669

[LEGAL NOTICE No. 100]

MARITIME TRANSPORT DECREE 2013
(DECREE No. 20 OF 2013)

Maritime (Radio) Regulations 2014

TABLE OF PROVISIONS
PART 1- PRELIMINARY
1. Short title and commencement
2. Interpretation
3. Objective
4. Application
PART 2-RADIO WATCH AND RADIO PERSONNEL
5. Radio watch
6. Radio operators for Fiji ships
7. Radio operators for foreign ships
PART 3-SURVEYS AND INSPECTIONS
8. Radio surveys
9. Recognition of radio surveyor

PART 4-INSTALLATION, MAINTENANCE AND RECORDS

10. Installation, location and control of radio equipment
11. Serviceability and maintenance requirements
12. Testing of equipment
13. Radio records
PART 5-PERFORMANCE STANDARDS - VHF RADIOS
14. VHF radio
15. VHF radio (voice communication and DSC)
PART 6-PERFORMANCE STANDARDS - MFI HF RADIOS
16. MFI HF radio (voice communication only)
17. MFI HFradio (voice communication, narrow-band direct printing and DSC)

PART 7 - PERFORMANCE STANDARDS - SATELLITE EQUIPMENT

18. INMARSAT - C Ship earth station
19. INMARSAT - ship earth station capable of two-way voice and data
communication
PART 8 - PERFORMANCE STANDARDS - LOCATOR BEACONS
20. 406 MHz EPIRB
21. 1.6 GHz EPIRB
22. VHF EPIRB
23. 9 GHz radar transponder (SART)
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PART 9- PERFORMANCE STANDARDS - EGC fOR MSI AND NAVTEX

24. NAVTEX
2), EGC equipment

PART 10- PERFORMANCE STANDARDS - SURVIVAL CRAFT VHf RADIO

26. Survival craft VHF radiotelephone

PART 11- PERfORMANCE STANDARDS - IRCS SYSTEM

27. Integrated radio communication system (lRCS)

PART 12 - PERFORMANCE STANDARDS - GENERALLY APPLICABLE

28. Float-free release and activation arrangements
29. General requirements 1(.)1' equipment fonning part of the GMDSS system

PART 13-EPIRB REGISTRATION

30. EPIRB registration
Schedule 1 - Radio equipment tests I'H· GMDSS ships
Schedule 2 - Radio equipment tests for Non-GMDSS ships
Schedule 3 - Application for certificate of recognition for radio surveyors

IN exercise oflhe powers conferred upon me by section 240( I )(1) of the Maritime Transport
Decree 2013, I hereby make these Regulations-

PART I-PRELIMINARY
Short tilf(' alld COIIIIII('IICt'II/('1I1

I. These Regulations may be cited as the rVlaritime (Radio) Regulations 2014 and shall
come into force on a date or dates appointed by the Minister by notice in the Gazette.

Illterpretation
2. In these Regulations, unless the context otherwise requires,~

"approved organisation" means a company, a body of persons whether corporate

or unincorporated, or any other entity that is managing a safe ship
management system approved under Maritime (Safe Ship Nlanagement
Systems) Regulations 2014, and that represents any party and the ship
owners belonging to that safe ship management system, or solely the ship
owners belonging to that system;
"authorised officer" has the same meaning as under section 2 of the Decree;
"Authority" means the Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji;
"Chief Executive Officer" means the Chief Executive Officer of the Authority;
"continuous radio watch" means a radio watch that is not interrupted except-
(a) for brief intervals when the ship's receiving capability is impaired;
(b) when the radio installation is under periodic maintenance or tests; or
 671

