'Ship Operator' members of Commercial Vessel Task Group
5 March 1997
Subj: GMDSS Implementation Task Force
Welcome to the U.S. National GMDSS Task Force sponsored by the U.S.
Coast Guard! I arn
serving as Executive Director under contract to the Coast Guard. You
have recently been added
to our mailing list for the Commercial Vessel Task Group. I am enclosing
several background
documents for your information:
The Task Force Terms of Reference
A GMDSS Information Bulletin for Small Commercial Vessels
A Coast Guard Information Sheet on access to GMDSS Information via
Intemet
A copy of the summary record of the last Commercial Vessel meeting
It is our intention to send copies of the summary records of Task Group
meetings to the mailing
list in order to keep you advised of developments. While we do not
plan to distribute all
documents to the mailing list automatically, any which are available
will be identified in the
summary record and may be requested individually. We are also looking
for feedback on GMDSS
problems you have identified and recommendations regarding the Task
Force program. We will
add other names to the mailing fist on request. We often like to use
intemet delivery where
available so please give us your e-mail address if you haven't already
done so.
One new issue has recently been identified for vessels above 300 tons
which operate exclusively in
the immediate coastal zone (identified as GMDSS sea area Al - within
range of the Coast Guard's
shore VHF-FM network when upgraded for Digital Selective Calling).
Treaty vessels will be
required by 1 February 1999 to have at least two mates who hold the
FCC's GMDSS Operator
Certificate. A year or two later, under other treaty provisions, all
mates will require this
certification. The Task Group will undertake to clarify whether this
requirement can be modified
for vessels which operate in sea area Al exclusively.
Sincerely,
Jack
1. Monitor resolution of Coast Guard and FCC roles in GMDSS implementation
2. Monitor FCC Order on GMDSS Implementation per Telecommunications
Act
3. Monitor FCC NPRM on Licensing of ship stations by'rule'
4. Monitor procedure for assigru-nent of DSC/MMSI numbers if FCC licensing
dropped
5. Monitor FCC NPRM on privatization of ship inspections
6. Monitor FCC pending Marine Improvement Rule Making (docket 92257)
7. Recommend a Port State GMDSS inspection program to the Coast Guard
8. Monitor GMDSS issues raised by IMO Circulars/Resolutions for dissemination
in the U.S.
9. Monitor USCG NPRM to implement STCW changes affecting GMDSS Operators
IO. Monitor Navy planning to fit selected GMDSS equipment on warships
I 1. Monitor USCG GMDSS Bulletin Board and update Task Force portion
12. Support SOLAS Working Group planning for COMSAR meetings as requested
13. Maintain GMDSS implementation liaison with other Administrations
as requested
14. Monitor and update GMDSS Information Bulletin for Small Commercial
Vessels
15. Prepare GMDSS Information Bulletin for Recreational Vessels
16. Consider special GMDSS rules for vessels operating in Sea Area
Al
Background: The Global Maritime Distress and Safety System
(GMDSS) now being
implemented by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has changed
the Safety of Life at
Sea (SOLAS) Convention to provide a major upgrade of maritime safety
communications
procedures and equipment. This upgrade will affect not only SOLAS Convention
ships, those
over 300 tons, but all users of marine radio services. The GMDSS transition
period is scheduled
to end in February 1999 and many implementation actions are incomplete.
The U.S. Coast Guard
and other cognizant government agencies have therefore sponsored a
National GMDSS
Implementation Task Force to facilitate the transition and recommend
further action.
Tasks:
1. Provide a forum for interested parties to consider all aspects of
GMDSS implementation
in the U. S. and recommmend action to appropriate authorities including
the U. S. SOLAS
Radio communications, Search and Rescue Working Group on U. S. positions
on INFO issues.
2. Institute a public relations program to inform all sectors of the
maritime community on the
impacts and benefits of GMDSS implementation and solicit feedback on
GMDSS problems.
