Chapter 12
Ship Radio Inspections
ALL SOLAS VESSELS ARE SUB.JEC'T to a periodic (currently annual) ship
radio inspection by a representative/agent of their flag state - to check
that:
They still carry the full range of equipment required for their vessel
and its sea area of operation.- Obsolete equipment has been removed.
- The equipment provided functions correctly.
- Documentation (operator's certificates, lists of radio stations/ship
stations and equipment manuals) and electricity supplies (main and
emergency) for the radio installation are also in order.
The periodic ship radio inspection will be carried out by a qualified
radio inspector. Unannounced inspections under port state control
regulations may also involve your ship radio installation. This chapter is
provided to help the onboard operator prepare for the regular inspection - by detailing the things that the inspector will want to see and do - and
also to help you to avoid falling foul of any unexpected inspection (if
you keep your main and ancillary equipment, and documentation, up to
date). The list is based on the UK ship inspection schedule in force at the
time of writing.
Operating Area
The inspector will check that:- There is a suitable clock visible at the radio installation operating
position and that the clock shows the RT Silence Periods (00-03 and
30-33 minutes past each hour, on 2182kHz).
Although there is now no need to listen-out on 2182kHz during the
silence periods and record 'SP observed' in the log - GMDSS
regulations still require that there should be no voice transmissions
on 2182kHz during those periods.
The vessel's radio callsign, MMSI and Inmarsat ID(s) are displayed.
Procedure cards (e.g. for GMDSS distress, urgency and safety alerting
and for Mayday etc. voice calls/messages) are available and displayed.
The Ship Radio Station Licence is in date and otherwise satisfactory;
Radio Exemption Certificates, if appropriate, are available and in
date.200 THE NAUTICAL INSTITUTE