Pole Star, Long-Range Identification and Tracking

The Long-Range Identification and Tracking (LRIT) regulation will apply to the following ship types engaged on international voyages:

- All passenger ships including high speed craft,
- Cargo ships, including high speed craft of 300 gross tonnage and above, and
- Mobile offshore drilling units.

All vessels of 300 gross tonnage and above on international voyage will need to be compliant with LRIT regulations.

Those ships operating exclusively in coastal Sea Area A1 and fitted with an Automatic Identification System will be exempt, while ships operating in near-coastal Sea Area A2 not fitted with Inmarsat C GMDSS will be required to fit a compliant terminal. Ships operating in polar Sea Area A4 above 70 degrees latitude can use an Iridium transceiver for LRIT compliance, which operates in conjunction with the Iridium network, a low-earth orbit Communication Service Provider (CSP), which has been approved by all Flags which Pole Star tests for.

A phased approach to the implementation of the regulation will allow for compliance not later than the first radio survey after 31 December 2008 or in the case of ships operating in Sea Area A4 not later than the first radio survey after 1 July 2009.

- The identity of the ship,
- The position of the ship, and
- The date and time of the position.

In addition, the terminal must be able to respond to polling for an on-demand position report and instructions to modify the APR interval to a frequency of a maximum of one every 15 minutes. APRs will be transmitted at a minimum 4 times per day to a National Data Centre (NDC), a Cooperative Data Centre (CDC), or a Regional Data Centre (RDC) nominated by the flag.

IMO Resolutions and Circularstop of page

Pole Star, as the industry leader in the provision of fleet management systems and services to commercial shipping and Governmental regulatory bodies, is providing this website service to support Ship Operators and their flags in meeting their IMO obligations with regard to IMO Resolution MSC.202(81) which establishes the SOLAS V/19-1 Long-Range Identification and Tracking regulation which came into force on January 1st, 2008 with a compliance date of 31 December 2008.

You can download the resolutions here:

IMO Resolution MSC.202(81) – LRIT Regulation
IMO Resolution MSC.211(81) – LRIT Timely Establishment
IMO Resolution MSC.242(83) – Safety & Environment
IMO Resolution MSC.263(84) – Revised performance standards and functional requirements for the LRIT of Ships
IMO Resolution MSC.264(84) – Established of the International Data Exchange on an interim basis
IMO Resolution MSC.275(85) – Appointment of the LRIT Coordinator [Posted on 4 August 2009]
IMO Circular MSC.1/Circ.1259 (Revision 3) – Technical Documentation (Part I), Interim Revised Technical Specification for the LRIT System (Version 3) [Posted on 28 July 2010]
IMO Circular MSC.1/Circ.1294 (Revision 1) – Technical Documentation (Part II) [Posted on 26 July 2010]
IMO Circular MSC.1/Circ.1295 – Guidance in relation to certain types of ships which are required to transmit LRIT information, on exemptions and equivalents and on certain operation matters
IMO Circular MSC.1/Circ.1298 – Guidance on the implementation of the LRIT system
IMO Circular MSC.1/Circ.1299 – Transitional Arrangements and Measures for Accelerating the Completion of the Establishment of the LRIT System
IMO Circular MSC.1/Circ.1307 – Guidance on the survey and certification of compliance of ships with the requirement to transmit LRIT information [replaces - 1296 revoked - Posted on 18 June 2009]
IMO Circular MSC.1/Circ.1308 –Guidance to search and rescue services in relation to requesting and receiving LRIT information [replaces - 1297 revoked - Posted on 18 June 2009]
IMO Circular MSC.1/Circ.1309 – Information communicated to the organization in relation to the establishment of LRIT data centres and their position in relation to developmental testing and the production LRIT system. [Posted on 18 June 2009]
IMO Circular MSC.1/Circ.1344 – Interim Continuity of Service Plan for the LRIT System, for the period between MSC 87 and MSC 88. [Posted on 9 June 2010]