(c) in the case of a radio telephone watch on VHF or ivIF/I-IF, when

the receiver is being lIsed to obtain vital information on the other
channels or frequencies;
"Decree" means the Maritime Transport Decree 2013;
"direct-printing telegraphy" means automated telegraphy techniques that comply
wilh the relevant recommendations of the International Telecommunication
Union;
"dbi" means the numerical units for gain with respect to radio reception;
"DSC" means Digital Selective Calling, which is a technique that uses digital
codes, which enables a radio station to establish contact with another
station or group of stations;
"EGC" means Enhanced Group Calling, and in relation to enhanced group
calling equipment, means equipment lIsed to store and print out information
received by the ship via the INMARSAT system;
"EPIRB" means Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon, which is
a transmitting station in the mobile service, the emissions of which are
intended to facilitate search and rescue operations;
"Fiji Official Log book" means the logbook as defined in the Maritime (Logbook)
Regulation 2014;
"foreign ship" shall have the same meaning as defined under section 2 of the
Decree;
"GMDSS" means global maritime distress and safety system;
"GMDSS ship" means any ship that is-
(a) a ship, other than a fishing ship, of 45 metres or more in length
which proceeds beyond inshore waters;
(b) a non-passenger ship of 300 gross tonnage or more which proceeds
beyond the territorial waters;
(c) a passenger ship which proceeds beyond the territorial waters; or
(d) a fishing ship which proceeds beyond the territorial waters;
"General Operators Certificate" means a certificate issued by the Authority to a
radio operator on board a ship;
"HP" means high frequency, being the frequency spectrum between 3000 kHz
and 30 MHz;
"INMARSAT" means the organisation established by the Convention on the
International Maritime Satellite Organisation (lNMARSAT) adopted on
the 3rd day of September 1976;
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"Integrated Radio Communication System (lRCS)" means a system in which

individual radio communication equipment and installations are used as
sensors, without the need for their own control units, providing outputs to
and accepting inputs from the operator's position (workstation);
"J nternational Telecommunication Union" or "ITU" means the specialised agency
of the United Nations that is responsible for issues that concern information
and communication technologies and coordinates the shared global use
of the radio spectruIll, promotes international cooperation in assigning
satellite orbits, works to improve telecommunication infrastructure in
the developing world, and assists in the development and coordination of
worldwide technical standards;
IIITU Radio Regulations" means the ITU Radio Regulations as adopted by the
World Administrative Radio Conference, Geneva, 1979, as wen as the
revisions and resolutions adopted by subsequent Conferences of the ITU,
and published nnder the anthority of the Secretary-General of the ITU;
"maintenance" means any activity intended to keep a radio installation
in satisfactory working condition and includes tests, measurements,
replacements, adjustments and repair;
"maritime safety information (MSI)" means navigational and meteorological
warnings, meteorological forecasts, and other urgent safety-related
messages broadcast to ships;
"MF" means medium frequency, being the frequency spectrum between 300kHz
and 3000kHz;
"mile" means a standard nautical mile;
"NAVTEX" means the international service of coordinated broadcast and
automatic reception on 518 kHz of maritime safety information by means
of narrow-band direct-printing telegraphy using the English language;
"Non-GMDSS ship" means a ship that does not proceed beyond the near coastal
waters of Fiji;
"near coastal waters" means all the waters in Fiji comprising-
(a) the internal waters;
( b) the archipelagic waters; and
(c) territorial waters;
"passenger ship" means a ship which carries more than 12 passengers 011 a voyage
beyond Fiji waters, or any number of passengers on a voyage within Fiji
waters;
"radar transponder" means a survival craft radar transponder used to assist search
and rescue between ships or aircraft and survival craft;
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"radio installation" means any radio installation required by maritime Regulations

to be provided on board a ship, including its associated antennas,
interconnecting circuits and where appropriate. sources of electrical energy;
"radio log" means the record required to be kept under regulation 13;
"silence period" means a period of 3 minutes beginning at each hour and at 30
minutes after each hour of each day, reckoned according to Coordinated
Universal Time, during which no transmission other than for distress may
be made, on the frequency of 2182kHz;
"SOLAS" means the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea 1974;
"STeW Convention" means the International Convention on Standards of
Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978, as amended;
"unlimited voyage" has the same meaning as defined in the Maritime (STeW
Convention) Regulations 2014; and
"VHF" means very high frequency, being the frequency spectlUm between 30
MHz and 300 MHz.
Objectives
3.-( I) The objectives of these Regulations are to prescribe requirements that apply to
ship borne radio installations and the peIfonnance standards that ship borne radio equipment
must adhere to.
(2) For the pUlposes of these Regulations, the requirements in sub-regulation (I)
include-
(a) survey and inspection provisions;
(b) maintenance of a continuous radio watch;
(e) the installation, maintenance and testing of radio equipment;
(d) keeping of records of important radio messages; and
(e) the qualifications to be held by radio operators.
Applicatioll
4.-( I) These Regulations shall apply to every Fiji ship that is required by any maritime
Regulations to carry radio communication equipment.
(2) Regulation 6(3) shall apply to the following ships while they are at a Fiji port or
offshore terminal-
(a) a foreign passenger ship; and
(b) a foreign non~passenger ship of 300 gross tonnage or more.
(3) These Regulations shall not apply to the Republic of Fiji Navy Ships.
 674

