Friday, November 20, 2020

RECOGNITION OF THE INDIAN REGIONAL NAVIGATION SATELLITE SYSTEM (IRNSS) AS A COMPONENT OF THE WORLDWIDE RADIONAVIGATION SYSTEM

1 The Maritime Safety Committee, at its 102nd session (4 to 11 November 2020),

pursuant to operative paragraph 4 of resolution A.1046(27) on Worldwide Radionavigation

System, recognized the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite Systems (IRNSS), proposed by

India, as a component of the Worldwide Radionavigation System.


2 The Committee's decision was based on the recommendation and assessment made

by the Sub-Committee on Navigation, Communications and Search and Rescue (NCSR), at

its seventh session (15 to 24 January 2020), in accordance with the requirements set out in

resolutions A.1046(27) and A.915(22), noting the agreement of the Sub-Committee that

IRNSS meets the operational requirements to assist in the navigation of ships in ocean waters

within the area covered by 55°E longitude, 50°N latitude, 110°E longitude and 5°S latitude.


3 Administrations should note that in the port area, as a stand-alone system, IRNSS will

not meet the accuracy requirements as specified in appendix 2 of resolution A.915(22).

However, with differential correction techniques, such as D-IRNSS, it will enhance the

accuracy and help meet the accuracy requirements in port areas, as mentioned in appendix 2

of resolution A.915(22).


4 IRNSS does not provide instantaneous integrity warning of system malfunction.

Administrations may wish to note that receiver autonomous integrity monitoring (RAIM) can

provide this facility. It should also be noted that the accuracy and integrity of the system can

be greatly enhanced by the use of differential correction techniques using either local or wide

area augmentations, or both.


5 Member States are invited to bring this information to the attention of all parties

concerned.


1. The “Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System” (IRNSS) has been accepted as a

component of the World Wide Radio Navigation System (WWRNS) for operation in the

Indian Ocean Region by the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

2. IRNSS is an independent regional navigation satellite system developed by India. It

is designed to provide accurate position information service to assist in the navigation of

ships in Indian Ocean waters.

3. Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) under Ministry of Ports, Shipping and

Waterways (MoPSW) initiated matter with the International Maritime Organization for grant

of recognition to IRNSS as a component of the World-Wide Radio Navigation System

(similar to GPS and GLONASS). Details of the tests carried out on merchant ships with

regard to the accuracy of the system was included in the report prepared by Indian Space

Research Organisation (ISRO) which was submitted to IMO for consideration.

4. After detailed analysis, the sub-committee on Navigation, Communications and

Search and Rescue [NCSR] of IMO (during the 7th session held in January 2020)

recommended to the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) of IMO for accepting the IRNSS as

a component of the World-Wide Radio Navigation System.

5. The Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) of IMO during its recent meeting (102nd

session) held from 4 to 11 November 2020 has approved the recognition of the Indian

Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) as a component of the World-wide radio

navigation system.

6. The circular in this regard has been issued by IMO vide circular number

SN.1/Circ.340 dated 11.11.2020 for information of the other Member States of the

Organization. This will enable merchant vessels to use IRNSS for obtaining position

information similar to GPS and GLONASS to assist in the navigation of ships in ocean

waters within the area covered by 50°N latitude, 55°E longitude, 5°S latitude and 110°E

longitude (Approximate up to 1500 km from Indian boundary). The copy of the circular is

attached.

7. This is a significant achievement of Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways

(MoPSW), Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) and Indian Space Research Organisation

(ISRO) towards “Atmanirbhar Bharat” an initiative of the Government of India.

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