Bulk Loading Booklet Published MIN 154(M) Safe loading and unloading of bulk carriers 2003 Notice to ship owners, ship operators, ship masters, charterers, port and harbour authorities, terminal operators and shippers and agents.

In February 2002, an EC directive came into force establishing harmonised requirements and procedures for safe loading and unloading of bulk carriers. From 1 March 2004 the requirements of this directive will be implemented by means of The Merchant Shipping (Safe Loading and Unloading of Bulk Carriers) Regulations 2003.

The MCA has produced a booklet 'Safe Loading and Unloading of Bulk Carriers 2003' to help stakeholders understand and comply with the requirements of the Regulations.

This booklet can be purchased from The Stationery Office, Tel. 0870 600 5522.

EPIRB Testing Rules Changed MSN 1779(M+F) Changes in the requirements to SOLAS Chapter IV: Radio Communications Notice to ship owners, builders, masters and officers, shore based maintenance providers, equipment manufacturers, classification societies, and all other parties concerned.

With effect from July 2002 a number of amendments to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea 1974 (SOLAS) came into force concerning position updating of ship-bourne two-way communication equipment (Regulation 18) and the annual testing of satellite Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRBs)(Regulation 15). These amendments apply to ships as described in The Merchant Shipping (Installation) Regulations 1998.

Regulation 18 has been added to ensure that all two-way radio communication equipment carried on board a ship is always ready to transmit information of the ship's position and the time the position was determined.

This information must be manually updated at intervals not exceeding four hours if a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver is not installed.

The testing and maintenance guidelines in Regulation 15 apply to both 406MHz and L-band EPIRBs, as either type may be carried to comply with SOLAS requirements. EPIRBs may include 121.5MHz transmitters, or GNSS receivers. The guidelines also apply to service exchange EPIRBs, which should be properly encoded to match the appropriate registration database.

At intervals not exceeding 12 months, all aspects of operational efficiency of satellite EPIRBs shall be tested with particular emphasis on frequency stability, signal strength and coding. The test may be conducted on board the ship or at an approved testing or service station. Annex 1 to this notice (MSC Circular 1040) provides guidelines on annual testing procedures for 406MHz satellite EPIRBs.

At intervals not exceeding five years, or when battery replacement is due, shore-based maintenance shall be carried out. Annex 2 (MSC Circular 1039) provides guidelines for shore-based maintenance providers that establish standardised procedures and minimum levels of service for the testing and maintenance of satellite EPIRBs.

Annex 2 to this note points out that throughout the shore-based testing and maintenance process great care must be taken to avoid the transmission of false distress alerts. The transmissions could be picked up by aircraft as well as satellites. A radio-frequency screened room or enclosure should be used to avoid any accidental live transmission.

The results of shore-based maintenance should be provided in the form of a shore-based maintenance report, a copy of which is to be kept on board. A label must also be affixed to the exterior of the beacon detailing the name of the shore-based maintenance provider and the date when the next shore-based maintenance is due.

Electronic Chart Data Accepted MGN 262(M+F) Acceptance of electronic chart plotting systems for fishing vessels under 24 metres and small vessels in commercial use (code coats) up to 24 metres load line length.

Notice to manufacturers, equipment suppliers, owners, skippers and watch keepers of fishing vessels and masters of small vessels in commercial use.

There is a widespread use of chart plotting systems using privately produced electronic chart data. This guidance note gives information on the minimum specifications for electronic chart plotting systems (ECPSs) that will satisfy statutory carriage requirements for charts, for use on small fishing vessels and small vessels in commercial use.

HM Treasury has funded a project with the Sea Fish Industry Authority (SFIA) for the development of technical specifications for an ECPS.

Such as system would primarily be for use by fishermen on UK-registered fishing vessels under 24m in length.

The MCA takes the view that the SFIA specification is also suitable for various small vessels in commercial use up to 24m load line length.

To identify systems that are deemed acceptable, manufacturers, or their agents, will be required to provide a signed statement to be included with each ECPS stating that the system fully conforms to the SFIA technical specifications. This statement, or a certified copy, is required to be kept on board the vessel at all times.

MCA surveyors may also require verification that the ECPS is being used with suitable electronic navigational charts (ENCs). If, however, ENCs have not been published by the national hydrographic office for a specific geographical area, then approved raster navigational charts may be used. In either case charts must be kept up to date.

Users of these systems should notes that whilst there is a statutory requirement for under 24m fishing vessels and small vessels in commercial service to carry 'charts', there is no statutory requirement for the carriage of ECPS.

To satisfy these statutory requirements, users of ECPS must provide suitable back up systems. In outline these are:

a) A second acceptable ECPS;

or b) A portable computer or similar device, which will provide sufficient up to date ENC information and navigation facilities for the vessel to navigate to a safe haven; or c) A selection of paper charts, corrected up-to-date, sufficient for the vessel to navigate to a safe haven.

Medical Store List Corrected MSN 1768(M+F) (Corrigendum) Ships' Medical Stores - Application of the Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels (Medical Stores) Regulations 1995 and Medical Stores (Amendment) Regulations 1996.

Notice to ship owners, agents, masters, skippers of fishing vessels and all seafarers.

This notice provides corrections to MSN 1768, which was issued in August 2003. The corrections involve: The quantity of eye medicines considered sufficient regardless of crew size;

The number of stretchers recommended; General advice about medicines; Obtaining controlled drugs; and Corrections to the wording in Annexes 4 and 8.

NOTE: MCA Notices are not available from the Maritime Journal. Requests for M Notices should be made to Tel: 0115 901 3336. The MCA's 24hr UK public information line is 0870 600 6505.

Further information is available from the MCA's Marine Information Centre, Tel: 023 8032 9297 or www. mcga. gov. uk