PART 2-RADIO WATCH AND RADIO PERSONNEL

Radio 1I'atch
5. - (I) The mastcr of a ship shall ensure lhat-
(aJ a continuous radio watch is maintained while the ship is ftt sea; and
(b) the watch is kept at the position from which the ship is normally navigated.
(2) The continuous watch required under sub-regulation (1) shall be maintained-
(aj for those ships not undertaking an international voyage and which are
required by the maritime Regulations to be fitted with a VHF radio, except
Oil channel 16 lIsing radio telephone;
(b) for every ship undertaking an international voyage which are required by
the maritime Regulations to be fitted with a VHF radio, on channel 70 using
DSC and channel 16 lIsing radio telephone;
( c) for every non-GMDSS ship which are required by the maritime Regulations
to be fitted with an MFnIF radio, on such distress and safety frequencies
for radiotelephony as Illay be appropriate for the time of day and the
geographical location of the ship in relation to a Fiji HF coast radio station;
(d) every GMDSS ship which is required to be fitted with an MF/HF radio-
(i) on the distress and safety DSC frequencies 2187.5 kHz and 8414.5
kHz; and
(ii) on at least one of the distress and safet), DSC frequencies 4207.5
kHz, 6312 kHz, 12577 kHz or 16804.5 kHz, as may be appropriate
to the time of day and the geographical position of the ship; and
(e) for every GMDSS ship that are required by the maritime Regulations to
be fItted with an INMARSAT ship earth station, for satellite shore-to-ship
distress alerts.
(3) The master of any ship shall ensure that, while at sea, a radio watch is maintained
for broadcasts of maritime safety information on the appropriate frequency or frequencies
on which such information is broadcasted for the area in which the ship is operating.
Radio operators/or Fiji ships
6.-( 1) The owner and master of a ship shall ensure that, when at sea, the ship has 011
board a person or persons qualified in accordance with these Regulations for distress and
safety radio communication purposes.
(2) The master shall designate one such person under sub-regulation (1) as having the
primary responsibility for radio communications during distress incidents.
(3) The person operating the VHF radio on a ship which is required by the Maritime
Regulations to be provided with a VHF radio only, shall hold a minimum qualification of
a VHF radio operator issued by the Chief Executive Officer.
(4) All radio operators on SOLAS Fiji Registered Ships shall hold a General Operator's
Certificate issued by the Chief Executive Officer.
 675

(5) All radio operators 00 ships other than SOLAS ships shall hold the appropriate
radio certificate in accordance with the Maritime (STC\V Convention) Regulations 2014.
Radio opel'/ltors forfoJ"eigll sllli).\'
7, The person operating any of the radio equipment on any foreign passenger ship
or any foreign non-passenger ship of 300 gross tonnage or more while the ship is at a Fiji
port or offshore terminal shall hold, as a minimum qualification, a valid GMDSS General
Operator's Certificate issued in accordance with Chapter IV of STeW Convention subject
to sections 26 and 27 of the Decree.

