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LRIT

IMSO Model Financial

Contract for use LONG RANGE IDENTIFICATION AND TRACKING OF SHIPS (LRIT)
between LRIT Data
Centres 1.Overview

Model LRIT Services 1.1 As part of the international maritime community’s wide-ranging response to the
Agreement growing threat from terrorism world-wide, the International Maritime Organization (IMO)
Statement of Goals decided to establish a new system for the global identification and tracking of ships.
and Objectives Following a major effort to identify appropriate technologies, establish the necessary
global legal regime and achieve political consensus concerning the collection,
Review and Audit distribution and use of the data, IMO has established a system for the Long-Range
Procedures Identification and Tracking of Ships (LRIT).
Letter of Interim
Authorization 1.2 The LRIT system consists of shipborne LRIT
information transmitting equipment, Communication
List of LRIT Key IMO Service Provider(s), Application Service Provider(s),
References LRIT Data Centre(s), the LRIT Data Distribution Plan and
LRIT Coordinator the International LRIT Data Exchange. Certain aspects
Circulars of the performance of the LRIT system are reviewed or
audited by the LRIT Coordinator acting on behalf of all
Contracting Governments to the International
Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS). IMSO
has been
appointed to be the LRIT Coordinator.

1.3 Figure 1 provides an illustration of the LRIT system architecture.

Figure 1
1.4 Under new SOLAS Regulation V/19-1, ships will be required to report their position
(LRIT information) automatically, to a special shore data collection, storage and

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distribution system, at least four times a day. LRIT information is provided to Contracting
Governments and Search and Rescue services entitled to receive the information, upon
request, through a system of National, Regional, and Co operative LRIT Data Centres,
using where necessary, the International LRIT Data Exchange.

1.5 This article is intended to provide an overview of the general structure of the
international LRIT system, with a summary of the most important LRIT functions and
requirements. It does not supersede SOLAS Regulation V/19.1 or any of the supporting
resolutions promulgated by IMO, which should always be consulted for definitive
information.

2 The Regulatory Basis for LRIT

2.1 The obligations of ships to transmit LRIT information and the rights and obligations
of Contracting Governments and of SAR services to receive LRIT information are
established in regulation V/19-1 of the 1974 SOLAS Convention.

2.2 IMO has also established a series of Assembly Resolutions and MSC Circulars that
provide details of the technical and operational criteria, and arrangements for the
implementation of the LRIT system world wide. These include:

Resolution Revised Performance Standards and Functional Requirements

MSC.263(84) for LRIT
Technical Documentation (part 1) – Interim Revised Technical
MSC.1/Circ.1259
Specifications for the LRIT system
MSC.1/Circ.1294 Technical Documentation (part 2)

MSC.1/Circ.1298 Guidance on the implementation of the LRIT system

Resolution
Appointment of the LRIT Coordinator
MSC.275(85)

Note: A full list of all documents relevant to the establishment and implementation of
LRIT can be found on the IMO public web site: www.imo.org.

2.3 Individual Flag States are expected to publish specific regulations for the ships on
their Register providing detailed guidance on the implementation of LRIT, including ship
equipment conformance test arrangements, plus the Application Service Provider(s) and
Data Centre chosen by the Flag concerned.

3 Shipborne Equipment

3.1 The regulations that require ships to participate in the LRIT system apply to the
following types of ships engaged on international voyages:

1. passenger ships, including high-speed passenger craft;

2. cargo ships, including high-speed craft, of 300 gross tonnage3 and upwards; and
3. mobile offshore drilling units.

However, ships operating in Sea Area A4, as defined in SOLAS regulation VI/2.1.15,
must comply not later than the first survey of the radio installation after 1 July 2009.

A typical GMDSS-compliant
passenger ship

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3.2 The “shipborne equipment” utilised for LRIT can be any communications terminal on
board the vessel that is capable of automatically transmitting the ship’s LRIT information,
without human intervention, at 6-hourly intervals to an LRIT data centre.

