7th Session of the IMO's  NCSR Sub-Committee in London

On 14-24 January 2020, IMO's Sub-Committee on Navigation, Communications and Search and Rescue met at its 7th session.

The Sub-Committee  deals with all matters related to navigation,  communications and search and rescue, including the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS). The work of the NCSR Sub-Committee was divided into a number of expert groups: navigation, ship routing systems, communications and SAR.
Representing the Maritime University of Szczecin Dean of the Faculty of Navigation Prof. Paweł Zalewski participated in the NCSR plenary sessions and the work of the expert group for navigation. The group prepared a report  including:
draft circular on the recognition of the Indian regional navigation satellite system (IRNSS), an element of the global radionavigation system,
draft MSC resolution on performance standards for shipborne Japanese Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS) receiver equipment,
invitation of interested parties to non-formalised inter-session work under German leadership and  submission of the final proposal of  reference standards of shipborne satellite system receiver equipment  at NCSR's 8th session,
draft amendment to the guidelines for  vessel traffic services (VTS),
indications for further development of maritime services (MS) descriptions in the context of e-navigation (Singapore released a short video promoting MS, available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WenDzWY-tXc,
invitation of interested parties to participate in inter-session work to present draft amendments to the strategic plan for the implementation of e-navigation,
amendments to the Polar Code concerning safety measures for non-SOLAS ships,
revision of  the structure and changes in "Guidelines on places of refuge for ships in need of assistance",
review of IMO publications related to navigation,
withdrawal of the MSI symbol from "Guidelines for the presentation of navigation-related symbols, terms and abbreviations"
The priority for Polish  delegation was also to support actions aimed at an extension and  modification of TSS "Slupska Bank". Presented on 24 January 2020, reports of expert groups  included a document introducing an extension of TSS  Słupska Bank with new sections and modification of the existing section. The reports were adopted by the Sub-Committee for approval by the  Maritime Safety Committee.