PART 3-SURVEYS AND INSPECTIONS

Radio .Hlr)'cys
8.- (I) The owner of a ship shall ensure that the ship's radio installation is surveyed
by a radio surveyor recognised by the Chief Executive Officer, in accordallce with the
Maritime (Fiji Maritime Code) Regulations 2014.
(2) The ownerofevelY fishing ship which is assigned to Fiji waters or to an unlimited
voyage shall ensure that any radio installation fitted in the ship is surveyed by a radio
surveyor recognised by the Chief Executive Officer-
(a) when the radio installation is installed; and
(b) annually after the radio installation has been installed.
(3) The owner of every ship other than any t1shing ship to which sub-regulation (2)
applie~,shaH ensure that any radio installation fitted in the ship is inspected by a radio
surveyor recognised by the Chief Executive Officer under this regulation-
(a) when it is installed;
(b) at anllual intervals after its installation; and
(e) at such periods as may be determined by the approved organisation for that
ship.
Recogllltion of radio SII/"\'eyor
9.-(1) The Chief Executive Officer may, upon a person applying in the form prescribed
in Schedule 3, consider the application and if satisfied, recognise that person as a radio
surveyor by issuing a maritime document in accordance with section 24 of the Decree.
(2) For the purposes of sub-regulation (l), the Chief Executive Officer is satisfied if
the person-
(a) has the technical qualifications and experience to undertake the radio
inspections authorised by the maritime document;
(b) is proficient in reading, writing and communicating in the English language;
and
(c) is a fit and proper person under section 24 of the Decree to hold such a
document.
 676

(3) A maritime document recognising a person as a radio surveyor shall-

(a) be issued for the purposes of regulation 8(3) only;
( b) state the extent and type of radio inspections that may be undertaken by the
radio surveyor;
(c) be issued for a period of not more than 5 years; and
(d) state the period of validity of the document.

PART 4-INSTALLATION, MAINTENANCE AND RECORDS

!lIStallatioll, location alld control of radio equipment
10.-(1) The owner of a ship shan ensure that any radio installation fitted on the ship
is-
(a) positioned in such a manner,-
(i) that no harmful interference of mechanical, electrical or other origin
affects its proper use;
(ii) so as to ensure electromagnetic compatibility;
(iii) to avoid harmful interaction with other equipment and systems; and
(iv) to ensure the greatest possible degree of safety and operational
availability;
(b) protected against the hanl1ful effects of water, extremes of temperature and
other adverse environmental conditions;
(e) where practicable, provided with reliable, permanently arranged electrical
lighting, independent of the main and emergency sources of electrical
power, for the adequate illumination of the radio controls for operating the
radio installation; and
(d) clearly marked with the call sign, the ship station identity and other codes
as may be applicable for use of the radio installation.
(2) The owner of a ship shall ensure that-
(a) the control of VHF radio telephone channels is immediately available
at a location convenient to the position from which the ship is normally
navigated; and
(b) where applicable, facilities are available to permit radio communications
from the wings of a navigation bridge or other remote station from which
the ship may be navigated.
(3) The owner of a ship shaH ensure that each installed radio transmitter and receiver
of a radio installation is provided with an antenna or antennas that are constructed and
sited in such a manner so as to enable each transmitter and receiver to perform its intended
communication function effectively.
 677

(4) The owner of a ship-

(a) on which wire antennas arc provided as part of a radio installation of the
ship shall ensure that the wire antennas are-
(i) fitted with suitable insulators; and
(ii) if suspended between supports, will not be liable to whipping and
will be protected against breakage; and
(h) shall ensure that the ship carries-
(i) a spare wire antenna completely assembled for rapid replacement, if
the antenna is a supported wire antenna,; and
(ii) a spare antenna of similar electrical characteristics to the antenna
fitted, if the antenna is not a supported wire antenna,
Serviceability and maintellance requirements
11.-(1) The owner and master of a ship shall ensure that each radio installation,
including backup equipment on that ship continues to work in a satisfactOlY condition,
whenever that ship goes to sea, and that-
(a) all equipment forming part of each radio installation is reliable and
constructed and installed in such a manner, that it is readily accessible for
survey and on board maintenance purposes;
( b) adequate information, written in the English language, is provided on board
the ship to enable the equipment to be properly operated and maintained;
and
(c) adequate tools and spares are provided on board the ship to enable the radio
equipment to be maintained.
(2) The owner and master of a ship shall ensure that each radio installation on the ship
is of such design that the main units can be replaced readily, without significant recalibration
or readjustment.
Testing of cqliipmcm
12.-(1) The master of any GMDSS ship shall-
(a) nominate a person to carry out the appropriate tests and checks specified in
Schedule I while the ship is at sea; and
(b) ensure that the nominated person carries out the required tests and checks.
(2) The master of any non-GMDSS ship shall-
(a) nominate a person to carry out the appropriate tests and checks specified in
Schedule 2 while the ship is at sea; and
(h) ensure that the nominated person carries out the required tests and checks.
(3) If any radio installation on the ship is unserviceable, the nominated person shall
inform the master and record the details of the deficiencies in the Fiji Official Log book as
required under the Maritime (Logbook) Regulations 2014.
 678

