Sea Area A1 Declaration

Electrical and electronic topics for small boats
jimh
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Sea Area A1 Declaration

Postby jimh » Sun May 21, 2017 3:56 pm

The following material appeared in the FEDERAL REGISTER on January 20, 2015:

--begin quoted material---
SUMMARY:

The Coast Guard is declaring Sea Area A1 in certain areas off the coast of the United States based upon the performance of the Coast Guard's Rescue 21 System, and in accordance with applicable provisions of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974 (SOLAS). The Coast Guard defines Sea Area A1 as those areas where more than ninety percent of the area within 20 nautical miles seaward of the territorial baseline along the East, West and Gulf Coasts of the United States, excluding Alaska, and including Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands of the United States, and the Northern Mariana Islands of Saipan, Tinian, and Rota, is within coverage of Coast Guard very high frequency (VHF) Coast Stations that provide both a continuous watch for Digital Selective Calling (DSC) distress alerts on Channel 70 and a capability to respond to distress alerts.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Rescue 21 is the Coast Guard's advanced command, control and direction-finding communications system that was created to better locate mariners in distress. By harnessing state-of-the-market technology, Rescue 21 enables the Coast Guard to execute its search and rescue missions with greater agility and efficiency which helps to save lives and property at sea and on navigable rivers. The Coast Guard's Rescue 21 system is comprised of strategically placed VHF Coast Stations that provide a continuous watch on DSC Channel 70 for receiving, and responding to, digital distress alerts.

In accordance with Chapter IV, Regulation 2 of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974 (SOLAS), “Sea Area A1 means an area within the radiotelephone coverage of at least one VHF Coast Station in which continuous Digital Selective Calling (DSC) alerting is available, as may be defined by a Contracting Government.” International Maritime Organization (IMO) Resolution A. 801(19), which is cited in Chapter IV, Regulation 2, further provides that stations participating in VHF DSC watchkeeping in the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) should provide as complete a coverage of the Sea Area A1 as is possible.

The performance of the currently built-out Rescue 21 system demonstrates that it provides coverage over more than 90 percent of those areas within 20 nautical miles seaward of the territorial baseline along the East, West, and Gulf coasts of the United States, excluding Alaska, and including Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands of the United States, and the Northern Mariana Islands of Saipan, Tinian, and Rota. Based upon the demonstrated coverage and performance of the Rescue 21 System, and upon the applicable requirements of SOLAS, the Coast Guard is declaring as Sea Area A1 those areas within 20 nautical miles seaward of the territorial baseline along the East, West, and Gulf coasts of the United States, excluding Alaska, and including Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands of the United States, and the Northern Mariana Islands of Saipan, Tinian, and Rota.

While not related to Sea Area A1, the Coast Guard would like to inform mariners that the Rescue 21 System also provides VHF Coast Stations along the Great Lakes so that continuous DSC alerting is available within 20 nautical miles offshore from more than 90 percent of U.S. locations along the Great Lakes. The Coast Guard is also building Rescue 21 facilities along the Western Rivers and in Alaska.

The Coast Guard would like to take this opportunity to remind mariners that no radiocommunications system can guaranty 100 percent coverage or 100 percent availability because of the vagaries of radio propagation and equipment performance. The Coast Guard urges all mariners to be sure that they have obtained and are using a proper Maritime Mobile Service Identity (MMSI), and that their DSC radios are connected to Global Positioning System (GPS) devices (if the DSC radio does not have built-in GPS). Assuring that a DSC alert is accompanied by both a properly registered MMSI and a GPS location significantly enhances and expedites search and rescue efforts.

It should be noted that this Declaration designating specified areas as Sea Area A1 will trigger certain radio carriage provisions of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Maritime Radio Service Rules and Regulations (47 CFR 80.1 et seq.). It is expected that the FCC will be issuing a Public Notice providing the details of specific vessel radio carriage requirements.

Authority: This notice is issued under authority of 14 U.S.C. 93(a)(16) and 5 U.S.C. 552(a).

Dated: January 9, 2015.

