MARINE GUIDANCE NOTE
MGN 153 (M+F)

Compliance with Mandatory Ship Reporting Systems

Notice to Shipowners, Operators, Masters, Officers and Crew of Merchant Ships, Skippers of Fishing Vessels, Yachts and all other sea-going craft

This note supersedes Marine Guidance Note MGN 24 (M+F)

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1. The Merchant Shipping (Mandatory Ship Reporting) Regulations 1996 came into force on 1 August 1996. The Regulations implement amendments to Chapter V of the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention allowing for the introduction of mandatory ship reporting systems adopted by the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

2. United Kingdom ships anywhere in the world must comply with any mandatory ship reporting system adopted by the IMO, which applies to them.

3. The details of mandatory systems will be promulgated through the relevant parts of the Admiralty List of Radio Signals, including any amendments, corrections or replacements. Relevant entries will be annotated with the words:- ‘Mandatory system under SOLAS Regulation V/8-1’.

4. Ships to which a mandatory ship reporting system applies should report to the shore-based authority without delay when entering and, if necessary, when leaving the area covered by the system. A ship may be required to provide additional reports or information to update or modify an earlier report.

5. Failure of a ship’s radiocommunications equipment would not, in itself, be considered as a failure to comply with the rules of a mandatory ship reporting system. However, Masters should endeavour to restore communications as soon as practicable. If a technical failure prevents a ship from reporting, the Master should enter the fact and reasons for not reporting in the navigational log.

6. Masters of ships which contravene mandatory ship reporting requirements may be liable to prosecution.