Radio records
13.-(1) The master of a ship who is required by :ivlaritime (Logbook) Regulations
2014 to maintain a Fiji Official J.og book shall ensure that the person designated under
regulation 6(2) as having primary responsibility for radio communication during distress
incidents maintains a separate radio log.
(2) The radio log shall contain-
(a) a record of the following matters, recorded as they occur, together with the
time of their occurrencc-
(i) a summary of communications relating to distress, urgency and
safety traffic;
(ii) a record of incidents connected with the radio service; ancl
(iii) where appropriate, the position of the ship at least once a day; and
( b) a summary of the condition of the radio equipment, including the condition
of its source of energy,
(3) The radio log shall be kept at the distress communications operating position and
be readily available for inspection by-
(a) the master, who shall sign each day's entries; and
(b) by the Chief Executive Officer or any other authorised officer of a State
party to SOLAS,
(4) The master of every ship to which sub-regulation (I) does not apply, shall record
a summary of any radio communication relating to distress or urgency, together with the
time of its occurrence, in any logbook maintained for the ship as part of the documentation
of the safe ship management system as required under Schedule 6 to the Maritime (Safe
Ship l'vJanagement Systems) Regulations 2014,

PART 5-PERFORMANCE STANDARDS - VHF RADIOS

VHF radio
14,-(1) VHF radios capable of voice communication only, that operate in the band
156-174 MHz shall comply with the technical standards laid down in IMO Publication
(Performance Standards for Shipborne Radio Communications and Navigational
Equipment),
(2) VHF radios shall operate on at least channels 6,16,67,68 and 71, and if practicable,
all those channels additionally specified in IMO Publication (Performance Standards for
Shipborne Radio Communications and Navigational Equipment),
(3) The VHF radio shall be available for operation from the position at which the ship
is normally navigated or other remote station from which the ship may be navigated,
(4) Portable VHF radios shall be stored so that they are readily accessible,
(5) Where handheld VHF radios use batteries as their primary power source, the Radio
operator shall ensllre that procedures are in place to ensure that the batteries remain charged
and at least one spare battery pack is available for each radio if charging facilities are not
available on the ship,
 679

(6) For permanently installed VHFraciios, the power wiring shall be securely installed.
(7) The power wiring under sub-regulation (6) shall be large enough to ensure that
there is no more than 500 Ill\' voltage drop between the power source and the radio when
the radio is transmitting at full power.
(8) Power connections from the VHF radios to any emergency power source shall be
clearly labelled and accessible.
(9) The following provisions shall apply in relation to antenna feeders ~
(a) the antenna feeder shall be of low-loss coaxial cable of the correct
impedance. securely installed and as short as practicable;
(b) antenna feeders shall be protected from mechanical damage, in particular
from abrasions or cuts to the outer sheathing which would allow water to
penetrate and any connectors in the feeder or at the antenna shall be water
proofed;
(c) the antenna shall be securely mounted-
(i) as high as possible;
(ii) where possible, a horizontal distance of at least 2 meters from other
metallic objects; and
(iii) to give as close to vertical polarization as possible.
(d) the gain of the installed antenna shall not be less than 2 dbi nor more than
8 dbi, and shall have a nominally uniform gain pattern in the horizontal
plane.
(IO) \Vhere radios and antennas are duplicated for reliability, any switching that is
provided to allow changing antennas and power between the radios shall be-
(a) uuambiguously labelled; aud
(b) arranged in such a way that the switching will not damage the radios, power
sources or antennas.

VHF mdio (voice ('oJ/lllllm/culioll ami DSC)

15. VHF radio installations capable of voice communication and DSC shall comply
with the Performance Standards for Shipborne VHF Radio Installations prescribed in
the latest edition of the IMO Publication (Peli()fl11allce Standards for Ship-borne Radio
Communications and Navigational Equipment) amended by IMO from time to time.