3. Maintain an overview of GMDSS training to encourage well trained
GMDSS operators
on compulsory vessels, indoctrinate operators of non-complusory vessels
with an appropriate
level of voluntary GMDSS information, and advocate programs to minimize
false alerts in order
to improve the effectiveness of Search and Rescue operations..
4. Establish liasion with equipment manufacturers and Service Agents
to facilitate equipping
of U. S. SOLAS vessels to meet GMDSS standards and prov:ide advice
to non-compulsory
vessels desiring to use GMDSS systems on a voluntary basis.
5. Monitor implementation of GMDSS shore networks, vessel outfitting,
and updating of
official publications describing GMDSS facilities and procedures.
Upon entry into full force on February 1, 1999, the GMDSS, for vessels
to which it is applicable,
will use new communications technology for distress alerts, automates
systems which previously
required a continuous live listening watch, and generally improves
the reliability and effectiveness
of the distress and safety system. One feature of the GMDSS replaces
the traditional method of
establishing communications by voice calling with an automated method,
applicable to Medium
Frequency (MF), High Frequency (HF) and Very High Frequency (VHF) radios,
called Digital
Selective Calling (DSC).
Effective February 1, 1999, the GMDSS is mandatory for all U.S. passenger-ships
carrying more
than 12 passengers operated on international voyages and all ships
of 300 or more gross tons
operated in the open sea. Until then, commercial vessels required to
carry radio equipment must
be able to transmit and receive voice communications on applicable
radio frequencies.
Digital Selective Calling (DSC)
DSC uses digital codes on designated calling channels to send distress
calls and to establish
communications between ships, ship to shore and shore to ship. Once
communications are
established, communications continue by voice or other methods. GMDSS
compliant ships will
not be required to maintain a continuous voice watch on Channel 16
after February 1, 1999.
However, when in waters subject to the Bridge-to-Bridge Act, all ships
will continue to be
required to monitor Channel 13 VHF or Channel 67 (as appropriate) and
these channels, while
restricted to safety communications, can be utilized to establish initial
communications for that
purpose. It is essential to keep in mind that a GMDSS compliant vessel,
except when subject to
the Bridge-to-Bridge Act will not be required to maintain a voice listening
watch on any
frequency and considerable difficulty may be experienced in establishing
communications between
a GMDSS and GMDSS equipped vessel.
Other Considerations
Other elements of the GMDSS include the INMARSAT A, B, and C maritime
satellite systems;
the coastal NAVTEX and INMARSAT SafetyNet broadcast systems which provide
weather and
maritime safety information; Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons
(EPIRBS) used for
distress alerting and locating; and radar transponders (SARTS) for
life rafts which are used in the
location of survivors.
Most small commercial vessels and other vessels voluntarily equipped
with radio are permitted to
use any GMDSS equipment without any mandated GMDSS related training.
Vessels required to
be GMDSS equipped are also required to have qualified personnel who
hold a GMDSS
Operator's Certificate.
GMDSS, like any new system, is experiencing some problems as it is
implemented. These
problems are primarily attributed to operator error. It is anticipated
that as the maritime
community gains experience with GMDSS, that associated problems will
decrease. It is expected
that the GMDSS, when fully implemented, will enhance the safety of
all mariners and enable faster
response by rescue authorities. It is recommended that mariners voluntarily
install GMDSS
equipment suitable to their operational areas.
For More Information
This Information Bulletin was approved on 8 October 1996 by the National
GMDSS
Implementation Task Force, a U.S. Coast Guard sponsored group established
to coordinate
implementation problems, recommend their resolution, and assist in
disseminating GNMSS
information. The Task Force is soliciting feedback on problems encountered
and invites responses
from all concerned. Address responses to Captain Jack Fuechsel, Task
Force Executive Director,
7425 Elgar Street, Springfield, VA 2215 1; phone (703) 941-1935; fax
(703) 941-6154; or E-mail
jack.fuechsel@comsat.com.