3.3 In addition, the shipboard equipment must be capable of:

being configured remotely to transmit LRIT information at variable intervals;

transmitting LRIT information on receipt of a specific request from the shore (ie
when polled); and
being interfaced with an external global navigation satellite receiver (eg GPS), or
have an internal positioning capability.

3.4 It must also meet a number of specific environmental and installation requirements,
including the general requirements for shipborne radio equipment forming part of the
global maritime distress and safety system (GMDSS) set out in IMO resolution
A.,694(17).

4 The LRIT Information

4.1 The LRIT Information that is required to be transmitted by the ship is specified in new
SOLAS Regulation V/19-1.5 and is limited to:

1. identity of the ship;

2. position of the ship (latitude and longitude); and
3. date and time of the position provided.

5 Communication Service Provider(s)

5.1 The Communication Service Provider (CSP) provides the communications services
which transfer LRIT data securely from ship to the ASP on shore. The means of
communication will often be via satellite, but the LRIT system itself is independent of the
means of communication, and any method can be used, as long as the correct packet of
data arrives on shore at the right periodicity or when demanded. The IMO Performance
Standard requires that:

“The shipboard equipment should transmit the LRIT information using a communication
system which provides coverage in all areas where the ship operates.”

6 Application Service Provider(s)

6.1 The Application Service Provider (ASP) receives the LRIT reports transmitted by the
ship via the CSP, adds certain additional information to each report, and forwards the
reports to the Data Centre nominated by the ship’s Flag State. The information to be
added to each LRIT report by the ASP includes:

1. IMO ship identification number and MMSI for the ship;

2. name of the ship;
3. unique identification code for the LRIT Data Centre; and
4. a number of time stamps used for tracking and audit purposes.

6.2 In addition, the ASP is responsible for testing and configuring the ship’s
communications terminal, both when the terminal is new and during continued LRIT
reporting, including executing “on demand” transmissions of LRIT data.

6.3 Experience has shown that ship’s communication terminals do not always continue
reporting automatically without further intervention, and the ASP is responsible for
identifying when a terminal has ceased automatic reporting for any reason and resetting
its reporting function when required.

6.4 Lastly, the ASP must ensure that LRIT information is collected, stored and routed in
a reliable and secure manner.

6.5 The ASP is will often be a commercial entity, and is chosen and recognized by a
Contracting Government to provide LRIT Data to their Data Centre.

7 LRIT Data Centres

7.1 The primary purposes of an LRIT Data Centre (DC) are to collect, store and make

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available to authorised entities the LRIT information transmitted by ships instructed by

their administrations to utilise the services of that DC. In carrying out these core
functions, the DC is required to ensure that LRIT data users are only provided with the
LRIT information they are entitled to receive under the terms of SOLAS Regulation
V/19.1.

7.2 In addition, the LRIT DC acts as a “clearing house” by receiving requests for LRIT
information lodged in other DCs from its associated Administration(s) and obtaining the
data requested. Generally LRIT reports so requested will be exchanged through the
International Data Exchange.

7.3 LRIT Data Centres are required to archive their data so that the reports can be
recovered, if required, at a later date and the activities of the DC can be audited by the
LRIT Coordinator.

7.4 LRIT DCs may make a charge for LRIT data they provide to other DCs.

7.5 DCs may be either National (established to provide service to only one Contracting
Government); Cooperative (established to provide services to a number of Contracting
Governments) or Regional (established to provide services to a number of Contracting
Governments acting through a regional entity of some kind). The IMO Performance
Standard envisages also an International Data Centre (IDC), to provide LRIT services on
an international basis to many countries that do not wish to establish their own DCs, but
the IMO Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) has not yet decided to establish such an IDC.

8 International LRIT Data Exchange

8.1 The International LRIT Data Exchange (IDE) exists to route LRIT information
between LRIT DCs using the information provided in the LRIT Data Distribution Plan. It is
therefore connected via the internet to all LRIT DCs and the LRIT Data Distribution Plan
server.

