Solas Communication and Navigation Requirements

Solas Communication and Navigation Requirements: A Complete Guide

SEANAV MARINE is your trusted partner for understanding and complying with international regulations governing shipboard communication and navigation equipment. We provide comprehensive solutions to ensure your vessel meets the stringent standards set forth by the SOLAS Convention.

SOLAS Communication Carriage Requirements

To determine the specific equipment requirements for your vessel, please select the appropriate category below:

• Vessel Size and Sea Area:
  • 300-499 GT
  • 500 GT and Upward
  • 300-499 GT in Sea Area A1+A2
  • 300-499 GT in Sea Area A1+A2+A3
  • 500 GT and Upward in Sea Area A1+A2
  • 500 GT and Upward in Sea Area A1+A2+A3

SOLAS Navigational Carriage Requirements

To determine the specific equipment requirements for your vessel, please select the appropriate category below:

• Vessel Size:
  • Less than 150 GT
  • 150-299 GT
  • 300-499 GT
  • 500-2,999 GT
  • 3,000-9,999 GT
  • 10,000-49,999 GT
  • 50,000 GT and Upward

Need More Information?

Contact our experts today to discuss your specific needs and receive tailored advice. We’re committed to helping you navigate the complexities of SOLAS regulations and ensure your vessel’s compliance.

SOLAS Communication and Navigation Equipment Requirements

The Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention sets communication and navigation equipment standards for vessels based on their Gross Tonnage (GT) and operating areas (sea areas A1, A2, A3). Below is a summary of required equipment for different ship categories and areas:

Ships 300-499 GT in Sea Area A1

Cargo Ships:

• VHF + DSC
• Duplicated VHF + DSC
• VHF DSC Watch Receiver (Ch. 70)
• NAVTEX
• Satellite EPIRB (406 MHz) (4)
• Reserve Power Source + Automatic Battery Charger
• SBM – Shore Based Maintenance
• 2-Way Radio Telephones (GMDSS and Firefighting) (9)
• SAR Locating Device (RADAR-SART or AIS-SART) (5)
• General Alarm System + Communication or PA System
• RADAR (X-band, 9 GHz)
• SSAS – Ship Security Alert System (2)
• Annual Radio & AIS Surveys (7)
• Service & Maintenance Agreements (8)

Passenger Ships:

• VHF + DSC
• Duplicated VHF + DSC
• VHF DSC Watch Receiver (Ch. 70)
• NAVTEX
• Passenger Aero VHF
• GMDSS Alarm Panel
• Satellite EPIRB (406 MHz) (4)
• Reserve Power Source + Automatic Battery Charger
• SBM – Shore Based Maintenance
• 2-Way Radio Telephones (GMDSS and Firefighting) (9)
• SAR Locating Device (RADAR-SART or AIS-SART) (5)
• General Alarm System + Communication or PA System
• Public Address System
• RADAR (X-band, 9 GHz)
• SSAS – Ship Security Alert System (2)
• Annual Radio & AIS Surveys (7)
• Service & Maintenance Agreements (8)

Ships 500 GT and Upward in Sea Area A1

Cargo Ships:

• VHF + DSC
• Duplicated VHF + DSC or Duplicated MF SSB + DSC
• VHF DSC Watch Receiver (Ch. 70)
• MF SSB + DSC
• MF DSC Watch Receiver (2187.5 kHz)
• NAVTEX
• Satellite EPIRB (406 MHz) (4)
• Reserve Power Source + Automatic Battery Charger
• SBM – Shore Based Maintenance
• 2-Way Radio Telephones (GMDSS and Firefighting) (9)
• SAR Locating Device (RADAR-SART or AIS-SART) (5)
• General Alarm System + Communication or PA System
• RADAR (X-band, 9 GHz)
• LRIT Reporting Function (1)
• SSAS – Ship Security Alert System (2)
• Annual Radio & AIS Surveys (7)
• Service & Maintenance Agreements (8)

Passenger Ships:

• VHF + DSC
• Duplicated VHF + DSC or Duplicated MF SSB + DSC
• VHF DSC Watch Receiver (Ch. 70)
• MF SSB + DSC
• MF DSC Watch Receiver (2187.5 kHz)
• NAVTEX
• Passenger Aero VHF
• GMDSS Alarm Panel
• Satellite EPIRB (406 MHz) (4)
• Reserve Power Source + Automatic Battery Charger
• SBM – Shore Based Maintenance
• 2-Way Radio Telephones (GMDSS and Firefighting) (9)
• SAR Locating Device (RADAR-SART or AIS-SART) (5)
• General Alarm System + Communication or PA System
• Public Address System
• RADAR (X-band, 9 GHz)
• LRIT Reporting Function (1)
• SSAS – Ship Security Alert System (2)
• Annual Radio & AIS Surveys (7)
• Service & Maintenance Agreements (8)

Ships 300-499 GT in Sea Areas A1 + A2

Cargo Ships:

• VHF + DSC
• Duplicated VHF + DSC
• VHF DSC Watch Receiver (Ch. 70)
• MF SSB + DSC
• MF DSC Watch Receiver (2187.5 kHz)
• NAVTEX
• Satellite EPIRB (406 MHz) (4)
• Reserve Power Source + Automatic Battery Charger
• SBM – Shore Based Maintenance
• 2-Way Radio Telephones (GMDSS and Firefighting) (9)
• SAR Locating Device (RADAR-SART or AIS-SART) (5)
• General Alarm System + Communication or PA System
• RADAR (X-band, 9 GHz)
• LRIT Reporting Function (1)
• Annual Radio & AIS Surveys (7)
• Service & Maintenance Agreements (8)

