LRIT

Long Range Identification and Tracking

As part of the international maritime community’s
wide-ranging response to the growing threat from
terrorism world-wide, the IMO decided to
establish a new system for the global identification
and tracking of ships.
• LRIT information is provided to Contracting Governments and
SAR services entitled to receive the information, upon request,
through a system of National, Regional and Cooperative LRIT
Data Centres using the International LRIT Data Exchange.
 
•  Each Administration should provide to the LRIT Data Centre it
has selected, a list of the ships entitled to fly its flag, which are
required to transmit LRIT information.

• Ships should only transmit the LRIT information to the LRIT Data
Centre selected by their Administration.
The major effort was to :

1) Identify appropriate technologies,

2) establish the necessary global authority to execute
3) Achieve political consensus on implementation

On how to :

1) Collect data
2) Distribute data and …
3) How to use the data,

The result is the establishment of LRIT :

Long-Range Identification and Tracking
 Difference between LRIT and AIS

Some confuse the functions of LRIT with that

of AIS (Automatic Identification System),

AIS is a collision avoidance system also

mandated by the IMO, which operates in the
VHF radio band, with a range only slightly
greater than line-of-sight
( approx 40 to 50 miles )
AIS requires no action from the vessels
themselves except they must have their AIS
system turned on.

LRIT requires the active, willing participation

of the vessel involved and do not operate in
an automatic broadcast mode to all ships.
Certain aspects of the performance of
the LRIT system are reviewed or
audited by the LRIT Coordinator acting
on behalf of all Contracting
Governments party to SOLAS
coventions.

IMO has appointed IMSO to be

the world-wide LRIT
Coordinator.
 What is IMSO ?

The International Mobile Satellite

Organization (IMSO) is the
intergovernmental organization that
oversees certain public satellite
safety and security communication
services provided via the Inmarsat
satellites.
IMSO public services include:
• Services for maritime safety within the GMDSS
established by the IMO
• Distress alerting
• Search and rescue co-ordinating communications
• Maritime safety information (MSI) broadcasts
• General communications
• Aeronautical safety AMS(R)S services through
compliance with the Standards established by the
International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)
The Organization operates through:

• the Assembly of Parties, integrated by its 94 member

States, which generally meets every two years;

• the Directorate, headed by the Director General, Capt.

Esteban Pacha-Vicente of Spain, who is the CEO and
legal representative of IMSO; and

• an Advisory Committee, comprising a number of

Member States, appointed by the Assembly, which
meets regularly.
• IMSO works closely with IMO, ICAO, ITU and
other interested international organizations, as
well as Inmarsat Ltd itself.

• They develop recommendations, standards and

operational practices that support and may
improve the Mobile satellite public services.

• A Public Services Committee which meets every

three months provides formal regular contact
between the Inmarsat and IMSO.
 Under new SOLAS Regulation V/19-1,

• ships will be required to report their position

automatically, to a special shore data collection,
storage and distribution system,

• at least four times a day.

 The regulations that require ships to
participate in the LRIT system apply to
the following types of ships engaged on
international voyages:

• passenger ships, including high-speed

passenger craft;

• cargo ships, including high-speed craft, of 300

gross tonnage and upwards; and

• mobile offshore drilling units.

 LRIT

System
Architecture
At the outset it may look simple

However, the actual LRIT

system architecture is much
more complex !!!
The LRIT system consists of :

 Ship-borne LRIT equipment,

 Communication Service Provider CSP
 Application Service Provider ASP
 LRIT Data Centre
 LRIT Data Distribution Plan and
 International LRIT Data Exchange.
 LRIT System Architecture
Safety and
Port Coastal SAR Environment
Comm. State State Authority Protection
Service
Provider
Flag
State
4 reports per
Day
Application
Other data
service Data center
Centers
Provider

Data Distribution Plan

LRIT Data
Position, Date,
Time, Ship ID
International data Exchange
Ship-borne Equipment
LRIT Terminal
 The “shipborne equipment” utilised for LRIT
can be :

Any communications terminal on board the

vessel that is capable of transmitting the
ship’s LRIT information :

1) Automatically without human intervention,

2) At 6-hourly intervals

3) to an approved LRIT data centre.

In addition, the shipboard equipment
must be capable of:

• being configured remotely to transmit LRIT

information at variable intervals;

• transmitting LRIT information on receipt of a specific

request from the shore (ie when polled);

• being interfaced with an external EPFS or have an

internal positioning capability.
The LRIT Information specified in
new SOLAS Regulation V/19-1.5
and is limited to:

• identity of the ship;

• position of the ship (latitude and

longitude); and

• date and time of the position provided.

 Hardware

Where the existing onboard equipment is not suitable

or
When a stand-alone LRIT solution is required,
installation of a dedicated LRIT terminal is recommended.

Examples :

SkyWave DMR-800LRIT: Pre-registered and activated for Inmarsat IsatM2M service, the pre
configured LRIT unit is delivered directly to the ship and ready for immediate use.

