**Executive Summary**
Merchant Shipping Notice No. 12 of 2016, dated 25.11.16, clarifies regulations for approved service stations testing/servicing Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRBs). The notice states that manufacturer's name shall no longer be specified in the 'Certificate of Approval' issued to the service/testing station. It also outlines conditions under which approved service stations can service/test EPIRBs.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Certificate of Approval:**
* Manufacturer's name will no longer be specified in the 'Certificate of Approval' issued to the service/testing station.
* **Authorisation for Servicing/Testing EPIRBs:**
* All approved service stations shall be authorized to service/test EPIRBs of all manufacturers.
* **Conditions for Service Stations with OEM Authorization:**
* If a service station has valid authorization from the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), it can certify servicing/testing on a self-certification basis.
* The servicing/testing certificate must include a copy of the valid OEM authorization.
* **Conditions for Service Stations without OEM Authorization:**
* Service stations without OEM approval may service/test EPIRBs if they have the necessary spares.
* Servicing/testing by stations without OEM approval must be verified by Surveyors of the Administration/Recognized Organization.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder:** Approved Service Stations
* **Impact:** Changes to certificate requirements and conditions for EPIRB servicing/testing.
* **Action Required:** Comply with the new guidelines for servicing/testing EPIRBs, including certification and verification requirements based on OEM authorization status.
**Stakeholder:** Director General of Shipping & Secretary to the Government of India
* **Impact:** Responsible for the approval and issuance of this notice.
* **Action Required:** Ensure effective implementation of the clarified regulations.
Key Entities Referenced
Merchant Shipping Notice No. 12 of 2016: A notice providing clarifications regarding approved service stations for testing/servicing of EPIRBs.
Ministry of Shipping: The government ministry responsible for the notice.
Directorate General of Shipping: The directorate issuing the notice on behalf of the Ministry of Shipping.
Merchant Shipping [Life Saving Appliance] Rules 1991: Rules under which service stations are approved for servicing/testing EPIRBs.
EPIRBs: Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons, the subject of the service station approvals.
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F. No. 47-NT(l)/2012 Dated :25.11.16
Merchant Shipping Notice No. 12 of 2016
Sub.: Approved service station for testing / servicine of EPIRBs - clarifications - reg.
This office has approved service stations for servicing/testing of EPIRBs as specified in
Part III of Seventh Schedule of the Merchant Shipping [Life Saving Appliance] Rules 1991. The
approved service stations have also been issued with a'Certificate of Approval'.
2
The 'Certificate of Approval' issued to the approved station specifies the manufacture's
rurme & make of the equipment that the station is authorized to service/test. It has however, been
observed that the approved stations often request for inclusion of additional manufacturer's name
as and when they get additional agency of different manufacturers of such devices. In some
instances, the authorized stations also request for deletion of manufacturer's name & make,
whenever they relinquish the agency of the manufacturer.
3 The requirement for making frequent changes in the 'Certificate of Approval' of the
service station not only increase administrative burden but also increases the cost of compliance
for the station, which gets passed on to the industry.
4 To facilitate the ease of implementation and improve the ease of doing business, it has
been decided that the manufacturer's name shall henceforth not be specified in the 'Certificate of
Approval' issued to the service/testing station.
5
It has also been decided that all approved service stations shall henceforth be authorized
to service/test EPIRBs of all manufacturers subject to the following conditions.
5.1 If the service station has valid authorization from the Original Equipment Manufacturer
IOEMI of the equipment, the service station is authorized to certifu the servicing/testing
of the equipment on self certification basis. However, in such case, the servicing/testing
certificate issued by the service station shall include a copy of the valid authorization of
the OEM.
5.2 Approved service stations not having approval from the OEM may service/test EPRIBs
provided they have necessary spares for carrying out such servicing. However, service
station not having approval from the OEM shall require the servicing/testing to be
verified by Surveyors of the Administration/Recognized Organization to confirm
compliance with the applicable performance standards of the equipment.
6 This is issued with the approval of the Director General of Shipping & Secretary to the
Govemment of India.
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(CaptRFJalakumar)-
Deputy Nautical Adviser to the Govt. of India