Pursuant to R.A. 3846, R.A. 3396, the 1974 Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention, as amended, and the recommendation of the Maritime Safety Committee (Annex 7-7) under the fifty-fourth session for the participation of non-convention ships in the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS), the following radio communication equipment are hereby required and shall be installed on board a Philippine flag vessel of less than 300 G.T. engaged in the international trade for effective participation in the distress and safety communication:

1.         A marine type SSB/HF and VHF transceiver capable of providing ship-to-shore and ship-to-ship distress communication.

2.         Satellite EPIRB (Emergency Positioning-Indicating Radio Beacon) capable of generating the signals of ship ™s position and identification code of the ship in distress.

3.         A 9 Ghz SAR (Search and Rescue) radar transponder capable of transmitting signals to indicate the ship ™s position in distress and bearing on the radar screen of the rescuing ship.

4.         NAVTEX receiver use to receive navigation warnings and marine safety information.

5.         At least two (2) units of two-way VHF radio equipment (GMDSS type-approved) used to communicate between ship in distress, survival craft and rescue ship.

However, a non-convention ship may carry voluntarily DSC equipment with radiotelephone capability operating on GMDSS frequencies or an INMARSAT ship earth station (SES).

This Circular takes effect immediately and supersedes any existing NTC order, circular, instruction, memorandum or part thereof which is inconsistent herewith.

Adopted: 01 March 2000

(SGD.) JOSEPH A. SANTIAGO Commissioner
(SGD.) NESTOR C. DACANAY  Deputy Commissioner	(SGD.) AURELIO M. UMALI  Deputy Commissioner