PART 6-PERFORMANCE STANDARDS - MFI HF RADIOS

MFJ HF radio (roice commullicalioll OIl(Y)
16. An MFI HF radio installation capable of voice communication only shall-
(a) be capable of transmitting and receiving for distress purposes on frequencies
2182 kHz,4125 kHz, 6215 kHz and 8291 kHz;
(b) be capable of at least transmitting and receiving maritime safety information
on frequencies 2207 kHz, 4146 kHz, 6224 kHz and 8297 kHz; and
 680

(c) comply with the IMO Publication (Performance Standards for Ship borne
Radio Communications and Navigational Equipment).
MFI HF radio (I'oil'e communication, /larrow-band direct priming alld DSC)
17. An MFI HF radio installation used for radiotelephony, narrow-band direct printing
and DSC and capable of transmitting and receiving for distress and safety purposes on all
distress and safety frequencies in the bands between 1605 kHz and 4000 kHz and between
4000 kHz and 27500 kHz, shall comply with the standards prescribed in the latest edition
of the IMO Publication (Pclformance Standards for Ship-borne Radio Communications
and Navigational Equipment).

PART 7 - PERFORMANCE STANDARDS - SATELLITE EQUIPMENT

INMARSAT - C Ship earth statioll
18. INMARSAT standard*C ship earth station installations capable of transmitting and
receiving direct-printing communications shall comply with the Performance Standards
for INMARSAT Standard-C ship Earth Stations Capable of Transmitting and Receiving
Direct-Printing Communications prescribed in the latest edition of the IMO Publication
(Performance Standards for Ship-borne Radio Communications and Navigational
Equipment) amended by IMO from time to time.
INMARSAT -ship earlh slaliol/ capable ofMo-way voice and data comlllllllicatiOI!.
19. INMARSAT ship earth stations capable of telephone and direct printing shall
comply with the Performance Standards for Ship Em1h Stations Capable of Two-Way
Communication prescribed in the latest edition of the IMO Publication (Performance
Standards for Ship-borne Radio Communications and Navigational Equipment).

PART 8-PERFORMANCE STANDARDS - LOCATOR BEACONS

406 MHz EPIRB
20.-(1) Emergency position-indicating radio beacons operating on 406 MHz
shall comply with the prescribed standards in the latest edition of the IMO Publication
(Performance Standards for Ship-borne Radio Communications and Navigational
Equipment).
(2) Float-free satellite emergency position-indicating radio beacons operating on 406
MHz shall comply with the Performance Standards for Float-Free Satellite Emergency
Position-Indicating Radio Beacons (EpIRBs) Operating on 406 MHz prescribed in the
latest edition of the IMO Publication (Performance Standards for Ship-borne Radio
Communications and Navigational Equipment) amended by IMO from time to time.
1.6 GHz EPiRB
21. Float-free satellite emergency position-indicating radio beacons operating
through the geostationary INMARSAT satellite system on 1.6 GHz shall comply with
the Performance Standards for Float-Free Satellite Emergency Position-Indicating Radio
Beacons Operating through the Geostationary INMARSAT Satellite System on 1.6 GHz
prescribed in the latest edition of the IMO Publication (Performance Standards for Ship-
borne Radio Communications and Navigational Equipment) amended by IMO from time
to time.
 681

VHF EPlRB
22. Float-free VHF emergency position-indicating radio beacons llsing DSC on VHF
Channel 70 shall comply with the standards prescribed in the latest edition of the IMO
Publication (Performance Standards for Ship borne Radio Communications and Navigational
Equipment) amended by IMO from time to time.

9 GHz radar transponder (SART)

23. Survival craft radar transponders for use in search and rescue operations shall comply
with the standards prescribed in the latest edition of the IMO Publication (Ped'ofmance
Standards for Ship borne Radio Communications and Navigational Equipment) amended
by IMO from time to time.