Glenn C. Hernandez,

Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Chief, Office of Information Assurance and Spectrum Policy. Commandant (CG-65)

--end quoted material--

A PDF version is available at

https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2015-0 ... -00798.pdf

jimh
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Re: Sea Area A1 Declaration

Postby jimh » Sun May 21, 2017 7:26 pm

As predicted in the Coast Guard announcement above, the Federal Communications Commission followed up shortly afterward by announcing PUBLIC NOTICE DA 15-466 on April 16, 2015. Here is the notice:

FISHING VESSELS AND SMALL PASSENGER VESSELS IN CERTAIN AREAS MUST
UPGRADE TO VHF DIGITAL SELECTIVE CALLING EQUIPMENT BY JANUARY 20, 2016


By this Public Notice, the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau informs owners and operators of certain vessels that they must upgrade to VHF radiotelephone equipment that includes digital selective calling (DSC)(see note 1) capability no later than January 20, 2016. Fishing vessels and small passenger vessels must be equipped with a VHF radiotelephone installation, which must have DSC capability beginning one year after the United States Coast Guard (USCG) notifies the Commission that shore-based Sea Area A1 coverage has been established. (See note 2.)

On January 20, 2015, USCG notified the Commission that it had published a notice in the Federal Register declaring Sea Area A1 within twenty nautical miles seaward of the territorial baseline along the East, West, and Gulf coasts of the United States, excluding Alaska, and including Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands of the United States, and the Northern Mariana Islands of Saipan, Tinian, and Rota. (See note 3.)

Consequently, fishing vessels and small passenger vessels operating in those waters must upgrade to VHF-DSC equipment no later than January 20, 2016. (See note 4.)

Notes:

1. DSC is an internationally approved system for automatically contacting vessels. It allows mariners to instantly send an automatically formatted distress alert to rescue authorities anywhere in the world, and to initiate or receive distress, urgency, safety and routine radiotelephone calls to or from any similarly equipped vessel or shore station without either party being near a radio loudspeaker. DSC also allows ship and shore stations to call each other directly, rather than requiring a radio operator to continuously monitor a common calling channel to identify specific calls directed to the station.

2. 47 C.F.R. §§ 80.905(a)(1), (a)(3), (a)(4), 80.1071(c). Sea Area A1 is an area within the radiotelephone coverage of at least one VHF coast station in which continuous DSC alerting is available. 47 C.F.R. § 80.1069(a)(1).

3. See Declaration of Sea Area A1, 80 Fed. Reg. 2722, 2723 (2015). This determination was based upon the performance of the USCG Rescue 21 System, and in accordance with applicable provisions of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974. Rescue 21 is the Coast Guard’s advanced command, control and direction-finding communications system that was created to better located mariners in distress. It is comprised of strategically placed VHF Coast stations that provide a continuous watch on DSC Channel 70 for receiving and responding to digital distress signals. In addition to declaring Sea Area A1 along the designated coasts, USCG informed mariners that the Rescue 21 System also provides VHF Coast Stations along the Great Lakes, and that Rescue 21 facilities are being built along the Western Rivers and in Alaska.

4. Vessels with a VHF-DSC radiotelephone must maintain a watch on DSC channel 70, see 47 C.F.R. 80.1085(a)(2), in addition to the radio watch requirements for channel 16 and for broadcasts of maritime safety information.

jimh
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Re: Sea Area A1 Declaration

Postby jimh » Sun May 21, 2017 7:49 pm

The FCC also issued another public notice on January 19, 2016, DA 16-63, that provided for exemptions from mandatory carriage of Class-A DSC radios. See

https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attac ... 6-63A1.pdf

Executive summary: Ship Station licensees can request exemptions either to delay the time when they must install a Class-A DSC radio or to be permitted to install a Class-D DSC radio in lieu of a Class-A DSC radio. In either case, the licensee must provide justification for the exemption.

jimh
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Re: Sea Area A1 Declaration

