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Navigation and communication regulations

If you have any questions about communications and navigation equipment best suited for your vessel, please contact your local JRC office, distributor or use our sales request for on the right side of your screen. Click on the navigation or communication button below to view the regulations for this category.

(No rights can be derived from our Guide for Carriage requirements for shipborne navigational systems and equipment on this website. Subject to changes and typing errors)

AllNavigation requirementsCommunication requirements
Passenger Ships (≥ 499GT)

Passenger Ships (≥ 499GT)

Cargo ships (≤ 150 GT)

Cargo ships (≤ 150 GT)

Cargo ships (≥ 150 GT)

Cargo ships (≥ 150 GT)

Cargo ships (≥ 300 GT)

Cargo ships (≥ 300 GT)

Passenger ships (≥ 500 GT)

Passenger ships (≥ 500 GT)

Cargo ships (≥ 500 GT)

Cargo ships (≥ 500 GT)

Passenger and cargo ships (≥ 3.000 GT)

Passenger and cargo ships (≥ 3.000 GT)

Passenger and cargo ships (≥ 10.000 GT)

Passenger and cargo ships (≥ 10.000 GT)

Passenger and cargo ships (≥ 50.000 GT)

Passenger and cargo ships (≥ 50.000 GT)

DescriptionModelQtySOLAS
Standard magnetic compass*

(*) Approved alternatives means are permitted

AlphaBinnacle H MK21 View product
Pelorus or compass bearing device*

(*) Approved alternatives means are permitted

AlphaBinnacle H MK21 View product
Correction to heading/bearing*

(*) Approved alternatives means are permitted

AlphaBinnacle H MK21 View product
Nautical charts and nautical publications*

(*) Approved alternatives means are permitted

ECDIS is also accepted as meeting the chart carriage requirements

Nautical charts and nautical publications to plan and display the ship’s route for the intended voyage and to plot and monitor positions throughout the voyage. An electronic chart display and information system (ECDIS) is also accepted as meeting the chart carriage requirements of this subparagraph (Chapter V, 19.2.1.4). Ships to which paragraph 2.10 applies shall comply with the carriage requirements for ECDIS detailed therein;

2.10 Ships engaged on international voyages shall be fitted with an Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS) as follows:

.1 passenger ships of 500 gross tonnage and upwards constructed on or after 1 July 2012;
.2 tankers of 3,000 gross tonnage and upwards constructed on or after 1 July 2012;
.3 cargo ships, other than tankers, of 10,000 gross tonnage and upwards constructed on or after 1 July 2013;
.4 cargo ships, other than tankers, of 3,000 gross tonnage and upwards but less than 10,000 gross tonnage constructed on or after 1 July 2014;
.5 passenger ships of 500 gross tonnage and upwards constructed before 1 July 2012, not later than the first survey* on or after 1 July 2014;
.6 tankers of 3,000 gross tonnage and upwards constructed before 1 July 2012, not later than the first survey* on or after 1 July 2015;
.7 cargo ships, other than tankers, of 50,000 gross tonnage and upwards constructed before 1 July 2013, not later than the first survey* on or after 1 July 2016;
.8 cargo ships, other than tankers, of 20,000 gross tonnage and upwards but less than 50,000 gross tonnage constructed before 1 July 2013, not later than the first survey* on or after 1 July 2017; and
.9 cargo ships, other than tankers, of 10,000 gross tonnage and upwards but less than 20,000 gross tonnage constructed before 1 July 2013, not later than the first survey* on or after 1 July 2018.
2.11 Administrations may exempt ships from the application of the requirements of paragraph 2.10 when such ships will be taken permanently out of service within two years after the implementation date specified in subparagraphs .5 to .9 of paragraph 2.10.

JAN-9301 / JAN-7301/ JAN-9201/ JAN-72011 View product
Electronic Chart Display & Inform. System (ECDIS) (+ backup arrangement)

(*) Approved alternatives means are permitted

ECDIS is also accepted as meeting the chart carriage requirements

Nautical charts and nautical publications to plan and display the ship’s route for the intended voyage and to plot and monitor positions throughout the voyage. An electronic chart display and information system (ECDIS) is also accepted as meeting the chart carriage requirements of this subparagraph (Chapter V, 19.2.1.4). Ships to which paragraph 2.10 applies shall comply with the carriage requirements for ECDIS detailed therein;

2.10 Ships engaged on international voyages shall be fitted with an Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS) as follows:

.1 passenger ships of 500 gross tonnage and upwards constructed on or after 1 July 2012;
.2 tankers of 3,000 gross tonnage and upwards constructed on or after 1 July 2012;
.3 cargo ships, other than tankers, of 10,000 gross tonnage and upwards constructed on or after 1 July 2013;
.4 cargo ships, other than tankers, of 3,000 gross tonnage and upwards but less than 10,000 gross tonnage constructed on or after 1 July 2014;
.5 passenger ships of 500 gross tonnage and upwards constructed before 1 July 2012, not later than the first survey* on or after 1 July 2014;
.6 tankers of 3,000 gross tonnage and upwards constructed before 1 July 2012, not later than the first survey* on or after 1 July 2015;
.7 cargo ships, other than tankers, of 50,000 gross tonnage and upwards constructed before 1 July 2013, not later than the first survey* on or after 1 July 2016;
.8 cargo ships, other than tankers, of 20,000 gross tonnage and upwards but less than 50,000 gross tonnage constructed before 1 July 2013, not later than the first survey* on or after 1 July 2017; and
.9 cargo ships, other than tankers, of 10,000 gross tonnage and upwards but less than 20,000 gross tonnage constructed before 1 July 2013, not later than the first survey* on or after 1 July 2018.
2.11 Administrations may exempt ships from the application of the requirements of paragraph 2.10 when such ships will be taken permanently out of service within two years after the implementation date specified in subparagraphs .5 to .9 of paragraph 2.10.