Passenger Ships:

• VHF + DSC
• Duplicated VHF + DSC
• VHF DSC Watch Receiver (Ch. 70)
• MF SSB + DSC
• MF DSC Watch Receiver (2187.5 kHz)
• NAVTEX
• Passenger Aero VHF
• GMDSS Alarm Panel
• Satellite EPIRB (406 MHz) (4)
• Reserve Power Source + Automatic Battery Charger
• SBM – Shore Based Maintenance
• 2-Way Radio Telephones (GMDSS and Firefighting) (9)
• SAR Locating Device (RADAR-SART or AIS-SART) (5)
• General Alarm System + Communication or PA System
• Public Address System
• RADAR (X-band, 9 GHz)
• LRIT Reporting Function (1)
• Annual Radio & AIS Surveys (7)
• Service & Maintenance Agreements (8)

Ships 500 GT and Upward in Sea Area A1 + A2 + A3

Cargo Ships:

• VHF + DSC
• Duplicated VHF + DSC
• VHF DSC Watch Receiver (Ch. 70)
• MF SSB + DSC
• MF DSC Watch Receiver (2187.5 kHz)
• Inmarsat C (or GMDSS mini-C) with EGC Receiver
• MF/HF SSB + DSC + NBDP
• MF/HF DSC Watch Receiver (2, 4, 6, 8, 12 & 16 MHz)
• Duplicated Inmarsat C or GMDSS mini-C
• NAVTEX
• Satellite EPIRB (406 MHz) (4)
• Reserve Power Source + Automatic Battery Charger
• SBM – Shore Based Maintenance (6)
• 2-Way Radio Telephones (GMDSS and Firefighting) (9)
• SAR Locating Device (RADAR-SART or AIS-SART) (5)
• General Alarm System + Communication or PA System
• RADAR (X-band, 9 GHz)
• LRIT Reporting Function (1)
• SSAS – Ship Security Alert System (2)
• Annual Radio & AIS Surveys (7)
• Service & Maintenance Agreements (8)

Passenger Ships:

• VHF + DSC
• Duplicated VHF + DSC
• VHF DSC Watch Receiver (Ch. 70)
• MF SSB + DSC
• MF DSC Watch Receiver (2187.5 kHz)
• Inmarsat C (or GMDSS mini-C) with EGC Receiver
• MF/HF SSB + DSC + NBDP
• MF/HF DSC Watch Receiver (2, 4, 6, 8, 12 & 16 MHz)
• Duplicated Inmarsat C or GMDSS mini-C
• NAVTEX
• Passenger Aero VHF
• GMDSS Distress Alarm Panel
• Satellite EPIRB (406 MHz) (4)
• Reserve Power Source + Automatic Battery Charger
• SBM – Shore Based Maintenance (6)
• 2-Way Radio Telephones (GMDSS and Firefighting) (9)
• SAR Locating Device (RADAR-SART or AIS-SART) (5)
• General Alarm System + Communication or PA System
• Public Address System
• RADAR (X-band, 9 GHz)
• LRIT Reporting Function (1)
• SSAS – Ship Security Alert System (2)
• Annual Radio & AIS Surveys (7)
• Service & Maintenance Agreements (8)

These requirements help ensure communication and navigation safety standards, providing ships with the necessary equipment for emergencies and routine operations across different maritime zones.

Notes

(1) LRIT guidance

• LRIT functionality via Inmarsat: Inm-C, mini-C or IsatM2M
• LRIT functionality in Sea Areas A1+A2+A3+A4 via Iridium
• A valid LRIT Conformance Test Report (CTR) to be available on board

Contact us for LRIT Testing

(2) SSAS can be met by satellite or terrestrial communication system

(4) SBM of EPIRB required at every battery change or at least once every 5 years. Alternative method: Replace: the EPIRB with a new one VDR floating recording medium of new VDRs placed after 1 July 2014 includes EPIRB functionality and may fulfil the EPIRB requirement

(5) 2 pieces for passenger ships and cargo ships ≥ 500 gt and 1 piece for cargo ships < 500 gt

(6) At-Sea Maintenance as alternative for SBM is not in use

(7) Contact us for your annual Radio & AIS survey (Approved by the major Classification Societies)

(8) Contact us for all available service & maintenance agreements

(9) A) 2-way VHF radiotelephones, as follows:

• 3 pieces for passenger ships and cargo ships ≥ 500 gt
• 2 pieces for cargo ships < 500 gt

AND

B) Explosion proof or intrinsically safe 2-way portable radiotelephone
equipment: 2 pieces per fire party on board

• All ships built on or after 1 July 2014
• All ships built before 1 July 2014, not later than 1st survey after 1 July 2018

SEANAV MARINE does not guarantee the completeness, correctness, or continued topicality of the data and information. No rights can be derived from this information. We advise you to independently verify the correctness and completeness of this information before basing any action or non-action on this.

Moreover, SEANAV MARINE accepts no liability for the current validity, correctness, completeness or quality of the information made available. Liability claims against SEANAV MARINE which refer to damage of a material or non-material kind which was caused by the use or non-use of the information provided or by the use of erroneous and incomplete information have no validity whatsoever and are herewith expressly renounced by SEANAV MARINE to the furthest extent permittable by law.