Section 9
Vessel Reporting, Vessel Routing and Traffic Services
Sub-section 9.1
Purpose and Scope
1-For the safety of life and the safety and efficiency of maritime traffic and to prevent pollution by ships port authorities shall encourage the application and use of
- mandatory vessel reporting systems;
- mandatory vessel routing systems; and
- vessel traffic services
for ships intending to enter or within GCC waters or a GCC port.
2-Where a system or service under 1. is applied it shall be of a standard of not less than those set by the pertinent provisions of the IMO SOLAS Convention, Chapter V, Regulations 10, 11 and 12, in association with the relevant resolutions, always as amended, and apply to any ship, unless specified otherwise.
3- Where a system or service under 1. is applied, reporting obligations
3/1 under the mandatory vessel reporting system and the mandatory vessel routing system require
3/1/1 the exchange of vessel-to-shore and shore-to-vessel information on traffic of vessels intending to enter waters (whether or not transiting the waters) of one or more GCC member states; and
3/1/2 the exchange of shore-to-shore information between port authorities on vessels heading to a port under these regulations;
3/2 under the vessel traffic services require the exchange of vessel- to-shore and shore-to-vessel information on traffic of vessels entering or leaving or within a port.
4- If changing existing or establishing new systems or services port authorities shall be guided by the provisions of IMO resolution MSC.
43 (64), amended by IMO resolution MSC 111 (73) and shall also be guided by the general principles for mandatory vessel reporting and requirements of IMO resolution A.851(20).
Sub-section 9.2
Notification Requirements under the Mandatory
Vessel Reporting System
1- Where a mandatory vessel reporting system is in existence, the master or agent of a ship passing the water of one or more GCC member state(s) either in transit or for heading to a GCC port shall, at least 48 hours in advance, notify the pertinent port authority its intended entry and movements in the waters by providing information on the ship in accordance with Part 1 (List of Information) of Schedule 5 A.
(To facilitate reporting, the master or agent shall use the “Uniform Pre-Arrival Notification Report” of Schedule 5 B. The latest version of this Report may be obtained from any GCC port authority’s website and can be applied in all GCC ports. )
2- The owner, master or agent of a ship intending to enter a port for a purpose other than cargo operations or passenger embarkation/ disembarkation, such as repair, bunkering, medical assistance, or crew change or a ship in distress or in a state of emergency shall follow the provisions of these regulations including providing the information under 1..
3- The master of a ship under 1. and 2. must inform the port authority of any change to the information so notified until the master is released formally from reporting.
4- Every ship entering the waters of one or more GCC member states or intending to enter a GCC port shall, in accordance with Part 2 (List of Information) of Schedule 5 A, be fitted with an Automatic Identification System (AIS) and a Ship Security Alert System (SSAS) which meet the requirements and performance standards set out in the SOLAS Convention of the IMO, always as amended.
5- Every ship entering the waters of one or more GCC member states or intending to enter a GCC port shall, in compliance with SOLAS 74, Chapter IV, always as amended, carry on board the required radio communication equipment under the Global maritime distress and safety system (GMDSS), for transmitting ship-to-shore distress
alerts by at least two separate and independent means, each using a different radio communication service.
6- Every port authority has the power to require from the owner, master or agent of a vessel intending to enter the waters of a GCC state or entering a GCC port additional information with respect to the ship and its crew, passengers and cargoes in a form as determined by the port authority, which shall be so published.
Sub-section 9.3
Information/Notification Requirement with
Respect to Certain Ships
1- Ships meeting the criteria set out under 1.1. to 1.3. are ships of a potential hazard to shipping or a danger to maritime safety, the safety of persons or property or the environment. They are
1/1 ships which, during their voyage,
1/1/1 were involved in incidents or accidents at sea or have failed to comply with the reporting requirements of the mandatory vessel reporting system, or
1/1/2 have failed to comply with the regulations of a mandatory vessel routing system;
1/2 ships having discharged oil or committed other infringements of the MARPOL or Regional Conventions in waters under the jurisdiction of a GCC member state;
1/3 ships that have failed to comply with the requirements of the applicable regulations related to the mandatory vessel reporting system or the vessel traffic service system that fall under the responsibility of a GCC member state’s port authority as well as a ship’s failure to abide by the rules and regulations pertinent to the IMO ISPS – Code or ships which have been refused access to a GCC port or which were reported or notified by a member state with regard to port state control measures or any infringement pertinent to the IMO ISM Code.
