Long-range identification and tracking (ships)

The Long Range Identification and Tracking (LRIT) of ships was established as an international system on 19 May 2006 by the International Maritime Organization as resolution MSC.202(81). This resolution amends chapter V of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), regulation 19-1 and binds all governments which have contracted to the IMO.

The LRIT regulation will apply to the following ship types engaged on international voyages:

• All passenger ships including high speed craft,
• Cargo ships, including high speed craft of 300 gross tonnage and above, and
• Mobile offshore drilling units.

These ships must automatically report their position to their Flag Administration at least 4 times a day. Other contracting governments may request information about vessels in which they have a legitimate interest under the regulation.

The automatic system consists of the shipborne LRIT information transmitting equipment, Communications Service Providers (CSPs), Application Service Providers (ASPs), LRIT Data Centres, the LRIT Data Distribution Plan and the International LRIT Data Exchange. Certain aspects of the performance of the LRIT system are reviewed or audited by the LRIT Coordinator acting on behalf of the IMO and its Contracting Governments.

A predecessor of LRIT is AIS (Automatic Identification System) operating on the VHF Radio range. While originally designed for short range operation as a navigational aid, it has now been shown to be possible to receive AIS signals by Satellite. This is becoming known as S-AIS and might make LRIT superfluous.

Panama Implementation

Panama currently has the largest LRIT NDC in the world with approximately 8,000 vessels under its flag.

After evaluating the world's leading LRIT operators, the Panama Flag Registry selected and appointed Absolute Maritime Tracking Services, Inc. (AMTS) as the sole LRIT Application Service Provider (ASP) and National Data Center (NDC) provider for all Panama flagged vessels.

ABSOLUTE MARITIME TRACKING SERVICES, INC. (AMTS) is one of the world’s largest LRIT operators with over 8,000 vessels under active long range tracking. AMTS maintains and operates the Panama National Data Center (NDC which monitors and tracks all Panama flagged ships over 300 gross tons on international voyages as well as IMO member state ships that are either bound for a Panama port or traveling within 1000 nm of the Panama coastlines.

European Implementation

Following the EU Council Resolution of 2 October 2007, EU Member States (MS) decided to establish an EU LRIT Data Centre (EU LRIT DC). According to the Council Resolution, the Commission is in charge of managing the EU LRIT DC, in cooperation with Member States, through the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA). The Agency, in particular, is in charge of the technical development, operation and maintenance of the EU LRIT DC. It also “stresses that the objective of the EU LRIT DC should include maritime security, Search and Rescue (SAR), maritime safety and protection of the marine environment, taking into consideration respective developments within the IMO context.”

North American Implementation

Canada

In January 2009 Canada become one of the first SOLAS Contracting Governments to implement a National Data Centre and comply with the LRIT regulation.

United States of America

In January 2009 the United States of America become one of the first SOLAS Contracting Governments to implement a National Data Centre and comply with the LRIT regulation.

Long Range Identification and Tracking (LRIT) was proposed by the United States Coast Guard(USCG) at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in London during the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks to track the approximately 50,000 large ships around the world.

In the United States integration of LRIT information with that from sensors and enables the Coast Guard to correlate Long Range Identification and Tracking (LRIT) data with data from other sources, detect anomalies, and heighten overall Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA). The United States implementation of this regulation is consistent with the Coast Guard's strategic goals of maritime security and maritime safety, and the Department's strategic goals of awareness, prevention, protection, and response.

Every sovereign nation already has the right to request such information (and does so) for ships destined for their ports. The LRIT regulation and computer system will allow the USCG to receive information about all vessels within 1,000 nautical miles (1,900 km) of US territory providing the vessel's flag administration has not excluded the USA from receiving such information.

For a more detailed description of the United States implementation of the LRIT system, please refer to the NPRM published October 3, 2007, in the US Government Federal Register (72 FR 56600).

South American Implementation

Brazil

In January 2009 Brazil implemented a National Datacentre and was one of the first SOLAS Contracting Governments to become compliant with the LRIT regulation.

Chile

The Chilean Flag Registry appointed Collecte Localisation Satellites (CLS) as the sole LRIT Application Service Provider (ASP) and Cooperative Data Center (CDC) provider for all Chilean flagged vessels.

Pacific Ocean Implementation

Vanuatu

The Vanuatu Flag Registry appointed Collecte Localisation Satellites (CLS) as the sole LRIT Application Service Provider (ASP) and National Data Center (RDC) provider for all Vanuatu flagged vessels.

See also

• LRIT Regulations, Information for Flag States, Ship Owners, Shipping Agents from Fulcrum Maritime Systems - Fulcrum Maritime Systems are one of the major global providers of LRIT systems.
• Federal Register: April 29, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 83) - A more detailed description of the United States implementation of the LRIT system, NPRM published October 3, 2007, in the US Government Federal Register (72 FR 56600).
• SkyWave DMR-800LRIT