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• The Bahamas Maritime Authority has issued a revision of information bulletin no. 116 specifying the companies that administration has authorized to conduct conformance tests of shipboard equipment for compliance with the transmission of LRIT information.

• LRIT is mandatory requirement as per SOLAS for vessels of 300 GT and above. Companies may utilize any equipment to transmit LRIT information, provided that the equipment demonstrates compliance with the applicable requirements of SOLAS and has undergone a satisfactory conformance test.

• The conformance test is required to be conducted by one of the Bahamas authorized Testing Application Service Provider (Testing ASP). In the view of above, Administration has authorized following companies:

• Fulcrum Maritime Systems Ltd.

Park Mews, Suite 3,

15 Park Lane,

Hornchurch,

Essex RM11 1BB,

United Kingdom.

Tel: +44 1708 788400

Fax: +44 1708 788402

Email: asptesting@fulcrum-maritime.com  

Website: www.fulcrum-maritime.com

• Pole Star Space Applications Ltd

Compass House

4th Floor

22 Redan Place

London W2 4SA

United Kingdom.

Tel: +44 20 7313 7402

Fax: +44 20 7313 7401

Email: lrittesting@polestarglobal.com 

Website: www.polestarglobal.com 

• Securewest International Incorporated

420 North Center Drive,

Bldg 11,

Suite 206,

Norfolk,

Virginia 23502,

U.S.A.

Tel: +1 757 461 4343

Fax: +1 757 461 8666

Email: info@securewest.com 

Website: www.securewest.com 

• After receiving the relevant information of conformance testing from ASP and application from company, Administration will issue the Conformance Test Report Document.

• Where existing GMDSS equipment is used for the purpose of transmitting LRIT information and where duplicated equipment is provided, only one of the sets of duplicated equipment should be used for transmitting LRIT information.

• However if a ship is fitted with more than one set of shipborne equipment that is intended to be utilized for LRIT purposes and integrated into The Bahamas LRIT Data Centre, a satisfactory conformance test must be carried out and Conformance Test Report is required for each set of equipment.

• The shipborne equipment is required to undergo a conformance test and a new Conformance test Report is required to be issued by Administration on following cases,
• • There are changes to the LRIT shipborne equipment;
  • The LRIT shipborne equipment becomes unserviceable;
  • The Bahamas has withdrawn authorization to the Testing ASP that conducted the conformance test;
  • The BMA has been notified by the Recognized ASP that the shipborne equipment is not operating within the parameters of the Conformance Test Report and/or in accordance with the LRIT performance standards;
  • The affected ship has transferred to the Bahamas flag and its Conformance Test Report has been issued by an ASP that is neither a Bahamas Recognized ASP nor a Bahamas Testing ASP;
  • The ship is intended to operate outside the sea area noted on the Conformance Test Report.

• Also where there are changes to the following information on the report, Conformance Test Report is to be re-issued
  • Ship details
  • Testing ASP

• Ship owners/ operators and masters are advised to be guided by above.

Enclosure:

1. BMA information bulletin no. 116
2. BMA information bulletin no. 111

Disclaimer:

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