2- Port authorities holding relevant information on ships under 1. shall act in compliance with these regulations or communicate the information (shore-to-shore) to the national competent authorities concerned and the port authority or competent authorities of other member states along the planned route of the ship.
3- The port authority or competent authorities, shall carry out the necessary measures and may further carry out any appropriate inspection or verification with respect to vessels described under 1. and shall so inform all member states concerned of the results of their inspections or other actions or sanctions taken.
4- If a port authority is not the competent authority under 2. or 3., the Minister, or the designated authority, shall establish for the port authorities to have available the required names, addresses of and means and procedures of communication (shore-to-shore) with the competent authority.
Sub-section 9.4
Vessels to Report Incidents or Accidents at Sea
1- Every port authority shall, with a view to prevent or mitigate any threat to maritime safety, the safety of individuals and property or the environment, ensure that the master of a ship sailing within the member state’s waters immediately reports
1/1 any incident or accident affecting the safety of the ship, such as collision, fire, running aground, damage, malfunction or breakdown, flooding or shifting of cargo, any defects in the ship’s steering devices or hull or structural failure; or any other damages.
1/2 any incident or accident which compromises shipping safety, such as failures likely to affect the ship's manoeuvrability or seaworthiness;
1/3 any situation likely to result to pollution of the waters or shore;
1/4 any slick of oil or other polluting materials and containers or packages seen drifting at sea.
2- The report under 1. shall include the ship's identity, position, port of departure, port of destination, the address from where information may be obtained on the danger, hazard or threat or dangerous and polluting goods carried on board, the number of persons onboard, details of the incident and any relevant information in compliance with pertinent, updated IMO requirements (i.e. IMO Resolution A.851 (20), (General Principles for Ship Reporting and Reporting Requirements including Guidelines for Reporting Incidents)) .
3- Every port authority shall, where required by national law or regional conventions, immediately convey the information under 1. and 2. to the concerned maritime safety authorities or responsible regional environment protection agencies.
4- If, in the opinion of the desinated authority , an investigation into an incident or accident of a ship under 1. is deemed necessary, the investigation shall be carried out in compliance with the Government’s applicable law.
Sub-section 9.5
Mandatory Ship’s Routing System and Vessel
Voyage Data Recorder
1- Every port authority shall
1/1 monitor that all ships, if entering the area of a mandatory ships' routing system operated by a GCC member state, use the system in accordance with the relevant guidelines and criteria developed by the IMO under Chapter 5, Regulation 10 of the SOLAS Convention and ensure to promulgate all information necessary for the safe and effective use of the ship routing system,
1/2 ensure that ships transiting a GCC member state’s waters or heading to a GCC port are fitted with a voyage data recorder (VDR) system in accordance with Part 2 (List of Information) of Schedule 5 A, which meet the requirements and performance standards set out in the SOLAS Convention of the IMO, always as amended.
2- Data collected from a ship’s VDR system in the event of an investigation shall be made available to the competent Minister, or the designated authority.
3- The competent Minister, or the designated authority, arranges that such data are properly analysed and ensures that the findings of the
investigation are published as soon as possible after the investigation.
Sub-section 9.6
Vessel Traffic Service
1- A port authority has, with respect ships, the power to
1/1 give a traffic clearance to a ship to enter, leave or proceed within the port or any area of the port;
1/2 direct the master, pilot or person in charge of a ship to provide specified information in respect of the ship;
1/3 direct a ship to use specified radio frequencies in communications with the port station or other ships;
1/4 direct a ship, at a specified time or between specified times,
1/4/1 to leave a dock, berth or other port facility,
1/4/2 to leave or refrain from entering any area, or
1/4/3 to proceed to or remain at a specified location.
1/5 direct other ships in the proximity of a ship in apparent difficulty or presenting a pollution threat or other hazard to life or property.
2- Procedures established by a port authority with respect to ship traffic in a port and its approaches and anchorages shall be consistent with international and national standards and practices for marine vessel traffic services, in particular those established under international conventions and national regulations.
3- No ship shall, if it is required to obtain a traffic clearance, enter, leave or proceed within a port or a traffic control zone without having obtained the clearance.
4- Naval ships of national or visiting forces may have access to ports.