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NSR Technical Notice

NSR22-TN05
Issued on 20th Sep 2022
1. IMO’s new regulations on VHF DSC
Regulation MSC.1-Circ.1460-Rev.3 MSC.511(105)
1. new ITU channels, 4-digit channels available. 1. new ITU channels, 4-digit channels available.
2. Automatically reduce TX power against high
VSWR.
3. Messages should be stored until read-out and
should be erased after 48 hours after their
reception.
4. Interface to report a ship identifier and location
data from a received distress alert, maritime safety
Main points
information (MSI) or search and rescue (SAR)
related information to navigation display system in
order to enable a graphical display and possible
linking to available target information.
5. Interface to BAM
6. Interface to enable the selections of channels
and setting of Maritime Mobile Service Identity
(MMSI) to be called from a remote control unit.
All VHF onboard should conform to the All VHF new installations since 01/01/2024
Apply for
regulation before first survey after 01/07/2024. should conform to the regulation.

2. Guideline for VHF DSC New Installations

Date of New Installation MSC.1-Circ.1460-Rev.3 MSC.511(105)

before 01/01/2024 Suggest to conform to MSC.1-Circ.1460-Rev.3Note

01/01/2024 to 01/07/2024 Should conform to MSC.1-Circ.1460-Rev.3 Should conform to MSC.511(105)

after 01/07/2024 Should conform to MSC.1-Circ.1460-Rev.3 Should conform to MSC.511(105)

Note：If the VHF doesn't conform to MSC.1-Circ.1460-Rev.3 when installed, it has to be replaced with new VHF
conforming to both regulations.

3. NSR’s plan for IMO new regulations

NSR NVR-3000 has conformed to MSC.1-Circ.1460-Rev.3.
NSR NVR-3000 is possible to be upgraded to conform to MSC.511(105).

A/S Department

NEW SUNRISE CO., LTD.

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MSC.1/Circ.1460/Rev.3
18 October 2021

GUIDANCE ON THE VALIDITY OF RADIOCOMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT

INSTALLED AND USED ON SHIPS

1 The Maritime Safety Committee, at its 104th session (4 to 8 October 2021),

approved this circular, taking into account the recommendation of the Sub-Committee on
Navigation, Communications and Search and Rescue at its eighth session
(19 to 23 April 2021). The guidance in this circular recognizes that incompatibility may exist
between VHF radiocommunication equipment installed on ships and on shore, and the
revised frequencies and channelling arrangements for the maritime VHF bands as contained
in appendix 18 to the ITU Radio Regulations (RR) – Edition 2020.

2 This circular replaces MSC.1/Circ.1460/Rev.2, which addressed both MF/HF

radiocommunication equipment that is capable of operating narrow band direct-printing
(NBDP) and VHF radiocommunication equipment. Since NBDP radiocommunication
equipment will no longer be required under forthcoming amendments to SOLAS chapter IV,
that equipment is not addressed in this circular.

3 The ITU World Radiocommunication Conferences in 2012, 2015 and 2019 made
extensive changes to appendix 18 of the RR. While these changes do not affect the Global
Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS), they do affect the use of other frequencies
used for VHF meteorological, navigational and urgent marine information broadcasts, port
operations and Vessel Traffic Service (VTS). According to the Performance standards for
shipborne VHF radio installations capable of communication and digital selective calling
(resolution A.803(19), as amended), VHF radiocommunication equipment should comply with
the RR.

4 The Guidance on procedures for updating shipborne navigation and communication

equipment (MSC.1/Circ.1389) notes that updates to application software and firmware to meet
changes in IMO and ITU regulatory requirements are needed.

5 To ensure GMDSS communication capability and the availability of appropriate

GMDSS radiocommunication equipment, and without prejudice to the arrangements
contained in appendix 18 of the RR, VHF radiocommunication equipment should be updated
so that following the first radio survey after 1 January 2024, at the earliest, it meets the
arrangements which will be in force by then.

6 Member States are invited to bring this information to the attention of the appropriate
national authorities and all other parties concerned.

