Non-SOLAS radio: UK21/R001

Adopted EU recommendation RADIO-005. UK approved recommendation on the requirements for Marine Equipment containing radio frequencies not covered by SOLAS or the Merchant Shipping (Marine Equipment) Regulations 2016 as amended.

From:
Maritime and Coastguard Agency
Published
18 July 2023
Category:
Radio-communication equipment
Year adopted:
2021
Reference number:
UK21/R001
Keyword:
RADIO-005

Question

What are the requirements for marine equipment containing additional radio equipment that is making use of radio frequencies outside the spectrum specified in the Merchant Shipping (Marine Equipment) Regulations 2016 as amended (“the Regulations”) and SOLAS Convention?

Recommendation

  1. Radio equipment functionally covered by the Radio Equipment Regulations 2017 may be integrated into or affixed to Marine Equipment as an “additional option” in accordance with MarED Approved Recommendation GEN-025.
  2. Additional radio equipment integrated into or affixed to Marine Equipment must not affect the correct performance of the mandatory functions of the Marine Equipment. The manufacturer must take this into account in his analysis and assessment of the risk(s). This should be properly verified and documented by the Approved Body.
  3. The particular requirements of IMO Res.A.694(17) and IMO COMSAR Circ.32 must be observed:
    • The Marine Equipment shall meet the requirements of the Regulations in all possible configurations and operating conditions, whether the additional radio equipment is in normal operation or deactivated. The operation and the malfunction of the additional radio equipment shall not degrade the performance of the Marine Equipment.
    • The additional radio equipment and its antenna(s) shall be installed in accordance with IMO COMSAR Circ.32 and must not interfere with the mandatory navigation and radiocommunication equipment. Operation of the additional radio equipment is at the discretion of the master. It may be installed on the bridge provided that navigation and radio communication is not degraded. Interference with the mandatory equipment may also depend on the installation on board; therefore, final confirmation may only be possible after installation on board.
  4. The overall system shall comply with the environmental and EMC requirements of IEC 60945 clauses 8, 9 and 10. The additional radio equipment shall be tested as part of the Equipment under Test (EUT).
  5. If more than one transmitter can operate at the same time, then assessment of the spurious emissions and consideration of potential effects of intermodulation shall be performed. The spurious emissions test shall be carried out as set out in the relevant testing standards applicable to the Marine Equipment as outline in MSN 1874 as amended, and according to the typical operation conditions with all transmitters operating simultaneously.
  6. For the verification of the additional radio equipment functions refer to the essential requirements of The Radio Equipment Regulations 2017.

Note: AR GEN-025 and AR NAV-013 also apply.

References

  • IMO Res.A.694(17)
  • IMO COMSAR Circ.32
  • MSN 1874 as amended
  • The Merchant Shipping (Marine Equipment) Regulations 2016 as amended
  • The Radio Equipment Regulations 2017 as amended

Items affected

  • MSN 1874 Section 5: Radio-communication equipment

More information

Maritime and Coastguard Agency
Bay 2/21
Spring Place
105 Commercial Road
Southampton
SO15 1EG

Telephone: +44 (0) 203 817 2000

Email: MEQA@mcga.gov.uk

Website: www.gov.uk/mca

Published 18 July 2023
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