PART 9-PERFORMANCE STANDARDS - EGC FOR MSI AND NAVTEX

NAvrEX
24. - (1) Narrow-band direct-printing equipment for the reception of navigational and
meteorological warnings and urgent information to ships shall comply with the standards
prescribed in the latest edition of the IMO Publication (Performance Standards for Ship
borne Radio Communications and Navigational Equipment) amended by IMO from time
to time.
(2) Narrow-band direct-printing telegraph equipment for the reception of navigational
and metcorological warning and urgent information to ships by HF shall comply with the
standards prescribed in the latest edition of the IMO Publication (Performance Standards
for Ship borne Radio Communications and Navigational Equipment) amcnded by IMO
from time to time.
EGC equipment
25. Enhanced group call equipment to be used in the INMARSAT system shall comply
with the standards prescribed in the latest edition of the IMO Publication (Pelfonnance
Standards for Ship borne Radio Communications and Navigational Equipment) amended
by IMO from time to time.

PART 10- PERFORMANCE STANDARDS - SURVIVAL CRAFT VHF RADIO

SlIrvil'al craft VHF radiotelephone
26. Survival craft portable VHF radiotelephone shall comply with the Performance
Standards for Survival Craft Two-Way VHF Radiotelephone Apparatus prescribed in
the latest edition of the IMO Publication (Performance Staudards for Shipborne Radio
Communications and Navigational Equipment) amended by IMO from time to time.

PART II-PERFORMANCE STANDARDS - IRCS SYSTEM

Intef:rated radio cOI1lIJ/llJliClltiol/ sy.\lell/ (lRCS)
27. Ship borne Integrated Radio Communication Systems used in the GMOS
shall comply with the standards prescribed in the latest edition of the IMO Publication
(Performance Standards for Ship borne Radio Communications and Navigational
Equipment) amended by IMO from time to time.
 682

PART 12-PERFORMANCE ,sTANDARDS - GENERALLY APPLICABLE

Float-frce rc/t>ase and actil'ation arrallgemellls
28. Float-free release and activation arrangements required by maritime regulations to
enable the automatic release of radio apparatus from a sinking ship and automatic activation
of the apparatus shall comply with the standards prescribed in the latest edition of the HvlO
Publication (Pclfonnance Standards for Ship borne Radio Communications and Navigational
Equipment) amended by Hvl0 from time to time.

Gel/eral requircmcllts/or equipmellt forming part of the GMDSS system

29. Equipment which forms part of the GMDSS system in addition to complying
with its specific performance standard shall also comply with the standards prescribed in
the latest edition of the HvlO Publication (Performance Standards for Ship borne Radio
Communications and Navigational Equipment) amended by IMO from time to time.

PART 13-EPIRB REGISTRATION

EPIRB registration
30. The owner or master of a Fiji ship provided with a 406 MHz EPIRB shall ensure
that-
(a) the 406 MHz EPIRB is registered for that ship with the Chief Executive
Officer;
(b) when registering the 406 MHz EPIRB, the following information is
provided to the Chief Executive Officer-
(i) the EPIRB's hexadecimal number;
(ii) the ship's name and official number;
(iii) the owner's name and contact details;
(iv) the ship's home port; and
(v) the manufacturer and type of EPIRB;
(c) the Chief Executive Officer shall be informed in writing of any disposal of
the 406 MHz EPIRB or of any change in the information; and
(d) the Chief Executive Officer shall be informed as soon as possible in the
event of accidental activation of an EPIRB.

Made this 14th day of December 2014.

P. TIKODUADUA
r..1inister for Infrastructure and Transport
 ti83

SCHEDULE I
(Regulu!iOIl 12( J))

RADIO EQUIPMENT TESTS FOR GMDSS SHIPS

1. Daily
(a) The proper functioning of the DSC facilities must be tested daily, without
radiation of signals, by use of the Illeans provided on the radio equipment.
(b) Batteries providing a source of energy for any part of the radio installations
shall be tested daily and, where necessary, brought tip to the fully charged
condition.
(e) The accuracy of the clock must be confirmed.
2. Weekly
(a) The proper operation of the DSC facilities must be tested at least once a week
by means of a test call when within communication range of a coast station
fitted with DSC equipment. Where a ship has been out of comlllunication
range of a coast station fitted with DSC equipment for a period longer than
onc week, a test call must be made of the first opportunity that the ship is
within communication range of such a coast station.
(b) Where the reserve source of energy is not a battery (for example a motor
generator), the reserve source of energy must be tested weekly.
3. Monthly
(a) Each EPIRB and satellite EPIRB must be tested at least once a month to
verify that it operates properly using the means provided on the device and
without using the satellite system.
(b) Each search and rescue radar transponder, must be checked at least once a
month, for security and signs of damage.
(e) Survival craft two-way VHF equipment must be tcsted at least once a
month on a frequency other than 156.8MBz (VHF ChallneI16).
(d) A check must bc made at least once a month on the security and condition of
all batteries providing a source of energy for any part of a radio installation.
The battery connections and compartment must also be checked.
 684