___________

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ANNEX 18
RESOLUTION MSC.511(105)
(adopted on 28 April 2022)
PERFORMANCE STANDARDS FOR SHIPBORNE VHF RADIO INSTALLATIONS
CAPABLE OF VOICE COMMUNICATION AND DIGITAL SELECTIVE CALLING

THE MARITIME SAFETY COMMITTEE,

RECALLING Article 28(b) of the Convention on the International Maritime Organization
concerning the functions of the Committee,

RECALLING ALSO resolution A.803(19), by which the Assembly, at its nineteenth session,
adopted the Recommendation on Performance standards for shipborne VHF radio installations
capable of voice communication and digital selective calling, which was subsequently
amended by resolution MSC.68(68), annex 1,

RECALLING FURTHER resolution A.886(21), by which the Assembly resolved that the
functions of adopting performance standards for radio and navigational equipment, as well as
amendments thereto, shall be performed by the Maritime Safety Committee on behalf of the
Organization,

TAKING INTO ACCOUNT the amendments to the International Convention for the Safety of
Life at Sea, 1974 ("the Convention") adopted by resolution MSC.496(105),

NOTING, in particular, regulations IV/7.1.1, 7.1.2 and 8.2 of the Convention concerning
radiocommunications for the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS), which
require ships to be provided with a VHF radio installation capable of voice communication and
digital selective calling,

RECOGNIZING the need to revise the Performance standards for shipborne VHF radio
installations capable of voice communication and digital selective calling to be used in the
GMDSS in order to ensure the operational reliability of such equipment and to avoid, as far as
practicable, adverse interaction between such equipment and other communication and
navigation equipment on board ship,

HAVING CONSIDERED, at its 105th session, the recommendation made by the

Sub-Committee on Navigation, Communications and Search and Rescue at its eighth session,

1 ADOPTS the revised Performance standards for shipborne VHF radio installations
capable of voice communication and digital selective calling, set out in the annex to the present
resolution;
2 RECOMMENDS Governments to ensure that shipborne VHF radio installations
capable of voice communication and digital selective calling which will form part of the GMDSS:
.1 if installed on or after 1 January 2024, conform to performance standards not
inferior to those specified in the annex to the present resolution;
.2 if installed on or after 23 November 1996 but before 1 January 2024, conform
to performance standards not inferior to those specified in the annex to
resolution A.803(19), as amended, or conform to performance standards not
inferior to those specified in the annex to this resolution; and

.3 if installed before 23 November 1996, conform to performance standards not

inferior to those specified in the annex to resolution A.609(15).

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ANNEX

PERFORMANCE STANDARDS FOR SHIPBORNE VHF RADIO INSTALLATIONS

CAPABLE OF VOICE COMMUNICATION AND DIGITAL SELECTIVE CALLING

PART A – GENERAL

1 INTRODUCTION

1.1 This equipment meets the requirement for VHF installations on ships as required by
SOLAS regulations IV/7.1.1, 7.1.2 and 8.2.

1.2 The VHF radio installation, in addition to meeting the requirements of the Radio
Regulations, the relevant ITU-R Recommendations and the general requirements set out in
resolutions A.694(17) and MSC.191(79), as amended, should comply with the following
performance standards.

2 GENERAL

2.1 The installation, which may consist of more than one piece of equipment, should be
capable of operating on single-frequency channels or on single- and two-frequency channels.

2.2 The equipment should provide for the following categories of calls using both voice
and digital selective calling (DSC):

.1 distress, urgency and safety;

.2 ship operational requirements; and

.3 general radiocommunications.

2.3 The equipment should provide for the following categories of communications using
voice:

.1 distress, urgency and safety;

.2 ship operational requirements; and

.3 general radiocommunications.

2.4 The equipment should comprise at least:

.1 a transmitter/receiver including antenna;

.2 an integral control unit or one or more separate control units;

.3 a microphone with a press-to-transmit switch, which may be combined with

a telephone in a handset;

.4 an internal or external loudspeaker;

.5 an integral or separate digital selective calling facility; and

.6 a dedicated DSC watchkeeping facility to maintain a continuous watch on

channel 70.

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2.5 The installation may also include additional receivers.

2.6 A distress alert should be activated only by means of a dedicated distress button.
This button should not be any key of an ITU-T digital input panel or an ISO keyboard
associated with the equipment and should be physically separated from functional
buttons/keys used for normal operation. This button should be a single button for no other
purpose than to initiate a distress alert.

2.7 The dedicated distress button should:

.1 be clearly identified and be red in colour and marked "DISTRESS". Where a

non-transparent protective lid or cover is used, it should also be marked
"DISTRESS"; and

.2 be protected against inadvertent operation. The required protection of the

distress button should consist of a spring-loaded lid or cover permanently
attached to the equipment by, for example, hinges. It should not be
necessary for the user to remove additional seals or to break the lid or cover
in order to operate the distress button.

The operation of the distress button should generate a visible and audible indication.
The distress button should initiate a distress alert when kept pressed for at least three
seconds. A flashing light and an intermittent acoustic signal should start immediately.
After the three seconds, the transmission of the distress alert is initiated and the
indication should become steady and the acoustic signal should stop. If the distress
button is released before a distress alert is initiated, the light should go out and the
acoustic signal should stop.

2.8 The distress alert initiation should require at least two independent actions. The lifting
of the protective lid or cover is considered as the first action. Pressing the distress button as
specified above is considered as the second independent action.

