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On 28 May 2004, amended requirements will enter into force in Germany regarding
the installation and survey of navigational and radio communications equipment.
They also cover equipment required by the International Regulations for Preventing
Collisions at Sea (COLREG), such as navigation lights and sound signal appliances.
The amendment is due to the fact that the currently valid Schiffssicherheitsverordnung
(Ship Safety Ordinance) refers largely on international conventions. These conventions,
e.g. SOLAS and Torremolinos, specify survey requirements not based on the type
of navigational equipment but based on the vessel type (annual surveys for passenger
vessels, two-year-intervals for fishing vessels over 24 m in length, five-year
intervals for other vessels). Different types of navigational equipment (listed
in Annexes A1 and A2 of the marine equipment directive 96/98/EC) thus are subject
to identical requirements. Radio communications equipment has to be surveyed
annually on all vessels within the framework of the radio safety survey.
Special recognition of repair firms is no longer required.
Resolution A.746(18) of IMO, which is a United Nations organisation, contains
regulations which have now also become mandatory in Germany and are applicable
to all vessels subject to surveys according to Chapter I, SOLAS. It specifies
details of the mandatory initial and renewal surveys.
An initial survey consists mainly of a plan approval, a surveyor
inspection, and a functional test.
- Surveyor inspection and functional test
The surveyor inspection and functional test is performed according to
the requirements for testing the installation of navigational and radio
communications equipment as well as equipment according to COLREG 72 (BfA / only in German).
The purpose of the inspection of installed navigational equipment is to
ensure that the installation is in compliance with the approved plans and
any conditions imposed have been complied with.
Another purpose of the inspection is to make sure that the installed
navigational equipment corresponds to the approved equipment and has been
calibrated and configured as required. The conformity of radio equipment
is checked in the radio safety survey.
The renewal survey proceedings are largely identical to those for surveyor
inspection and functional testing.
List of Testing Bodies (only in German)
Compass Adjustments
Standard magnetic compasses and steering magnetic compasses that are permanently
installed on board German flagged ships have to be adjusted before being put
into operation and thereafter every two years as a minimum. The adjustment is
performed by a person who has been recognised either by the BSH, on the basis
of certification provided, or by a Member State of the International Maritime
Organization (IMO). Adjustments performed abroad do not have to be recognised
by the BSH.
List of
Compass adjuster (only in German)
Recognition as organisation for performing surveys or laboratory tests
in order by BSH
Persons and organisations that have been recognised according to the formerly
valid Requirements may apply for recognition on the basis of BfE (only
in German) (Application form available as pdf-file
or WORD-Document
/ only in German). Missing certifications
may be replaced by a BSH assessment.
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