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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 8 Dec 1998

Vol. 498 No. 1

Written Answers. - Marine Communications.

Michael Finucane

Question:

108 Mr. Finucane asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources if special training will be provided when digital selective calling radios are introduced; and, if so, where this training can be availed of. [26569/98]

A radio operator of any marine radiocommunications transmitter is required to hold a certificate of competency. The certficiates are issued by the Director of Telecommunications Regulation and the examinations are conducted by the marine radio survey office of my Department. A radio operator of a marine radiocommunications transmitter, which includes digital selective calling, or DSC, must hold one of the following certificates: a global maritime distress and safety system, GMDSS general operator's certificate, or GOL; a GMDSS restricted operator's certificate, or ROC; a radio operator's long range certificate, or LRC; or a radio operator's short range certificate, or SRC. The first two certificates mentioned are required under the Merchant Shipping (Radio) Rules, 1992, and the EU Council Directive 97/70/EC on fishing vessel safety for radio operators on vessels which are required, by international convention, to install GMDSS equipment. The third and fourth certificates mentioned are required for radio operators on vessels which install GMDSS on a voluntary basis.

At present, training is provided and the examinations are carried out for the GOL and the ROC at Cork and Limerick Institutes of Technology, Commencing in 1999, similar training and examinations will be carried out at the BIM national fisheries training centre, Greencastle, County Donegal, and at the new BIM training Centre in Castletownbere. Training is provided and examinations are held for the radio operator's LRC at Greencastle, and will be available in 1999 in Castletownbere. Training will also be provided and examinations will be held, commencing in 1999, for the radio operator's SRC, at both Greencastle and Castletownbere. I understand there may also be opportunities for people to be trained and examined in both the LRC and SRC at the institutes of technology at Cork and Limerick. There will also be an opportunity for suitably qualified training instructors who provide the necessary radio equipment and examination facilities to train people for the SRC.

Michael Finucane

Question:

109 Mr. Finucane asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the length of time existing marine VHF sets will be monitored on channel 16 in Irish waters. [26570/98]

After 31 January 1999, ships subject to the provision of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, or SOLAS 1974, as amended, will be equipped with the shipboard equipment required by the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System, or GMDSS. The installation of the equipment necessary for the reception of VHF digital selective calling, or DSC, at the Irish marine emergency service or IMES centres will be completed by the end of 1999. Ireland has already installed MF DSC shore facilities.

The International Maritime Organisation, also known as IMO, has urged all administrations to encourage non-SOLAS, fishing and recreational vessel to become GMDSS compliant as soon as possible.

The Council Directive 97/70/EC requires that certain fishing vessels will have to install full GMDSS radio communications equipment appropriate to their sea area of operation. I also intend to introduce soon radio rules to apply to fishing vessels not covered by this Council Directive.

It is expected that many recreational craft will also fit VHF DSC. Currently, equipment suitable for use on recreational craft is being designed and manufactured.

The IMO has stated that from the 1 February 2005 an aural distress watch on VHF channel 16 will no longer be required on ships subject to the provisions of SOLAS.
The aural distress watch on VHF channel 16 at the IMES Centres will continue for the foreseeable future. My Department will review this requirement at regular intervals after 1 February 1999 which is the full implementation date of GMDSS. I expect in the course of these reviews, including consultation with interested parties, a date will be identified when the aural distress watch on VHF channel 16 at IMES centres can cease.
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