Postby jimh » Sun May 21, 2017 7:55 pm

Following the FCC Public Notice, on March 30, 2016 the Coast Guard issued CG-CVC Policy Letter 15-06 (CH-1) with the subject: VHF-DSC RADIO EQUIPMENT INSTALLATION REQUIREMENTS FOR SMALL PASSENGER AND COMMERCIAL FISHING VESSELS. In part, the policy letter notes:

--begin excerpts--

3. BACKGROUND. The Coast Guard requires Small Passenger Vessels, inspected under 46 C.F.R. Subchapter T, and Commercial Fishing Industry Vessels regulated under 46 C.F.R. Part 28 to carry communications equipment that complies with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) requirements set forth in 47 C.F.R. Part 80. The Coast Guard definitions and applicability under Title 46, CFR are different than the FCC's definitions and applicability under Title 47, CFR. Based upon the FCC's definitions and applicability, Coast Guard inspected small passenger vessels that transport seven to twelve passengers for hire, and commercial fishing vessels of 300 gross tons and greater must be equipped with a VHF DSC radio installation beginning one year after the United States Coast Guard (CG) notified the FCC that shore-based Sea Area A 1 coverage has been established.

4. On January 20,2015, the CG notified the FCC that it had published a Federal Register notice declaring Sea Area Al in certain areas off the coast of the United States to be within twenty nautical miles seaward of the territorial baseline along the East, West, and Gulf coasts of the United States, excluding Alaska, but including Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands of the United States, and the Northern Mariana Islands of Saipan, Tinian, and Rota. This determination was made because the Coast Guard now has service, in Sea Area AI, under its Rescue 21 Distress System coverage. On April 16,2015, the FCC released Public Notice DA 15-466 announcing the new radio equipment installation requirements for certain commercial vessels.

5. Consequently, and in accordance with reference (a) [47 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) § 80.905(a)(l)], Coast Guard inspected small passenger vessels that transport seven to twelve passengers for hire and commercial fishing vessels of 300 gross tons and greater operating in Sea Area Al must upgrade to Class A VHF-DSC radio equipment, or obtain a Exemption from Ship Station Requirements (or ship exemption) from the FCC, no later than January 20,2016 to facilitate sending automatically formatted distress alerts instantly to rescue authorities.

6. DISCUSSION. Instant distress alerts, sent through a VHF-DSC capable marine radio, allow the Coast Guard to respond more quickly to an emergency if the alert contains position information. To include position information in a distress alert, the VHF-DSC radio should be properly connected to a GPS Receiver (electronic position fixing device) or have a VHF DSC marine radio with integral GPS. In accordance with references (b) [46 CFR § 184.502] and (c) [46 CFR § 28.245], commercial fishing vessels and small passenger vessels must comply with the applicable requirements for any radio installation, including the requirements for a station license and installation certificates to be issued by the FCC as set forth in Title 47 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 80. Vessels that operate solely within 20 nautical miles of land in Sea Area Al must be equipped with a radiotelephone installation that conforms to the appropriate performance standards in 47 C.F.R. 80.1101(c)(2). Part of that compliance includes a vessel inspection by a FCC-licensed technician who conducts a detailed inspection of radio installations, in accordance with 47 C.F.R. 80.59, and [provides] a Safety Radiotelephone Certificate. During Coast Guard inspections for certification or re-inspections, the Coast Guard verifies that vessels have on board a valid Safety Radiotelephone Certificate issued by the FCC. In accordance with 47 C.F.R. 80.413, a record of onboard equipment must be maintained to include the date and type of equipment which is added or removed.

7. Note that the FCC defines a passenger carrying vessel (or what is commonly referred to as a "small passenger vessel") for the purposes of their regulations and issuance of FCC certificates differently than the Coast Guard. The FCC defines a small passenger vessel as a vessel that transports seven to twelve passengers for hire. Additionally, the FCC defines a "passenger ship," in 47 USC § 153, as a ship that is certificated to carry more than twelve passengers, which is consistent with the SOLAS, Regulation 2 definition. In accordance with Subpart W of Title 47 CFR Part SO, all passenger ships - regardless of size - should be in compliance with the rules applicable to Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) for the carriage of ship radio equipment per 47 C.F.R. 8O.1085. In this particular case, passenger ships must be provided with a VHF-DSC radio installation that meets the performance standards in that section of the regulations.

