Programming of Electronic Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRB's) for Cayman Registered Vessels

Shipping Notice: CISN 03/2000

Published 17th November 2000, 2:08pm

Printable Version

To: Owners, Managers, Operators and Masters of Cayman Registered Vessels

BACKGROUND

EPIRB’s are programmed using one of three main protocols, agreed internationally. These are the “Maritime User” protocol, the Radio Call Sign” protocol, and the “Serialised User” protocol.

The first two protocols are similar and in general terms they are at present usually utilised where the flag state maintains its own dedicated EPIRB database, primarily for vessels registered under its flag. Under these protocols an EPIRB will be programmed, inter alia, with the Maritime Mobile Service Identifier (MMSI) number or the Call Sign of the vessel as a major element in the programming information to be transmitted when the EPIRB is activated.

Under the serialised protocol, the country of registration determines how the EPIRB is to be programmed. In particular, the major elements to be programmed into the beacon include:

• The first three digits of the MMSI Number (i.e. the country identifier referred to as the Marine Identifier Digits (MID)) of the country holding the database; and
• A special number (the serialised number), again assigned by the country holding the database.

It may be noted that one particular advantage of the serialised protocol is that where a vessel is already registered under this system, a change of owner or ship’s name will not necessitate re-programming of the EPIRB. Where a serialised database accepts EPIRB registrations for different flags, then even on transfer of flag the existing EPIRB would not need to be re-programmed if it was already in that database. In such cases, the submission of a new registration card showing the changes with respect to the vessel is all that would be required.

USE OF SERIALISED PROTOCOL DATABASES BY THE CAYMAN ISLANDS

The Cayman Islands does not have its own dedicated EPIRB registration database and, by mutual agreement, may utilise the UK database maintained at MCA, Falmouth.

The United State is also agreeable to holding non-US EPIRB registrations on its serialised database.

The Cayman Islands has opted to utilise the databases held by the UK and the US as the most effective means of providing coverage for EPIRB’s. However, owners are free to register with any other EPIRB registry that participates in international search and rescue. For example, an owner with a multi-flag fleet operating in the Far East may wish to register EPIRBS for all vessels with one registry in that region.

REQUIREMENTS OF COUNTRY HOLDING THE DATABASE

Under the serialised protocol, the country of EPIRB registration determines the data to be programmed into the beacon. In particular, there will need to be included the first three digits of the MMSI number of the country holding the database (referred to from here on as the “holding country”), together with a special “serialised number”, again issued by the holding country.

Within the total envelope of the serialised programming protocol, there is a “spare” slot which could be used to enter the flag MMSI. However, it is intended that this spare slot is under the control of the holding country and it could cause confusion if it were to be used to enter the flag MMSI or callsign. In any case, some holding countries (e.g. the USA) have already used the spare slot for their own additional information.

PROCEDURES TO BE FOLLOWED BY SHIPS NEWLY FLAGGING IN TO THE CAYMAN ISLANDS

1. COSPAS/SARSAT 406 MHz EPIRBs

   • EPIRB’s Already Registered Under the UK Serialised Protocol System

   If the EPIRB is already entered in the UK database, there should be no need to re-programme it. However, in such circumstances it is essential that a new UK registration form be completed by the owners or operators of the vessel and forwarded to the EPIRB Registration Centre at Falmouth. This will need to be done after the vessel has been removed from her previous register and before she sails under the Cayman Islands flag. A copy of the registration form should also be forwarded to the Cayman Islands Ship Registry (CISR) in Grand Cayman for our records. It would be wise to check with the radio technician and/or the manufacturer of the EPIRB to confirm that re-programming is not necessary.

   • EPIRB’s to be Registered with the UK EPIRB Registry

   The UK EPIRB Registry will accept to register both under the Serialised Protocol and the MMSI protocol. The preferred method is the Serialised Protocol. However, this requires that the equipment is type approved by the UK and a batch of numbers has been issued to the manufacturer. Where this is not the case, registration using the MMSI Protocol is available.

   Under serialised protocol, as soon as possible after it is expected that a ship is transferring to the Cayman Islands flag, owners should contact the manufacturers of the existing EPIRB alerting them to the change of flag. The manufacturers of the EPIRB should assign a UK “serialised number”. Such numbers are allocated by the appropriate branch of the Marine and Coastguard Agency (MCA) to the manufacturers in blocks for programming their EPIRB’s at the manufacturing stage. Different sets of numbers are allocated to different manufacturers.

