In accordance with effectuation of SOLAS 2000 amendments on 1 July 2002, the Society provides the procedures for dealing with
1. Radio Direction Finder,
2. GPS Receiver,
3. AIS,
4. Periodical Test of Satellite EPIRBs, and
5. Position-Updating on Two-way Radio Equipment for GMDSS
on ships constructed before 1 July 2002 in accordance with Regulations IV/13, 15, 18 and V/19 of the SOLAS as follows:

1. Removal, Modification and Installation of Equipment
(1) Radio Direction Finder (RDF)
Carriage requirements for an RDF prescribed in Regulation V/12(p) of the present SOLAS is in force until 30 June 2002. For the exemption from the installation of an RDF before 1 July 2002, it is necessary for the ship to be issued the exemption certificate from the flag government.

On and after 1 July 2002, an RDF shall no longer be required on board a ship subject to the ship fits a GPS receiver by the first SE survey after 1 July 2002 in accordance with Regulation V/19(2.1.2) of the SOLAS.

For a ship which has already been exempted from the installation of an RDF with a GPS receiver, or a ship which is at stages of construction before 1 July 2002 and will be delivered on and after 1 July 2002 with a GPS receiver, it is not necessary to have an exemption certificate for an RDF.

(2) GPS receivers
In case a GPS receiver, whom the Society accepted as appropriate, is fitted on board a ship before 1 July 2002 and is continuously used on board the ship on and after 1 July 2002, this GPS receiver is regarded as one specified in Regulation V/19(2.1.6) of the SOLAS.

On and after 1 July 2002, a ship should be fitted with a GPS receiver specified in Regulation V/19(1.2.2) of the SOLAS by the first SE survey after 1 July 2002.

GPS receivers newly installed on board on and after 1 July 2002 should be of a type approved as conforming to the requirements set out in IMO Resolution A.819(19).
(3) Automatic Identification System (AIS)
In accordance with Regulation V/19(2.4) of the SOLAS, AIS should be installed;
(a) in case of tankers, not later than the first SE survey on and after 1 July 2003;
(b) in case of ships, other than tankers, of 50,000 gross tonnage and upward, not later than 1 July 2004;
(c) in case of ships, other than tankers, of 10,000 gross tonnage and upward but less than 50,000 gross tonnage, not later than 1 July 2005;
(d) in case of ships, other than tankers, of 3,000 gross tonnage and upward but less than 10,000 gross tonnage, not later than 1 July 2006;
(e) in case of ships, other than tankers, of 300 gross tonnage and upward but less than 3,000 gross tonnage, not later than 1 July 2007; and
(f) ships not engaged on international voyages, not later than 1 July 2008

AIS installed on board should be of a type approved as comforting to the requirements set out in IMO Performance Standards MSC.74(69) Annex 3.

Whether ''the first SE survey'' mentioned above could include the survey under construction or not will be decided at MSC75 held on May 2002. Proposal to advance the installation date of AIS for ships less than 50,000 gross tonnage from ''not later than 1 July 2008'' to ''not later than 1 July 2004'' or to ''not later than 31 December 2004.'' will also be discussed at MSC75.

(4) Ship's Position Update to Two-way Radio Equipment.
Regulation 18 ''Position-updating'' is added to Chapter IV of the SOLAS. This regulation prescribes VHF, MF and MF/HF radio equipment and Inmarsat Ship Earth Stations required to