The procedures and requirements of the governments of Liberia, Marshall Islands and Panama in respect of exemption from application of GMDSS requirements in Chapter IV of the SOLAS Convention are shown in NK Technical Information No.284 dated 5 November 1998. The Belizean Government has recently notified the Society of its conditions for exemption from application of the same requirements, the abstract of which is shown below for information.
For details, please refer to Notice of the Belizean Government attached hereto.

1. Conditions for the granting of exemption
? The ship is permanently registered in Belize.
? The owner will file a written statement that the ship will be taken permanently out of service prior to 1 February 2001 and that he understands the ship will be fined in the case of sale or failure to take the ship permanently out of service within 2 years.
? The ship is to have a radiotelephone station complying with SOLAS Chapter IV, as per the text in force prior to 1 February 1992. A Reserve source of electrical power in order to conduct distress and safety radiocommunications using the radiotelephone on medium frequency (2182kHz) and VHF in a "dead ship condition" will be mandatory.
? The following GMDSS equipment should be on board: VHF hand-held radios, Radartransponders, Satellite EPIRB and NAVTEX receiver.
? Regarding the requirements of SOLAS (1988 Amendments) Regulation IV/4, each ship will be capable of:
2. Transmitting ship-to-shore distress alerts by at least two separate and independent means, each using a different radiocommunication service: Such as Primary- INMARSAT-C and secondary- Satellite EPIRB,
3. Receiving shore-to-ship distress alerts: EGC (INMARSAT-C),
4. Transmitting and receiving ship-to-ship distress alerts: VHF-DSC & VHF Ch.16,
5. Transmitting and receiving search and rescue coordination communications: INMARSAT-C with EGC.
? The ship is to sail with qualified Radio Officer.

2. Application for exemption from the provisions of the GMDSS requirements under the category of unreasonable or unnecessary will have to contain the following information:
? Ship name, call sign, IMO number,
? Gross Tonnage,
? Area of Navigation,
? Sea area service provided within the area of navigation,
? Actual request (cite the SOLAS regulation desired to be exempted from and the SOLAS regulation on which the exemption could be based),
? Any other special conditions.
The End

Attachment: Notice dated 12 Nov. 1998 of Belizean Government

Department in charge : Material and Equipment Department
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Fax : 03-5226-2019