   The EPIRB Registration Centre at Falmouth should be able to provide contacts for the manufacturer, if required, and should also be able to allocate a numbers where a manufacturer has not been given or has exhausted a pre-assigned block. During the changeover but prior to the vessel sailing under the Cayman Islands flag, the EPIRB should be re-programmed for the UK database. This will include the programming in of the UK MID as well as the UK issued serialised number. The radio technician should be aware of any other programming requirements and, if not, then Falmouth should be consulted.

   Again, a UK EPIRB registration form should be completed and forwarded to Falmouth, by fax in the first instance, prior to the vessel sailing under the Cayman Islands flag, with a copy to the CISR. At the same time, owners should ensure that the EPIRB details are deleted from its previous registration system.

   Similar procedures will apply to the US and other EPIRB registries. These registries should be contacted directly for details.

2. INMARSAT L-BAND EPIRBs

L-Band (1.6GHz) EPIRB’s operate under the INMARSAT system rather than the COSPAS/SARSAT system. For these beacons, INMARSAT retains its own database.

In general terms, an L-Band EPIRB is programmed at manufacture. INMARSAT assigns a unique 9-digit code to the EPIRB, and the Routing Organization (i.e. the flag state’s telecommunications department) will issue a 9-digit ship identification number, which would normally be the vessel’s MMSI number.

An L-Band EPIRB is to be registered with INMARSAT, together with the appropriate details for the vessel. A copy of the registration should also be submitted to the CISR, Grand Cayman.

Further information on how to proceed may be obtained from INMARSAT, contact details for which are given below.

L-Band EPIRB’s are currently much less common than their 406MHz counterparts even though, in some parts of the world, they have a quicker response time.

EXISTING SHIPS ON THE CAYMAN ISLANDS REGISTER

Existing ships should ensure that they are properly registered with an EPIRB registry and that the particulars supplied are current. Again, copies of the EPIRB registration should be sent to the CISR for our records.

ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND INFORMATION

1. With respect to 406MHz EPIRB’s, earlier models may prove more difficult to re-programme and in extreme cases it may be necessary to obtain a new EPIRB.

Generally speaking, the later the model the more amenable the EPIRB will be to re-programming. The actual re-programming can take no more than 15 minutes utilising computer based technology.

2. Under the serialised protocol system, the more detailed information on the ship and shore based contacts required in the event of a distress alert will be held in the underlying database. When the EPIRB is triggered, the signal will automatically alert the database centre and link the alert to the information for the EPIRB and the ship concerned. This will enable the EPIRB Registry to contact the appropriate people ashore as well as direct the alert to the most appropriate SAR centre in the vicinity of the distress. It is therefore crucial that the movement of an EPIRB from one entity to another, be this the ship, owner or flag, is properly notified and recorded.
3. There may be cases where the EPIRB is already programmed for a “holding country” other than the UK or the USA, using the serialised protocol. It may be possible in such a case, depending on whether or not the holding country is agreeable, to retain the registration in that database and simply submit a new registration card, in a similar manner to that for an EPIRB already in the UK database. However, given the uncertainty as to whether or not another outside country would in fact be agreeable to retaining the EPIRB registration under the Cayman Islands flag, it is preferable to transfer to the UK database as outlined above. If another holding country’s database is used, that country will need to be similarly advised of the change of flag, and a new registration form submitted prior to the vessel sailing under the Cayman Islands flag. A copy of the registration form should also be forwarded to the CISR.

EPIRB REGISTRY CONTACTS

INMARSAT

99 City Road

London EC1Y 1AX

Tel: +(44) {0} 171 728 1143

Fax: +(44) {0} 171 728 1163

UK EPIRB REGISTRY

The EPIRB Registration Centre

HM Coastguard (Falmouth

Pendennis Point,

Castle Drive

Falmouth

Cornwall TR11 4WZ

Tel: +(44) {0} 132 621 1569

Fax: +(44) {0} 132 631 9264

USA (NOAA) REGISTRY

United States Department of Commerce

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service

Washington, D.C. 20233

Contact: Chief, SARSAT Operations Division

NOAA/NESDIS/SARSAT-E/SP3

Federal Building 4

Room 0158

Washington D.C 20233

Tel: +(1) 301 763 4680

Fax: +(1) 301 568 8649

For further information contact: Corporate Communications