Thrane & Thrane TT-3000LRIT : A simple and secure terminal delivered directly to the ship, pre-
configured for immediate use and inclusive of all Inmarsat C operational processes.
Communication Service Provider

CSP
 Communication Service Provider

CSP provides the communications services which transfer

LRIT data securely from ship to the ASP on shore.

The means of communication will often be via satellite.

However, the LRIT system itself is independent of the means

of communication.

Any method can be used, as long as the correct packet of

data arrives on shore at the right periodicity or when
demanded.
• The IMO Performance Standard requires only
that:

“The shipboard equipment should transmit the

LRIT information using a communication
system which provides coverage in all areas
where the ship operates.”
Application Service Provider

ASP
 Application Service Provider

The ASP receives the LRIT reports transmitted

by the ship via the CSP, adds certain
additional information to each report, and
forwards the reports to the Data Centre
nominated by the ship’s Flag State.
The information to be added to each
LRIT report by the ASP includes:
• IMO ship identification number and MMSI for the ship;

• name of the ship

• unique identification code for the LRIT Data Centre; and

• a number of time stamps used for tracking and audit

purposes.
In addition, the ASP is responsible for :

1. Testing and configuring the ship’s LRIT terminal

when the new terminal is getting commissioned.

2. Monitoring of system configuration for flawless

continued LRIT reporting, including execution of
“on demand” ( polled ) transmissions of LRIT data.
Experience has shown that ship’s communication terminals
do not always continue reporting automatically without
further intervention,

and

the ASP is responsible for identifying when a terminal has

ceased automatic reporting for any reason and resetting its
reporting function when required.
 • Lastly, the ASP must ensure that LRIT
information is collected, stored and routed in
a reliable and secure manner.

•
The ASP is will often be a commercial entity,
and is chosen and recognized by a
Contracting Government to provide LRIT Data
to their Data Centre.
LRIT Data Centres
DC
 Data Center
The primary purposes of Data Centre (DC) are :
- to collect data,
- to store data and
- to make available this data ….
- to authorised entities,
- as instructed by the vessel’s flag state administrations who utilise
the services of that DC.

• In carrying out these core functions, the DC is required to ensure

that LRIT data users are only provided with the LRIT information
they are entitled to receive under the terms of SOLAS Regulation
V/19.1.
• In addition, the LRIT DC acts as a “clearing
house” :

By receiving requests from its associated administration

for LRIT information lodged in other DCs,
and then,
by obtaining the data requested.

• Generally LRIT reports so requested will be exchanged through

the International Data Exchange.
• LRIT Data Centres are required to archive their data so
that the reports can be recovered, if required, at a later
date.

• Activities of the DC can be audited by the LRIT

Coordinator.

• LRIT DCs may make a charge for LRIT data they provide to
other DCs.
 Different Types of DCs
• National (established to provide service to
only one Contracting Government);

• Cooperative (established to provide services

to a number of Contracting Governments) or

• Regional (established to provide services to a

number of Contracting Governments acting
through a regional entity of some kind).
International LRIT Data Exchange

IDE
 International LRIT Data Exchange

The IDE exists to route LRIT information between

LRIT DCs using the information provided in the
LRIT Data Distribution Plan (DDP).

It is therefore connected via the internet to all LRIT

DCs and the LRIT Data Distribution Plan server.
• The IDE cannot access and does not archive the LRIT data itself.

• But it does maintain a journal of message header information.

• These journals can be understood as the “envelopes”

containing the LRIT information.

• This journal is used for invoicing functions and for audit

purposes.

• The performance of the IDE is also audited by the LRIT

Coordinator.
LRIT Data Distribution Plan

DDP
• The LRIT Data Distribution Plan (DDP) is
principally a database that holds information
needed to allow the international LRIT system
to execute data flow correctly.

• The DDP is consulted by any DC in order to

determine whether a request for LRIT
information should be allowed under the rules
for the distribution of LRIT data.
 The DDP information includes:
• a list of the unique identification codes assigned to key
elements in the LRIT system;

• the coordinates which define the various geographical areas

declared by Contracting Governments within which they wish
to exercise their rights to receive or restrict the distribution of
LRIT information as a Flag or Coastal State; and

• a list of the ports and port facilities within the territory and
places under the jurisdiction of each Contracting Government.
Who can access LRIT Information ?

• Under the terms of SOLAS Regulation V/19-

1.8, governments are entitled to receive LRIT
information, if they wish to do so, for
security and other purposes, in four basic
situations:
 Situation 1.

• as a Flag State, an Administration is entitled

to receive LRIT information about ships
entitled to fly its flag irrespective of where
such ships may be located;
 Situation 2

• as a Port State, a Contracting Government is

entitled to receive LRIT information about
ships which have indicated their intention to
enter a port facility or a place under the
jurisdiction of that Contracting Government.
 Situation 3.
• as a Coastal State, a Contracting Government is
entitled to receive LRIT information about
ships of other flags, if they are navigating
within a distance not exceeding 1,000 nautical
miles of its coast …..

