1. LONG RANGE IDENTIFICATION AND TRACKING (LRIT) A FLAG STATE PERSPECTIVE
Presented By: Rear Admiral Robert C. North
Regulatory Advisor to the
Marshall Islands Registry

2. OVERVIEW – MARSHALL ISLANDS
50,188,785 GT
2059 Ships – 45% tankers by tonnage
Predominant ownership in United States, Greece, Germany, Norway
Quality focus

3. BACKGROUND Maritime security origin
Resolution MSC.202(81), adopted 19 May 2006 amends SOLAS, Chapter V, Regulation 19-1
Enters into force 1 January 2008 with a Transitional Period expiring 30 June 2009
Resolution MSC.263(84), Performance Standards and Functional Requirements

4. RESOLUTION MSC.263(84)
Provides performance standards and functional requirements, including:
Application Service Providers (ASP)
LRIT Data Centers – International, Regional, Cooperative and National
International Data Exchange (IDE)
LRIT Data Distribution Plan
System security and performance
LRIT Coordinator
Guidance to Administrations, Contracting Governments and SAR services

5. NATIONAL, REGIONAL, COOPERATIVE OR INTERNATIONAL DATA CENTER
LRIT BASIC CONCEPT
ASP
DATA DISTRIBUTION
PLAN
SHIP ID, LOCATION,
DATE, TIME
NATIONAL, REGIONAL, COOPERATIVE OR
INTERNATIONAL DATA CENTER
SAR SERVICES
FLAG STATE –
SHIP IN ANY LOCATION
LRIT DATA
COORDINATOR
INTERNATIONAL DATA
EXCHANGE –
ESSENTIAL COMPONENT
COASTAL STATE - SHIPS
WITHIN NM OF COAST
GOVERNMENTS
PAY CAPITAL COST
USER FEE FOR DATA
$$$
PORT STATE – SHIPS
ENROUTE THEIR PORTS

6. APPLICATION Passenger ship, any GT Cargo ships of 300 GT and upwards
Self-propelled MODUs not on location
Commercial yachts of 300 GT and upwards
Commercial fishing vessels, any GT, any area of operation

7. BASIC COMPLIANCE DATES
Ships constructed before 31 December 2008 phased in at first radio survey, after 31 December 2008 for ships operating in sea areas A1, A2 and A3. 1 July 2009 for ships in A4
Ships constructed after 31 December 2008 must be compliant when placed in service
Ships fitted with AIS operating exclusively in sea area A1 are exempt

8. REQUIREMENTS FOR SHIP CERTIFICATION
There are number of steps in the process for any ship to be certified for LRIT participation, including:
Equipment type approval
Equipment conformance testing
Annual Radio Survey
Copy of Conformance Test Report on board, Record of Equipment amended
At this point, most ships should be certified or well on their way

9. ESTABLISHMENT OF DATA CENTERS
Data Centers should have been developed, tested and fully established by 30 June 2009
Numerous national, regional and cooperative data centers now established but many Administrations not associated with a Data Center
PSC implications?

10. MARSHALL ISLANDS LRIT IMPLEMENTATION
National Data Center established in 2007 and tracking begun
Provided trials and testing opportunity for IMO
Worked with United States to establish interim Data Exchange
LRIT information used for a broad range of purposes
Shipowner guidance online at:

11. MARSHALL ISLANDS OFFICES

12. BENEFITS OF LRIT
As a Flag Administration, layout of higher security risk geographic areas, worldwide, and associated ship notification
As a Port State, more effective management of Marshall Islands port State control activity, including security risk assessment
As a Coastal State, to monitor coastal traffic for safety, security and environmental protection needs
Locating overdue ships
Reducing risk of piracy attacks
As a Flag Administration, locating ships for Flag and Class compliance surveys – safety, security, environment

13. LRIT

14. OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVEMENT
Creation of a permanent IDE
Reassessment of the IDC concept
Elimination of duplication of LRIT information in AIS coastal and port areas

15. SUMMARY
LRIT was developed as a tool to manage maritime security risk and incorporated into SOLAS
In addition to security it serves a range of potential safety and environmental functions
LRIT functions well today and continues to evolve as IMO, SOLAS Parties and Coordinator plan for the future
Marshall Islands has been fully involved from the beginning as both a flag State and a SOLAS Party and remains so today

16. THANK YOU
THANK YOU