SOLAS Shipborne Navigational Carriage Requirements

SOLAS Shipborne Navigational Carriage Requirements: A Complete Guide

At Seanav Marine, we specialize in guiding vessel owners and operators through the intricate requirements of international maritime regulations, particularly the SOLAS Chapter V “Safety of Navigation” provisions. Below, we present a detailed overview of the mandatory navigation equipment required onboard vessels, categorized by their gross tonnage (GT).

Overview of Requirements by Ship Size

The table below outlines the mandatory navigation equipment based on vessel size. Click on the relevant links to view the full list of equipment required for specific vessel tonnages.

Requirements for Ships Less Than 150 GT

Cargo Ships

• Standard magnetic compass*
• Pelorus or compass bearing device*
• Heading/bearing correction equipment*
• Nautical charts & publications (5)
• GNSS (e.g., GPS, Glonass, Galileo) or terrestrial Radio Nav. System*
• RADAR reflector* (3 & 9 GHz)
• Sound Reception System* (SRS) (3)
• Emergency steering system phone*
• Service & maintenance agreements (8)

Passenger Ships

• Standard magnetic compass*
• Pelorus or compass bearing device*
• Heading/bearing correction equipment*
• Spare magnetic compass
• Nautical charts & publications (5)
• GNSS (e.g., GPS, Glonass, Galileo) or terrestrial Radio Nav. System*
• RADAR reflector* (3 & 9 GHz)
• Sound Reception System* (SRS) (3)
• Emergency steering system phone*
• Daylight signaling lamp*
• Automatic Identification System* (AIS) (7)
• 9 GHz RADAR* (EPA, ATA, or ARPA) (X-band) (2)
• Echosounder*
• Speed & Distance Measuring Device (SDME)
• Transmitting Heading Device* (Gyro, Electromagnetic or Satellite) (THD)
• Long Range Identification and Tracking (LRIT)
• Bridge Navigational Watch Alarm System (BNWAS) (4)
• (S-)VDR (Simplified Voyage Data Recorder) (6)
• Service & maintenance agreements (8)

Requirements for Ships Between 150 GT and 299 GT

Cargo Ships

• Standard magnetic compass*
• Pelorus or compass bearing device*
• Heading/bearing correction equipment*
• Spare magnetic compass
• Nautical charts & publications (5)
• GNSS (e.g., GPS, Glonass, Galileo) or terrestrial Radio Nav. System*
• Sound Reception System* (SRS) (3)
• Emergency steering system phone*
• Daylight signaling lamp*
• Bridge Navigational Watch Alarm System (BNWAS) (4)
• Service & maintenance agreements (8)

Passenger Ships

• Same as cargo ships, with additional equipment:
  • Automatic Identification System* (AIS) (7)
  • 9 GHz RADAR* (EPA, ATA, or ARPA) (X-band) (2)
  • Echosounder*
  • Speed & Distance Measuring Device (SDME)
  • Transmitting Heading Device* (THD)
  • Long Range Identification and Tracking (LRIT)
  • (S-)VDR (Simplified Voyage Data Recorder) (6)
  • Service & maintenance agreements (8)

Requirements for Ships Between 300 GT and 499 GT

Cargo Ships

• Same equipment as ships between 150 GT and 299 GT, with the following additions:
  • 9 GHz RADAR* (EPA, ATA, or ARPA) (X-band) (2)
  • Echosounder*
  • Speed & Distance Measuring Device (SDME)
  • Transmitting Heading Device* (THD)
  • Long Range Identification and Tracking (LRIT)
  • Bridge Navigational Watch Alarm System (BNWAS) (4)

Passenger Ships

• Same as cargo ships, with additional equipment:
  • (S-)VDR (Simplified Voyage Data Recorder) (6)
  • Service & maintenance agreements (8)

Requirements for Ships Between 500 GT and 2,999 GT

Cargo Ships

• Same as ships between 300 GT and 499 GT, with added equipment:
  • Gyrocompass*
  • Gyrocompass heading repeater at emergency steering position*
  • Gyrocompass heading repeaters (360 degrees)* (1)
  • Indicators (rudder, propeller, thrust, pitch & operational mode)*

Passenger Ships

• Same as cargo ships, with additional equipment:
  • Electronic Chart Display & Information System (ECDIS) with backup*
  • (S-)VDR (Simplified Voyage Data Recorder) (6)
  • Service & maintenance agreements (8)

Requirements for Ships Between 3,000 GT and 9,999 GT

Cargo & Passenger Ships

• Same as ships between 500 GT and 2,999 GT, with additional equipment:
  • 3 GHz RADAR* (S-band)
  • Indicators (rudder, propeller, thrust, pitch & operational mode)*
  • Heading or Track Control System (autopilot) (HCS)

Requirements for Ships Between 10,000 GT and 49,999 GT

Cargo & Passenger Ships

• Same as ships between 3,000 GT and 9,999 GT, with the following additions:
  • Speed & Distance Measuring Device (SDME) – Speed Over Ground
  • Rate of Turn indicator* (ROT)

Requirements for Ships of 50,000 GT and Upward

Cargo & Passenger Ships

• Same as ships between 10,000 GT and 49,999 GT, with additional equipment:
  • Speed & Distance Measuring Device (SDME) – Speed Over Ground
  • Rate of Turn indicator* (ROT)

Important Notes

• (*) Approved alternatives are permitted.
• (1) Only applicable on ships < 1,600 GT if possible.
• (2) Minimum RADAR functionality:
  • < 500 GT: EPA
  • 500–10,000 GT: ATA
  • ≥ 10,000 GT: ARPA
• (3) Required for enclosed ship bridges, unless exempt by flag state.
• (4) Bridge Navigational Watch Alarm System (BNWAS) is required for all new vessels built after July 1, 2011. Existing vessel requirements vary based on the date of construction:
  • Passenger ships: As new vessel, by January 1, 2016
  • Cargo ships ≥ 3,000 GT: By July 1, 2012
  • Cargo ships 500–3,000 GT: By July 1, 2013
  • Cargo ships 150–500 GT: By July 1, 2014

For more details and specific inquiries about meeting these requirements for your vessel, contact Seanav Marine’s regulatory advisory team. We ensure your vessel complies with international navigation standards to maintain safety and operational efficiency.