NVIC 08-01: Approval of navigation equipment for ships

COMDTPUB P16700.4 NVIC 801 26 September 2001 NAVIGATION AND VESSEL INSPECTION CIRCULAR NO. 801 Subj: APPROVAL OF NAVIGATION EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPS

Approval of navigation equipment for ships. — PURPOSE. This Circular establishes a Coast Guard approval program for navigation equipment, as required under Chapter V, regulation 18, of the 2000 amendments to the 1974 International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS).

PURPOSE. This Circular establishes a Coast Guard approval program for navigation equipment, as required under Chapter V, regulation 18, of the 2000 amendments to the 1974 International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS).

Approval of navigation equipment for ships. — ACTION: Operators of U.S. vessels and Coast Guard Officers in Charge, Marine Inspection should note that SOLAS Chapter V requires that SOLAS ships be equipped with type approved navigation equipment. This requirement should be considered effective with the coming into force of the 2000 SOLAS amendments on 1 July 2002, and it applies to all navigation equipment installed on board a ship subject to SOLAS on or after that date.

ACTION: Operators of U.S. vessels and Coast Guard Officers in Charge, Marine Inspection should note that SOLAS Chapter V requires that SOLAS ships be equipped with type approved navigation equipment. This requirement should be considered effective with the coming into force of the 2000 SOLAS amendments on 1 July 2002, and it applies to all navigation equipment installed on board a ship subject to SOLAS on or after that date.

Approval of navigation equipment for ships. — DIRECTIVES AFFECTED. None.

DIRECTIVES AFFECTED. None.

Approval of navigation equipment for ships. — BACKGROUND. The 2000 SOLAS amendments come into force on 1 July 2002. Regulations V/18.1 and 18.5 of these amendments require navigation equipment installed on ships on or after this date, to be type approved by the Administration. They also call for Administrations to require manufacturers to produce approved navigation equipment under a quality system audited by a competent authority. By establishing an approval program now, the Coast Guard is prov

4. BACKGROUND. The 2000 SOLAS amendments come into force on 1 July 2002. Regulations V/18.1 and 18.5 of these amendments require navigation equipment installed on ships on or after this date, to be type approved by the Administration. They also call for Administrations to require manufacturers to produce approved navigation equipment under a quality system audited by a competent authority. By establishing an approval program now, the Coast Guard is providing sufficient time to ensure that approved equipment will be available on that date.

Approval of navigation equipment for ships. — DISCUSSION. The Coast Guard, as the U.S. maritime safety Administration under SOLAS, is establishing this interim approval program using standards, regulations, and processes already in place, in order to meet the United States' obligations under SOLAS regulation V/18. The Coast Guard intends to propose Federal regulations to establish a permanent approval program, and to require carriage of approved navigation equipment on U.S. ships. Furthermore, m

5. DISCUSSION. The Coast Guard, as the U.S. maritime safety Administration under SOLAS, is establishing this interim approval program using standards, regulations, and processes already in place, in order to meet the United States' obligations under SOLAS regulation V/18. The Coast Guard intends to propose Federal regulations to establish a permanent approval program, and to require carriage of approved navigation equipment on U.S. ships. Furthermore, most navigation equipment approved under this NVIC is expected to be covered by a Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) with the European Union, which means that manufacturers obtaining Coast Guard approval of equipment under this NVIC should also be able to obtain approval under the European Marine Equipment Directive (MarED) at the same time. Conversely, manufacturers obtaining approval of navigation equipment under the MarED could receive a Coast Guard approval as well. Details on the MRA may be obtained from: Commandant (G-MSE-4) U.S. Coast Guard 2100 Second St. S.W. Washington, DC 20593 www.uscg.mil/hq/g-m/mse4/mse4home.htm

Approval of navigation equipment for ships. — IMPLEMENTATION. Manufacturers may obtain approval of the equipment listed in enclosure (1). The approval process is described in enclosure (2). Enclosure (3) describes the quality system requirements. The standards applying to approved navigation equipment are listed in enclosure (4).

Encl: (1) Coast Guard Approved Navigation Equipment (2) Coast Guard Approval Process for Navigation Equipment (3) Quality System Requirements (4) Standards for Approved Navigation Equipment Non-Standard Distribution: D:d Except Baltimore, Moriches, and Grand Haven. D:1 CG Liaison Officer MILSEALIFTCOMD (Code N-7CG), CG Liaison Officer RSPA (DHM-22), CG Liaison Officer MARAD (MAR-742), CG Liaison Officer ABS, Maritime Liaison Office Commander U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (1). ABS (1). NOAA Fleet Inspection Office (1). U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (1).