• … even when not intending to enter a port

facility or a place under the jurisdiction of that
Government.
 Situation 4.

• the Search and Rescue Service of a

Contracting Government may receive, free of
any charges, LRIT information in relation to
the search and rescue of vessel or persons in
distress at sea .
• Contracting Governments will generally have
to pay a small charge, reflecting largely the
costs of data collection and storage, for the
LRIT information they use.

• The MSC has decided that ships themselves

shall not be charged for the transmission or
other costs of participation in the LRIT
system.
• Similarly, the LRIT system has been designed so
that the capabilities of many existing satellite
communication terminals (eg Inmarsat C),
mandatorily fitted in most SOLAS ships, will be
sufficient for LRIT purposes.

• As a result, it should not be necessary for the

majority of ships to incur any significant cost in
implementing and maintaining the new LRIT
reporting requirements.
 Speed News » 
• 13 Jun 2012,18:00 IST
• Trial run of India's National Automatic Identification System
for ships has begun. The system which will be
commissioned soon, will be capable of effectively tracking
vessels passing through Indian coastline up to a distance of
50 kms.  It will augment maritime safety and coastal
surveillance, Captain A M Surej, Director General of
Lighthouses Light Ships told TOI here.      
 OVERVIEW

 50,188,785 GT
 2059 Ships – 45% tankers by
tonnage
 Predominant ownership in United
States, Greece, Germany, Norway
 Quality focus
 BACKGROUND
 Maritime security origin
 Resolution MSC.202(81),
adopted 19 May 2006 amends
SOLAS, Chapter V, Regulation
19-1
 Entered into force 1 January
2008 with a Transitional Period
expiring 30 June 2009
 Resolution MSC.263(84),
Performance Standards and
Functional Requirements
 RESOLUTION MSC.263(84)
 Provides performance standards and functional requirements, including:
 Application Service Providers (ASP)
 LRIT Data Centers – International, Regional, Cooperative and
National
 International Data Exchange (IDE)
 LRIT Data Distribution Plan
 System security and performance
 LRIT Coordinator
 Guidance to Administrations, Contracting Governments and SAR
services
 LRIT BASIC CONCEPT
DATA DISTRIBUTION
ASP
PLAN

SHIP ID, LOCATION,

DATE, TIME
NATIONAL, REGIONAL, COOPERATIVE OR
INTERNATIONAL DATA CENTER
SAR SERVICES

FLAG STATE –
SHIP IN ANY LOCATION LRIT DATA
COORDINATOR

COASTAL STATE - SHIPS INTERNATIONAL DATA

WITHIN 1000 NM OF COAST EXCHANGE –
GOVERNMENTS
ESSENTIAL COMPONENT PAY CAPITAL COST
USER FEE FOR DATA
PORT STATE – SHIPS $$$
ENROUTE THEIR PORTS
 APPLICATION

 Passenger ship, any GT

 Cargo ships of 300 GT and upwards
 Self-propelled MODUs not on
location
 Commercial yachts of 300 GT and
upwards
 Commercial fishing vessels, any GT,
any area of operation
 BASIC COMPLIANCE DATES
 Ships constructed before 31
December 2008 phased in at first
radio survey, after 31 December
2008 for ships operating in sea
areas A1, A2 and A3. 1 July 2009
for ships in A4
 Ships constructed after 31
December 2008 must be
compliant when placed in service
 Ships fitted with AIS operating
exclusively in sea area A1 are
exempt
 REQUIREMENTS FOR SHIP CERTIFICATION
 There are number of steps in the
process for any ship to be certified for
LRIT participation, including:
 Equipment type approval
 Equipment conformance testing
 Annual Radio Survey
 Copy of Conformance Test
Report on board, Record of
Equipment amended
 At this point, most ships should be
certified or well on their way
 ESTABLISHMENT OF DATA CENTERS

 Data Centers should have been

developed, tested and fully
established by 30 June 2009
 Numerous national, regional and
cooperative data centers now
established but many Administrations
not associated with a Data Center
 PSC implications?
 BENEFITS OF LRIT
 As a Flag Administration, layout of higher security risk geographic areas,
worldwide, and associated ship notification
 As a Port State, more effective management of port State control activity,
including security risk assessment
 As a Coastal State, to monitor coastal traffic for safety, security and
environmental protection needs
 Locating overdue ships
 Reducing risk of piracy attacks
 As a Flag Administration, locating ships for Flag and Class compliance
surveys – safety, security, environment
 SUMMARY
 LRIT was developed as a tool to manage
maritime security risk and incorporated into
SOLAS
 In addition to security it serves a range of
potential safety and environmental
functions
 LRIT functions well today and continues to
evolve as IMO, SOLAS Parties and
Coordinator plan for the future
Any Questions ?