2.9 The equipment should indicate the status of the distress alert transmission.

2.10 It should be possible to interrupt and initiate distress alerts at any time and to interrupt
repetitive transmissions of distress messages. Such operation should not interrupt the
transmission of a distress alert or distress message in progress but should prevent repetitive
transmissions of a distress message.

3 POWER SUPPLY

The VHF radio installation should be powered from the ship's main source of electrical energy.
In addition, it should be possible to operate the VHF installation from an alternative source of
electrical energy.

4 CONTROLS AND INDICATORS

4.1 Control of the equipment should be possible at the position from which the ship is
normally navigated. Control from that position should have priority if additional control units are
provided. When there is more than one control unit, indication should be given to the other
units that the equipment is in operation.

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4.2 The equipment should provide a standard interface to enable the selections of
channels and setting of Maritime Mobile Service Identity (MMSI) to be called from a remote
control unit (e.g. INS) by using standardized interfaces.1

4.3 DSC controls and indicators

4.3.1 It should be possible to initiate and make distress and safety calls from the position
from which the ship is normally navigated. The means for initiating a distress call should be as
prescribed in part A – General, paragraphs 2.6 to 2.8.

4.3.2 Initiation of DSC distress calls should supersede any other operation of the facility.

4.3.3 Self-identification data should be stored in the DSC unit. It should not be possible for
the user easily to change these data.

4.3.4 Means should be provided to enable routine testing of the DSC facilities without
radiation of signals.

4.3.5 Provision should be made for:

.1 specific alerts to indicate receipt of a distress or urgency calls or a call having

distress category.2 It should not be possible to disable this alarm and
indication. Provision should be made to ensure that they can be reset only
manually; and

.2 alerts for calls other than distress and urgency.

5 INTERFACES

5.1 Where the equipment is part of an integrated communication system (ICS), integrated
navigation system (INS), integrated bridge system (IBS) or connected to a navigation system,
this should not impair any of the GMDSS functions of the system or the equipment itself.

5.2 Equipment should provide an interface for bridge alert management (BAM) in
accordance with resolution MSC.302(87) on Performance standards for bridge alert
management.

5.3 The equipment should provide an interface to report a ship identifier and location data
from a received distress alert, maritime safety information (MSI) or search and rescue (SAR)
related information to navigation display system in order to enable a graphical display and
possible linking to available target information.

5.4 All interfaces provided for communication with other navigation and communication
equipment should comply with the relevant international standards. 3

6 HUMAN-MACHINE INTERFACE

6.1 The human-machine interface (HMI) should provide all functions necessary to carry
out all communication procedures including those required by the GMDSS.

1
Refer to IEC 61162.
2
Recommendation ITU-R M.493.
3
Refer to IEC 61162.

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6.2 Visual indications and visual presentations of text and graphics of the system should
conform to resolution MSC.191(79), as amended.

PART B – TRANSMITTER

1 FREQUENCIES AND CLASSES OF EMISSION

1.1 The equipment should be designated for operation on channels selected from and in
accordance with appendix 18 to the Radio Regulations.

1.2 The radiotelephone facility should be capable of operating as follows:

.1 in the band 156.025 MHz to 157.425 MHz on single-frequency channels as

specified in appendix 18 to the Radio Regulations; and

.2 in the band 156.025 MHz to 157.325 MHz for transmitting and the band
160.625 MHz to 161.925 MHz for receiving on two-frequency channels as
specified in appendix 18 to the Radio Regulations.

1.3 The digital selective calling facility should be capable of operating on channel 70.

1.4 Class of emission should comply with chapter IX of the Radio Regulations.

2 FREQUENCY ACCURACY AND TOLERANCE

The frequency tolerance for ship station transmitters should not exceed 10 parts in 10 6.

3 OUTPUT POWER

3.1 The transmitter output power should be between 6 and 25 W.

3.2 Provision should be made for reducing the transmitter output power to a value of less
than 1 W. However, this reduction of the power is optional on channel 70.

4 PERMISSIBLE WARMING-UP PERIOD

The equipment should be operational within five seconds after switching on.

5 CONTINOUS OPERATION

A manual non-locking push-to-talk switch to operate the transmitter with a visual indication that
the transmitter is activated and facilities to limit the transmission time to a maximum of five
minutes should be provided.

6 CONTROLS AND INDICATORS

6.1 Channel control and switching

6.1.1 Change of channel should be capable of being made as rapidly as possible, but in
any event within five seconds.

6.1.2 The time taken to switch from the transmit to the receive condition, and vice versa,
should not exceed 0.3 seconds.