SCHEDULE 2
(Regulatioll 12(2))

RADIO EQUIPMENT TESTS FOR NON-GMDSS SHIPS

1. Daily
(a) The radiotelephone distress frequency watch receiver must be tested daily,
when crew are on board, by checking the proper functioning of its muting
circuits or those of the radiotelephone auto alarm receiver.
(b) Batteries providing a source of energy for any part of a fixed radio installation
must be tested daily, when crew are on board and, where necessary, brought
up to the fully charged condition.
(e) Where the reserve source of energy is not a battery (for example, a motor
generator), the reserve source of energy must be tested daily.
2. Weekly
(a) The radiotelephone alarm signal generating device must be tested once
a week to check its proper functioning by ensuring that it can modulate
satisfactorily the radiotelephone transmitter. The radiotelephone transmitter
must not radiate signals during such checking.
(b) Batteries forming part of the two-way radiotelephone apparatus for survival
craft must be tested once a week and, where appropriate, brought up to the
fully charged condition. Where non-rechargeable batteries are provided as
a source of energy the batteries must be checked and replaced if necessary.
(e) At least once a week a two-way radio call must be made from any
radiotelephone apparatus to verify operation of the transmitter and receiver.
3. Monthly
Batteries provide a source of energy for any pat1 of the radio installation must be
tested at least once a month by means of the hydrometer where practicable or,
where a hydrometer cannot be used, by a suitable load test. A check must also be
made of the security of the battel)' and its connections and the conditions of the
battery and its compartment.
4. Annually
Satellite emergency position-indicating radio beacons must be inspected and
tested at least once every 12 months, provided that, where regulations 7(1) and
(2) apply, the interval may be extended to a maximum of 17 months to permit the
inspection to take place concurrently with a radio survey.
 685

SCHEDULE 3
(Reglliatioll 9(1))

APPLICATION FOR CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION FOR RADIO SURVEYORS

Please tick'; appropriate box (Please use BLOCK LETTERS)

Service Required
Certificate of Revalidation of Replacement for
Recognition a Certificate of a Certificate of
Recognition Recognition
Experience
Assessment

Applicant's Details
IFamily Name IGiven name(s)
IPostal Address

Residential Address
(if the same postal
address write 'as
above')

Telephone Date of bilth Place of birth

(cOlllltry)

Particulars of Qualification held

No. Issuing Authority Date of issue Date of Ex[liry Endorsements

Certificate of Medical Fitness (Origillal Certificate to be sighted)

I Date Issued I I Doctor I I Telephone
 686

Applicant's Declaration
I ....................................................................... (name in BLOCK LETI'ERS).
hereby declare that the particulars entered in this application arc correct and true to the best
of my knowledge and belief, and that the Certificate and Testimonials submitted with this
application for verification of particular entries are tme and genuine documents given and
signed by the persons whose names appear on them. I understand that some or all of the
information provided on this forllllllay be disclosed to Government Authorities.

Applicant's Signature S\vorn before Inc at .................... " ..................... ", ............ " ..
This ................. day of .................................. 20 ...........

Signature (Justice (~l the Peace/ Name (please print)

Commissioner (dOaths)

Declaration of experience as a radio surveyor (must be supported by Statutory Declaration)

Details of ship Remarks
Name and Gross TOilS Power of Eng.
/lumber (k 11')

If there is insufficient !:lpace, please attach anotherform

Course Details (Qllal{jicatioll acqllired- Diploma ill electronics, GMDSS Certificate)

COlll'se Title Trailling Illslilution Date of issue