MT 19 - TC 80/MT 19

IEC 61097-9:2025 specifies the minimum operational and performance requirements and test methods with required test results for transmitters and receivers capable of voice communication and digital selective calling for the GMDSS operating in either the medium frequency band only or in medium and high frequency bands allocated in the ITU Radio Regulations to the Maritime Mobile Service, as required by Chapter IV of SOLAS 1974 as amended. It is based on IMO resolution MSC.512(105) and takes account of Recommendation ITU-R M.493 for digital selective calling including the automatic connection system.
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition published in 1997. This edition constitutes a technical revision.
This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous edition:
a) the text has been updated to incorporate the provisions of the new IMO performance standards given in Resolution MSC.512(105) and new ITU-R recommendations given in M.493-16. These provisions in particular add new requirements for reception of maritime safety information and for the automatic connection system;
b) the provisions for digital selective calling which were previously in IEC 61097-3 have been incorporated;
c) the provisions for watch keeping receivers which were previously in IEC 61097-8 have been incorporated;
d) new requirements have been added for software maintenance in 4.10 in support of IMO recommendations;
e) new Annex A, Annex B and Annex C have been added for digital selective calling;
f) new Annex D and Annex G have been added for bridge alert management;
g) new Annex E and Annex I have been added for maritime safety information;
h) a new Annex F has been added for the automatic connection system;
i) a new Annex H has been added for equipment manuals;
j) a new Annex J has been added for remote control operation;
k) previous Annex A, Annex B and Annex C have been deleted as they are no longer relevant.

IEC 61097-7:2025 specifies the minimum performance requirements, technical characteristics and test methods with required test results for VHF radio installations capable of voice communication and digital selective calling as required by chapter IV of the International Convention for Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS).
This document incorporates the applicable part of the performance standards included in IMO Resolution A.524(13) and MSC.511(105), the technical characteristics included in Recommendation ITU-R M.489-2 and Recommendation ITU-R M.493-16, and takes account of IMO Resolution A.694(17) which is associated with IEC 60945, and conforms with the ITU Radio Regulations where applicable.
When a requirement in this document is different from IEC 60945, the requirement in this document shall take precedence.
This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous edition:
a) the text has been updated to incorporate the provisions of the new IMO performance standards given in Resolution MSC.511(105) and new ITU-R recommendations given in M.493-16;
b) the provisions for digital selective calling which were previously in IEC 61097-3 have been incorporated;
c) the provisions for watch keeping receivers which were previously in IEC 61097-8 have been incorporated;
d) new requirements have been added for a received signal strength indicator in 4.3.4 and for software maintenance in 4.6 in support of IMO recommendations;
e) new Annex B and Annex E have been added for bridge alert management;
f) new Annex C and Annex D have been added for digital selective calling;
g) a new Annex F has been added for remote control operation;
h) a new Annex G has been added for equipment manuals.

IEC 61097-4:2024 specifies the performance requirements and methods of testing for Inmarsat-C ship earth stations (SES) capable of transmitting and receiving direct-printing communications, and for enhanced group call (EGC) receivers, for use in the GMDSS and for use for long-range identification and tracking (LRIT). The available variants are:
Class 0: An EGC receiver, either stand-alone or an element of a GMDSS installation in accordance with the Inmarsat design and installation guidelines (DIGs) for GMDSS installations.
Class 1: A basic SES providing shore-to-ship and ship-to-shore message transfer only.
Class 2: As class 1 but with EGC as an alternative to shore-to-ship transfer using a shared receiver.
Class 3: As class 1 but with EGC using an independent receiver.
NOTE 1 The 34th session of the IMO Sub-Committee on Radiocommunications decided that class 2 equipment would be adequate to provide sufficient availability for the reception of maritime safety information for the GMDSS.
This document complies with IMO performance requirements stated in the normative references, Inmarsat technical characteristics and test procedures, and IEC 60945 general requirements except where modifications are explicitly stated in this document. Technical characteristics essential to GMDSS and LRIT operation as defined by the IMO are identified.
All text of this document, whose wording is identical to that in IMO SOLAS Convention 1974 as amended in 1988 and Resolutions MSC.513(105), MSC.263(84) and MSC.306(87) is printed in italics and reference made to the Resolution/Recommendation and subclause number.
This document covers equipment construction and testing. Matters relating to installation can be found in the Inmarsat Maritime design and installation guidelines (see Bibliography). Those to be found in IMO Resolutions MSC.513(105), MSC.263(84) and MSC.306(87) are reproduced in Annex A.
Responsibility for type approval of Inmarsat-C and Inmarsat-EGC is vested in Inmarsat by IMO Resolutions MSC.513(105) and MSC.306(87) (see 4.2.1). Therefore, this document does not reproduce Inmarsat test procedures in full but refers to where they are given in Inmarsat documentation cited in the normative references to this document (Annex C).
NOTE 2 For the purposes of this document the terms Inmarsat C, Inmarsat-C, Inmarsat Standard-C, Standard-C refer to the same equipment.

IEC 61097-2:2021(E) specifies the minimum performance requirements, technical characteristics and type-testing requirements of the emergency position-indicating radio beacon used in the Cospas-Sarsat satellite system (EPIRB), as required by the International Convention for Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) as amended, and which is associated with IEC 60945. When a requirement in this document is different from the requirements in IEC 60945 or other standards, the requirement in this document takes precedence.
This document incorporates the performance standards of IMO Resolution MSC.471(101), the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Radio Regulations as well as the technical characteristics for such transmitters contained in Recommendation ITU-R M.633, and takes account of the general requirements contained in IMO Resolution A.694(17).
This document also includes minimum performance standards for a non-float-free EPIRB without float-free release mechanism (see Annex C).
The contents of the corrigendum of December 2021 have been included in this copy.

IEC 61097-3:2017 specifies the performance requirements, technical characteristics, operational requirements and methods of testing of shipborne DSC equipment for use with MF, MF/HF and VHF installations in the GMDSS, including those required by Chapter IV of the 1974 International Convention for Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) as amended, and is associated with IEC 60945 (Shipborne radio equipment forming part of the global maritime distress and safety system and marine navigational equipment).
This document incorporates applicable parts of the performance standards of IMO Resolutions A.803(19), A.804(19) and A.806(19) (DSC facilities for VHF, MF and MF/HF radio installations), IMO MSC/Circ.862 (describing the operation of the distress button), the provisions of the ITU Radio Regulations, the technical characteristics of DSC equipment and the operational procedures for its use contained in Recommendations ITU-R M.493, M.541, M.689, M.821 and M.1082, and takes into account the general requirements contained in IMO Resolution A.694(17).
This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous edition:
a) changes in the operation of DSC which have been developed by IMO and ITU since the first edition was published;
b) compliance with bridge alert management (BAM);
c) optional addition of remote operation of the DSC functionality. This facility can also used for type approval testing of the performance of the DSC equipment;
d) incorporation of the radio frequency test methods for MF, MF/HF and VHF transceivers and watch receivers for convenience of testing.

Contains a series of revisions to IEC 60601-2-3 (second edition, 1991) taking into account amendments 1 and 2 of the General Standard, which include reference to the collateral standards.