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6.1.3 An on/off switch should be provided for the entire installation with a visual indication
that the installation is switched on.

6.1.4 A visual indication that the carrier is being transmitted should be provided.

6.1.5 The equipment should indicate the four-digit channel number, as given in the Radio
Regulations appendix 18, to which it is tuned. It should allow the determination of the channel
number under all conditions of external lighting. Where practicable, channels 16 and 70 should
be distinctively marked.

6.1.6 The equipment should not be able to transmit during a channel switching operation.

6.1.7 Operation of the transmit/receive control should not cause unwanted emissions.

6.2 Radiotelephone facility

6.2.1 Provision should be made for changing from transmission to reception by use of a
press-to-transmit switch. Additionally, facilities for operation on two-frequency channels
without manual control may be provided.

6.2.2 The receiver should be provided with a manual volume control by which the audio
output may be varied.

6.2.3 A squelch (mute) control should be provided on the exterior of the equipment.

6.3 Loudspeaker and telephone handset (radiotelephone facility)

6.3.1 The receiver output should be suitable for use with a loudspeaker and a telephone
handset. The audio output should be sufficient to be heard in the ambient noise level likely to
be encountered on board ships.

6.3.2 It should be possible to switch off the loudspeaker without affecting the audio output
of the telephone handset, if provided.

6.3.3 In the transmit condition during simplex operation, the output of the receiver should
be muted.

6.3.4 In the transmit condition during duplex operation, only the telephone handset should
be in circuit. Care should be taken to prevent any electrical or acoustic feedback, which could
cause singing.

7 SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

7.1 The equipment, when operating, should not be damaged by the effects of
open-circuited or short-circuited antenna terminals.

7.2 In case the standing wave ratio (SWR) becomes too high the power of the transmitter
can be automatically reduced without stopping the transmission and an appropriate alert
should be initiated.

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8 ANTENNA SYSTEM

The VHF antenna or antennae should be vertically polarized and, as far as practicable, be
omnidirectional in the horizontal plane. The installation should be suitable for efficient radiation
and reception of signals at the operating frequencies.

PART C – RECEIVER

1 FREQUENCIES AND CLASSES OF EMISSION

See Part B 1.

2 FREQUENCY TOLERANCE AND ACCURACY

The frequency tolerance for ship station receivers should not exceed 10 parts in 106.

3 USABLE SENSITIVITY

3.1 Radiotelephone facility

The sensitivity of the receiver should be equal to or better than 2 μV e.m.f. for a signal-to-noise
and distortion (SINAD) ratio of 20 dB.

3.2 Digital selective calling facility

With a DSC modulated input signal having a level of 1 μV e.m.f. to its associated VHF receiver,
the DSC equipment should be capable of decoding the received message with a maximum
permissible output character error rate of 10 -2.

4 RECEIVER OUTPUT

4.1 For the reception of voice signals, the receiver should be suitable for use with a
loudspeaker and a telephone handset and should be capable of providing power of at least 2 W
to loudspeaker and at least 1 mW to the handset.

4.2 An output should be provided for DSC signals if the corresponding facility is not
integrated.

5 PERMISSIBLE WARMING-UP PERIOD

See Part A 4.

6 IMMUNITY TO INTERFERENCE

The immunity to interference of the receiver should be such that the wanted signal is not
seriously affected by unwanted signals.

7 CONTROLS

See Part B 6.

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PART D – DIGITAL SELECTIVE CALLING FACILITY

1 DSC CAPABILITIES

1.1 The facility should conform to the provisions of the relevant ITU-R Recommendations
pertaining to the DSC system.4

1.2 The DSC facility should comprise:

.1 means to decode and encode DSC messages;

.2 means necessary for composing the DSC message;

.3 means to verify the prepared message before it is transmitted;

.4 means to display the information contained in a received call in plain

language;

.5 facilities to automatically update the ship's position and the time at which the
position was determined from a suitable electronic position-fixing aid which
may be an integral part of the equipment. For equipment which does not have
an integral position-fixing aid, such facilities should include a suitable
interface conforming to the appropriate international standards; 5

.6 means for the manual entry of position information and the time at which the
position was determined; and

.7 means to activate an alert when no position data is received from the

electronic position-fixing aid or, in the case of manual input, the position
information is over four hours old. Any position information not updated for
more than 23.5 hours should be erased.

2 DISTRESS MESSAGE STORAGE

2.1 If the received messages are not printed immediately, sufficient capacity should be
provided to enable at least 20 received distress messages to be stored in the DSC facility.

2.2 These messages should be stored until read-out and should be erased after 48 hours
after their reception.

***

4
Class A DSC equipment conforming to Recommendation ITU-R M.493 should be used to meet this
requirement.
5
Refer to IEC 61162.

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