scope:

This International Standard assists in meeting a requirement of the International Convention for Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), adopted by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), that the radio equipment defined in chapters III and IV, and the navigation equipment defined in chapter V of the Convention, be type-approved by administrations to conform with performance standards not inferior to those adopted by the IMO. (Administrations are defined by the IMO as governments of the states whose flags the ships are entitled to fly.)

The performance standard for general requirements for shipborne radio equipment and electronic navigation aids that has been adopted by the IMO is given in IMO Resolution A.694 and is reproduced in this standard as annex A, which forms the basis for this standard. Reference is made, where appropriate, to IMO Resolutions A.694 and A.813 and all subclauses whose wording is identical to that in the resolutions are printed in italics.

This standard specifies minimum performance requirements, methods of testing and required test results for general requirements which can be applied to those characteristics common to all equipment described hereunder:

a) shipborne radio equipment forming part of the global maritime distress and safety system required by the International Convention for Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) as amended, and by the Torremolinos International Convention for the Safety of Fishing Vessels as amended;

b) shipborne navigational equipment required by the International Convention for Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) as amended, and by the Torremolinos International Convention for the Safety of Fishing Vessels as amended, and to other navigational aids, where appropriate; and

c) for EMC only, all other bridge-mounted equipment, equipment in close proximity to receiving antennas, and equipment capable of interfering with safe navigation of the ship and with radio-communications (see IMO Resolution A.813).

NOTE For EMC, this standard is in the IEC category "product family".

The requirements of this standard are not intended to prevent the use of new techniques in equipment and systems, provided the facilities offered are not inferior to those stated.