6. Jack Fuechsel reported that he had called 17 additional operators
of U.S. flag ships which
had not responded to the Task Group's GMDSS questionnaire and placed
them on the Task
Group mailing list. This accounted for an additional 170 ships and
brought the total U.S. flag
ships to 340. Most of the operators were well aware of their GMDSS
responsibilities and
indicated no problem in meeting the I February 1999 date for full GMDSS
implementation.
7. The Comsat and NOAA representatives reported on the special meeting
17 December
regarding the SEAS-AMVER program and problems with the server and landline
connections. It
appears that all problems are well on the way to resolution. The status
of promotional literature
reviewed at the 17 December meeting was also discussed. Al Labbe will
coordinate final edits and
final versions can hopeful be put up on appropriate web sites and also
printed in time for
distribution at the RTCM Assembly 27 April 1997.
8. There had been no further progress on the initiative to review safety
requirements for
vessels on the Great Lakes but the Chairman indicated that he would
get contact names for the
Lake Carriers Association and their Canadian counterparts who would
be invited to participate in
such a review.
9. The continuing work list for the Task Group was reviewed and edited:
6. Comsat and NOAA provided an update on the SEAS/AMVER prograin which
is
proceeding according to plans. The new brochures advertising the program
were still not ready
for release however. NOAA identified a new probiem in that manufacturers
of Inmarsat-C ship
earth stations are permitted under the latest Inmarsat standards to
produce terminals without
either a floppy disc drive or an RS-232 port. This effectively prohibits
use of the special software
which NOAA is offering to enable ships to participate in the SEAS weather
observing program
and the AMVER ship reporting program easily and without cost to the
ship. SEAS and AMVER
are not GMDSS programs but both are strongly recommended by IMO because
of their
contributions to maritime safety. The group agreed that this issue
should be referred to the
Service Agents and Manufacturers group and that the Task Force should
be asked to bring the
problem to the attention of Japan Radio Co. and other manufacturers
who offer such a terminal.
7. The group also considered an issue regarding the use of GMDSS
Safety systems for ships
business communications. This is clearly permitted and in fact encouraged
to assure operational
status of the equipment. Some masters, however, are reported to be
reserving the equipment for
emergency use only and do not permit routine use. The Task Force will
be requested to issue
statements in appropriate documents discouraging this approach and
encouraging use of GMDSS
equipment for routine ship's communications.
8. The draft document on Part State Inspection was distributed but
will be reviewed as again
the next meeting to allow ample time for review. It is also being considered
by the training
group, The draft Information Bulletin for Recreational Vessels was
distributed for information but
was not discussed in detail.
9. Members of the Riverboat Gaming Maritime Association have been added
to the mailing
list for this group under the assumption that they would be required
to outfit for GMDSS Sea
Area Al. It develops that most will NOT be affected, however, since
the FCC GMDSS rules
apply to vessels over 300 tons which operate in the open sea. Sorry
for confusinging the issue!
10. The continuing work list for the Task Group was reviewed without
change:
a. Monitor the progress of GMDSS outfitting of SOLAS vessels
- Jack Fuechsel
b. Encourage GMDSS outfitting & training for non-compulsory
ommerciali vessels.
c. Recommend special GMDSS considerations for sea area Al - Richard
Swanson
d. Promulgate guidance on mitigation of falsese alarms - Jack Fuechsel
e. Encoura AMVER and Voluntary Observing Ship (VOS) participation -
Chris Noe
f. Consider recommending selected Great Lakes GMDSS services
- Joe Cox
g. Recommend radio log keeping requirements under GMDSS - Richard
Bragg
h. Develop information bulletin on tonnage interpretations for GMDSS
- USCG Expert.
11. The Task Group agreed to meet again at DOT-HQ on Monday 23 June
at 1997 at 9:30.