Battery replacement and SBM.pdf - Jotron

DEAR VALID CUSTOMER
Tjodalyng: 16.03.09
Re.: Shore Based Maintenance and battery replacement, Jotron EPIRB
Customers that would like to purchase EPIRB batteries, manufactured by Jotron, with
the purpose to replace these batteries onto EPIRB`s already installed ships should be
aware of the following important information;
In May. 2004, the IMO, Maritime Safety Committee, at their 78.th session adopted the
resolution MSC.152(78), which entered into force the 1 st July 2006 and this resolution
has the following amendment to SOLAS regarding EPIRB Shore Based Maintenance:
CHAPTER IV,
RADIOCOMMUNICATIONS,
Regulation 15- Maintenance requirements
9. Satellite EPIRBs shall be:
.1 annually tested for all aspects of operational efficiency, with special emphasis on checking the
emission on operational frequencies, coding and registration, at intervals as specified below:
.1 on passenger ships, within 3 months before the expiry date of the Passenger Ship
Safety Certificate; and
.2 on cargo ships, within 3 months before the expiry date, or 3 months before or after
the anniversary date, of the Cargo Ship Safety Radio Certificate. The test may be
conducted on board the ship or at an approved testing station; and
.2 subject to maintenance at intervals not exceeding five years, to be performed at an approved
shore-based maintenance facility.

This means that from 1 st July 2006:
• Passenger ships carrying more than 12 passengers and
• Cargo ships of 300GT and upwards
engaged on international voyages, shall be subject to shore-based maintenance as
follows:
• latest by the end of a 5 year period or when the battery of the satellite EPIRB
becomes due for changing, or
• when the satellite EPIRB becomes due for shore-based maintenance in
accordance with national labeled requirements.
The satellite EPIRB shall as minimum be serviced and tested in accordance with
MSC/Circ.1039 "Guidelines for Shore-Based Maintenance of satellite EPIRBs" for the
purpose as mentioned above at an approved SBM facility.
In addition, some countries have special national regulations on other ship categories
or type of EPIRB, which also are subject to follow the Shore-Based Maintenance
requirements.
A non approved Shore-Based Maintenance provider can therefore only offer a
replacement of a complete new EPIRB, if the ship is classified under the category,
mention above.
Jotron AS
Jan Erik Saeter
Product Sales Manager.