JAN-9301 / JAN-7301/ JAN-9201/ JAN-72011 View product
GNSS receiver (e.g. GPS, Glonass, Galileo, Beidou) or terrestrial Radio Nav. System*

(*)Approved alternatives means are permitted

JLR-8400/JLR-86001 View product
Sound Reception System (SRS)*

(*)Approved alternatives means are permitted.

In case of a totally enclosed ship’s bridge (unless flag state exemption)

AlphaSSRS1 View product
Telephone to emergency steering system*

(*)Approved alternatives means are permitted

AlphaConnect Classic1 View product
Spare magnetic compass*

(*) Approved alternatives means are permitted

AlphaBinnacle H MK21 View product
Daylight signalling lamp*

(*)Approved alternatives means are permitted

Bridge Navigational Watch Alarm System (BNWAS)*

Resolution MSC.350(92): BNWAS requirement for ships constructed before 1 July 2002, not later than 1st survey after:

Passenger ships 1 January 2016
Cargo ships ≥ 3.000 GT 1 January 2016
Cargo ships 500-3.000 GT 1 January 2017
Cargo ships 150-500 GT 1 January 2018
JCX-161/ AlphaBNWAS1 View product
Echosounder*

(*)Approved alternatives means are permitted

JFE-400/7001 View product
9 GHz radar including EPA, ATA or ARPA (X-band)

(*)Approved alternatives means are permitted.

Minimum RADAR plotting functionality:

  • 300 GT to < 500 GT (and all passenger ships): EPA (Electronic Plotting Aid)
  • 500 to 10.000 GT: ATA (Automatic Tracking Aid)
  • ≥ 10.000 GT: ARPA (Automatic Radar Plotting Aid)
JMR-5400/ JMR-9200/ JMR-93001 View product
Speed & Distance Measuring Device (SDME) – Speed Thru Water JLN-740/7411 View product
Transmitting Heading Device (Gyro, Electromagnetic or Satellite)*

(*) Approved alternatives means are permitted

JLR-41/ AlphaMidiCourse1 View product
Automatic Identification System (AIS)

Approved alternatives means are permitted.

Contact us for your (S-)VDR and AIS Annual Performance Test (Approved by the major Classification Societies)

JHS-1831 View product
Gyrocompass

(*) Approved alternatives means are permitted

AlphaMidiCourse MK21 View product
Gyrocompass steering repeater at helmsman position

(*) Approved alternatives means are permitted

AlphaHeading+ MFL indicator1 View product
Gyrocompass heading repeater at emergency steering position*

(*) Approved alternatives means are permitted

AlphaLine Repeater MFM+wall mount box1 View product
Gyrocompass bearing repeaters (360 degrees)*

(*) Approved alternatives means are permitted

On ships < 1.600 GT only if possible

AlphaMidiCourse Bearing repeater compass1
Indicators (rudder, propeller, thrust, pitch & operational mode)*

(*) Approved alternatives means are permitted

AlphaRudder MFM (MED Indicator)1 View product
3 GHz RADAR including ATA or ARPA (S-band)*

(*)Approved alternatives means are permitted.

Minimum RADAR plotting functionality:

  • 300 GT to < 500 GT (and all passenger ships): EPA (Electronic Plotting Aid)
  • 500 to 10.000 GT: ATA (Automatic Tracking Aid)
  • ≥ 10.000 GT: ARPA (Automatic Radar Plotting Aid)
JMR-5400/ JMR-9200/ JMR-93001 View product
Heading or Track Control System (HCS (autopilot) / TCS)*

(*)Approved alternatives means are permitted.

AlphaPilot MFM1 View product
Rate of Turn indicator (ROT)

(*)Approved alternatives means are permitted.

AlphaTurn MFM (MED Indicator)1 View product
Speed & Distance Measuring Device (SDME) – Speed Over Ground JLN-720/ JLN-9001 View product
Long Range Identification and Tracking (LRIT) JUE-95LT/JUE-871 View product
(Simplified) Voyage Data Recorder (S-)VDR*

1 To assist in casualty investigations, ships, when engaged on international voyages, subject to the provisions of regulation 1.4, shall be fitted with a voyage data recorder (VDR) as follows:

  • .1 passenger ships constructed on or after 1 July 2002;
  • .2 ro-ro passenger ships constructed before 1 July 2002 not later than the first survey on or after 1 July 2002;
  • .3 passenger ships other than ro-ro passenger ships constructed before 1 July 2002 not later than 1 January 2004; and
  • .4 ships, other than passenger ships, of 3,000 gross tonnage and upwards constructed on or after 1 July 2002.


2 To assist in casualty investigations, cargo ships, when engaged on international voyages, shall be fitted with a VDR which may be a simplified voyage data recorder (S-VDR)* as follows:

  • .1 in the case of cargo ships of 20,000 gross tonnage and upwards constructed before 1 July 2002, at the first scheduled dry-docking after 1 July 2006 but not later than 1 July 2009;
  • .2 in the case of cargo ships of 3,000 gross tonnage and upwards but less than 20,000 gross tonnage constructed before 1 July 2002, at the first scheduled dry-docking after July 2007 but not later than 1 July 2010; and
  • .3 Administrations may exempt cargo ships from the application of the requirements of subparagraphs .1 and .2 when such ships will be taken permanently out of service within two years after
JCY-1900 (JCY-1950)1 View product
Annual Performance Testing (APT) for (S-)VDR and AIS

Contact us for your (S-)VDR and AIS Annual Performance Test

Service & Maintenance Agreements

Contact us for all available service agreements and maintenance contracts