Radio surveys

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Last update: January 2021
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Overview

A radio survey is a set of testing services provided for a vessel to verify and confirm its readiness and safety for navigation in appropriate sea area(s). The condition of the ship and its equipment shall be maintained to conform with the provisions of the SOLAS regulations to ensure that the ship in all respects will remain fit to proceed to sea without danger to the ship or persons on board.

The radio survey ensures that the ship's GMDSS equipment remains in compliance with the associated SOLAS regulations including the GMDSS functional requirements (SOLAS IV/4).

Requirements

Radio surveys are required under SOLAS 74/88 Chapter I, Regulations 7 (for passenger ships) and 9 (for cargo ships), and should be carried out in accordance with IMO Resolution A.1140(31) - Survey guidelines under the Harmonized System of Survey and Classification (HSSC), 2019.

On satisfactory completion of the radio survey, the radio surveyor should forward a report of the survey, which should also state the organization they represent, to the authorities responsible for the issue of the ship's Cargo Ship Safety Radio Certificate or Passenger Ship Safety Certificate.

The radio survey should always be performed by a fully qualified radio surveyor who has adequate knowledge of the IMO`s relevant Convention, particularly SOLAS and associated performance standards, and appropriate ITU Radio Regulations. The radio survey should be carried out using suitable test equipment capable of performing all relevant measurements required by the HSSC Guidelines. It is considered as very important that the responsible radio operator (holding a GOC or ROC certificate) is properly instructed and trained in how to use the GMDSS radio equipment.

Survey types / frequency

Passenger ships shall be subject to the surveys specified below:

  • an initial survey before the ship is put in service
  • a renewal survey once every 12 months
  • additional surveys, as occasion arises

Cargo ships radio installations, including those used in life-saving appliances, of cargo ships to which chapters III and IV apply shall be subject to the surveys specified below:

  • an initial survey before the ship is put in service
  • a renewal survey at intervals specified by the Administration but not exceeding five years
  • a periodical survey within three months before or after each anniversary date of the Cargo Ship Safety Radio Certificate

These surveys shall be carried out as follows:

  • the initial survey shall include a complete inspection of the radio installations of cargo ships, including those used in life-saving appliances, to ensure that they comply with the requirements of the present regulations;
  • the renewal and periodical surveys shall include an inspection of the radio installations of cargo ships, including those used in life-saving appliances, to ensure that they comply with the requirements of the present regulations.

Non-conformity

SOLAS 74/88 Regulation I/6(c) sets out the following steps that should be taken if a survey shows that the condition of the ship or its equipment does not correspond substantially with the particulars of the certificate or is not fit to proceed to sea without danger to the ship, or persons on board:

  • the surveyor or organisation shall immediately ensure that corrective action is taken
  • the surveyor or organisation shall notify the Administration in due course
  • if corrective action is not taken, the certificate should be withdrawn and the Administration notified immediately
  • if the ship is in the port of another Party, the authorities of the port State shall be notified immediately
  • when applicable, the Government of the port State concerned shall ensure that the ship shall not sail until it can proceed to sea, or leave port for the purpose of proceeding to a repair yard without danger to the ship, or persons on board.

Summarised survey checklist

During a radio inspection the engineer should check and test as necessary the following items and find them satisfactory:

  1. Source of energy
  2. Radio installations
  3. Antennas
  4. VHF transceivers
  5. VHF DSC controller and Channel 70 DSC watch receiver
  6. MF radiotelephone equipment, or MF/HF radiotelephone equipment
  7. MF/HF radio telex equipment
  8. MF DSC controller(s), or MF/HF DSC controller(s)
  9. MF DSC watch receiver(s), or MF/HF DSC watch receiver (s)
  10. INMARSAT Ship Earth Station(s)
  11. NAVTEX equipment
  12. Enhanced Group Call
  13. Float free satellite EPIRB
  14. Two-way VHF radiotelephone apparatus for survival craft
  15. Radar transponders (Now called “search and rescue locating devices” and may include AIS-SARTs)
  16. Test equipment and spares carried
  17. Radar(s)
  18. ARPA
  19. Receiver for a Global Navigation Satellite system or a Terrestrial Radionavigation System (GPS)
  20. Automatic Identification System (AIS)
  21. Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS)

Equipment typically used to conduct the survey

  • Frequency counter
  • Watt meter with plug in elements covering MF, HF, and VHF.
  • Ampere/Volt/Ohm meter
  • Instrument for decoding the ID-signal of satellite EPIRBs
  • Acid tester (specific gravity)
  • Insulation resistance tester
  • GMDSS Test Set Spectrum analyzer
  • Oscilloscope
  • Deviation meter

Example documents

See also

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