8. The FCC rules require Class A VHF-DSC equipment to satisfy the requirements of 47 C.F.R. 8O.1085. However, under FCC Public Notice (DA 16-63), dated January 19,2016, licensees may request a ship exemption to permit the use of a Class D VHF-DSC radio in lieu of a Class A radio. Licensees must provide justification for the exemption and file it under Schedule G of FCC Form 605 which is located at: http://wireless.fcc.gov/uls/index.htm%20?job=home.


--end excerpt--

With all of those preliminaries explained, the Coast Guard policy letter now directs its recipients into action:

--begin excerpts--

9. ACTION. MI's and CFVE's should ensure carriage of the proper equipment, inspect onboard equipment records, and check proper installation of the VHF-DSC radio through visual inspection of the equipment during the vessel's next scheduled inspection or examination. Typically, the DSC alert button is red and is marked with "DSC" or "Distress" on the front radio pane1. While the MI or CFVE may conduct an operational test of the radio equipment, they are not required to test the functionality of the radio's DSC alert feature. If there are doubts or concerns about the adequacy of the equipment installation, the suitability of electrical wiring connecting components, or the proper maintenance of the equipment, the local FCC technician should be consulted before taking further action.

--a. If compliance with reference (a) or proof of a FCC-issued ship exemption cannot be verified, MIs should concern a deficiency (CG-S35) to the vessel for failing to satisfy this carriage requirement. MIs should not concern a "no sail" exclusively for this deficiency but ensure operators are seeking compliance with this requirement (e.g., providing a receipt for the VHF-DSC radio purchase or evidence of a scheduled radio installation). The options for MIs to concern a CG-S35 are as follows:

----i. For owners and/or operators who demonstrate proof of a pending application for a ship exemption from the FCC, MI's may concern a CG-S35 for up to nine (9) months from the date of this policy letter to help facilitate this process; or

----ii. MI's may concern a CG-S35 for up to six (6) months without proof of purchase or an exemption request.

--b. CFVE's should note the deficiency in the Commercial Fishing Vessel Safety Examination Booklet (CG-5587) and not concern the Commercial Fishing Vessel Safety Decal until installation of the radio equipment can be verified. NOTE: A Boarding Officer may concern a Notice of Violation (NOV) to a commercial fishing vessel for this deficiency but should not terminate the voyage unless other circumstances are present that warrant a voyage termination due to additional safety concerns in accordance with part C.l.b.2 of the Maritime Law Enforcement Manual.

--end excerpts---

Phew--now I know why salmon costs $20-per-pound. All those fishermen had to buy new Class-A DSC radios. Also, I think "MI" means marine inspector and CFVE means commercial fishing vessel examiner.

The salient point of the policy letter was to advise that the regulated vessels must upgrade to DSC CLASS-A radios or obtain an exemption from Ship Station Requirements from the FCC and use a CLASS-D radio instead. The affected vessels are Coast Guard inspected passenger vessels that carry seven to twelve passengers for hire and commercial fishing vessels of 300 gross tons or more. The vessels are to be inspected by an FCC licensed technician who will conduct a detailed inspection of radio installations and provide the vessel with a Safety Radiotelephone Certificate. To read the entire policy letter, you will have to obtain the rasterized text version and view it visually to see the text. You can obtain the document from:

https://www.uscg.mil/hq/cgcvc/cvc/polic ... 06-Ch1.pdf

jimh
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Re: Sea Area A1 Declaration

Postby jimh » Mon May 22, 2017 10:17 am

It is important to note that NONE of this affects recreational vessels. There is no mandate or regulatory requirement for recreational vessels that are less than 65.6-feet (20-meters) in length to even carry a marine radiotelephone. It is entirely voluntary for a small boat to equip with a VHF Marine Band radio. However, the FCC had issued regulations that prohibit the manufacture, importation, sale, or installation of a VHF Marine Band DSC radio unless the radio meets (at least) CLASS-D qualifications. This means that just about any new radio you buy will be a DSC Class-D radio.