8.2 The IDE cannot access and does not archive the LRIT data itself, but it does
maintain a journal of message header information – which can be understood as the
“envelope” containing the LRIT information. This journal is used for invoicing functions
and for audit purposes.

8.3 The performance of the IDE is audited by the LRIT Coordinator.

9 LRIT Data Distribution Plan

9.1 The LRIT Data Distribution Plan (DDP) is principally a database that holds
information needed to allow the international LRIT system to operate correctly. The DDP
is consulted by any DC in order to determine whether a request for LRIT information
should be allowed under the rules for the distribution of LRIT data.

9.2 The DDP information includes:

1. a list of the unique identification codes assigned to key elements in the LRIT
system;
2. the coordinates which define the various geographical areas declared by
Contracting Governments within which they wish to exercise their rights to receive
or restrict the distribution of LRIT information as a Flag or Coastal State; and
3. a list of the ports and port facilities within the territory and places under the
jurisdiction of each Contracting Government.

10 LRIT System Security

10.1 Current LRIT information can have both a security and a commercial value. It must
therefore be strictly protected from unauthorised access in storage and when it is being
exchanged. The LRIT Performance Standard provides for the protection of LRIT data
through the protection not only of the databases themselves, but also the
communication links used to exchange data. Recommended methods of data protection
include: authorization prior to access; authentication of those accessing the data;
confidentiality (usually by encryption of the data) and data integrity checking.

11 The LRIT Coordinator

11.1 IMSO has been appointed as the LRIT Coordinator by the Maritime Safety
Committee; and has implemented that decision by amendments to the IMSO Convention

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and its operational procedures.

11.2 The functions of the LRIT Coordinator include:

1. assisting in the establishment of the IDE and IDC through issuing and evaluating
Requests for Proposals to potential operators;
2. facilitating the testing and integration of new DCs and other elements into the
international LRIT system;
3. reviewing the performance of the system on an annual basis, through review and
audit of ASPs, DCs and the IDE, verifying in particular that Contracting
Governments and Search and Rescue services receive the information they are
entitled to, and not any information to which they are not entitled; and
4. providing an annual report to the Maritime Safety Committee on the performance
of the LRIT system including any non-conformities, and making any appropriate
recommendations with a view to improving the efficiency, effectiveness and
security of the LRIT system.

11.3 The LRIT Coordinator is authorised to charge for the services it provides.

12 Access to LRIT Information

12.1 Under the terms of SOLAS Regulation V/19-1.8, governments are entitled to receive
LRIT information, if they wish to do so, for security and other purposes, in four basic
situations:

1. as a Flag State, an Administration is entitled to receive LRIT information about

ships entitled to fly its flag irrespective of where such ships may be located;
2. as a Port State, a Contracting Government is entitled to receive LRIT information
about ships which have indicated their intention to enter a port facility or a place
under the jurisdiction of that Contracting Government, subject to certain
restrictions;
3. as a Coastal State, a Contracting Government is entitled to receive LRIT
information about ships entitled to fly the flag of other Contracting Governments,
not intending to enter a port facility or a place under the jurisdiction of that
Contracting Government, navigating within a distance not exceeding 1,000
nautical miles of its coast, subject to certain restrictions; and
4. the Search and Rescue Service of a Contracting Government may receive, free of
any charges, LRIT information in relation to the search and rescue of persons in
distress at sea.

12.2 In addition, the MSC has subsequently decided that Contracting Governments may
request, receive and use LRIT information for safety and marine environment protection
purposes. The details of these uses have not yet been worked out.

12.3 Contracting Governments will generally have to pay a small charge, reflecting
largely the costs of data collection and storage, for the LRIT information they use. The
MSC has decided that ships themselves shall not be charged for the transmission or
other costs of participation in the LRIT system. Similarly, the LRIT system has been
designed so that the capabilities of many existing satellite communication terminals (eg
Inmarsat C), mandatorily fitted in most SOLAS ships, will be sufficient for LRIT purposes.

As a result, it should not be necessary for the majority of ships to incur any significant
cost in implementing the new LRIT reporting requirements.

***

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