INTERNATIONAL

ELECTROTECHNICAL
® COMMISSION

IEC TECHNICAL COMMITTEE 80:

MARITIME NAVIGATION
AND RADIOCOMMUNICATION
EQUIPMENT AND SYSTEMS

IEC. Making electrotechnology work for you. Photo courtesy of Kongsberg Maritime
IEC TECHNICAL COMMITTEE 80:
MARITIME NAVIGATION AND
RADIOCOMMUNICATION
EQUIPMENT AND SYSTEMS

1
 IEC TECHNICAL COMMITTEE 80:
MARITIME NAVIGATION AND
RADIOCOMMUNICATION
EQUIPMENT AND SYSTEMS

One of the fundamental trends in the maritime industry committee and liaisons with all the major international
over the past decades has been an increasing reliance maritime bodies.
on electrical and electronic technologies for navigating
and communicating. These technologies have moved The committee work programme is associated with that of
well out of the mechanical era and fully into the the IMO by mirroring the performance standards adopted
electronic and information age. This is particularly true by IMO in its resolutions, with associated relevant ITU
for equipment on ocean-going cargo and passenger recommendations.
vessels and for industrial fishing fleets but now even
applies to the smallest of vessels. TC 80 standards support IMO resolutions and
non-SOLAS and shore applications. Its scope is
Created in 1980, IEC Technical Committee 80 “to prepare standards for maritime navigation and
produces operational and performance requirements radiocommunication equipment and systems, making
together with test methods for maritime navigation and use of electrotechnical, electronic, electroacoustic,
radiocommunication equipment and systems. electro-optical and data processing techniques for use
on ships and where appropriate on shore”.
The committee provides industry with standards that
are also accepted by governments as suitable for type By being represented in both IMO and ITU this technical
approval where this is required by the International committee can contribute to the performance and tech-
Maritime Organization’s SOLAS Convention. TC 80 does nical content of the resolutions and recommendations.
this by ensuring that it has representatives from industry, This is invaluable to industry, in that the performance
users, governments and test certification bodies. There and technical standards represent the practical state of
are currently 20 participating national members in the current and emerging technology.

2
5
Origins

The origins of TC 80 date from the 1970s when International Organization for Standardization
electromechanical instruments started to be replaced (ISO).
by electronic instruments. In 1978 the IEC set up a
working group to propose a possible work programme The working group identified a need for standards for
on “advanced navigational instruments”. The preferred instruments used on ships and possibly aircraft, noted
approach was what today would be called “multi-modal” the complex interrelations between IMCO, EUROCAE
covering land, sea and air applications and the concept and ISO and centres of expertise existing within IEC,
envisaged for navigation included related aspects of particularly in TC 18 (Electrical installations of ships and
radiocommunications. Experts from France, Germany, of mobile and fixed offshore units) and the International
Japan and Norway formed the working group with Special Committee on Radio Interference (CISPR).
contributions from:
The new Technical Committee held its first meeting in
International Radio Consultative June 1980 in Stockholm with delegates from China,
Committee (CCIR) France, Germany, Japan, Netherlands, Sweden, UK,
Comité International Radio-Maritime (CIRM) USA and Yugoslavia and observers from TC 18 and
International Association of Marine Aids to CIRM. The top priority task identified was standards to
Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities (IALA) support the carriage requirements of the new SOLAS
Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative 1974, particularly automatic radar plotting aids (ARPA).
Organization (IMCO, now IMO) TC 80 subsequently specialised into the activity of
European Organisation for Civil Aviation maritime instruments and has now produced some 48
Electronics (EUROCAE) standards.

5
 Photo courtesy of P&O Cruises
General requirements

When IEC TC 80 was formed there were 20 with ISO to align all their general requirements. This
classification societies, together with the International resulted in the third edition of IEC 60945 in 1996
Association of Classification Societies, numerous which is the industry standard on this subject. This
statutory authorities, regional standards bodies and edition also introduced new requirements for software,
IMCO – all with different ideas on what the general reflecting the technological changes taking place in
requirements should be for equipment to be used on equipment design.
ships.
A fourth edition of IEC 60945 appeared in 2002 which
It quickly became clear that general requirements extended the detail of operational tests, particularly for
interrelated environmental issues with other issues equipment which is operated through software menus,
concerning the design of the equipment, its power to reflect the importance given by IMO to human
supplies, electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) and factors. The EMC tests were also extended to contain
safety. the increasing problems experienced by the use of
ever more electronic equipment on a ship.
In 1991 the IMO, when discussing the changes which
would arise with the introduction of the GMDSS, noted The work on general requirements was extended in
that in future, radio equipment would be installed on 2008 by the publication of IEC 62288. This standard
the bridge alongside the navigation equipment instead harmonizes the requirements for the presentation
of in a special radio room as hitherto and TC 80 of navigation-related information on the bridge of a
standards subsequently took this into account. ship to ensure that all navigational displays adopt
a consistent human machine interface philosophy
Having attained consensus in IMO for the requirements and implementation. The standard also provides
for equipment used on the bridge of a ship, discussions standardized symbology and terminology.
began with classification societies, with TC 18 and

6
3
5
Photo courtesy of Kongsberg Maritime
Interfaces

Interest in standard interfaces to enable navigation

equipment to communicate developed in the 1970s.
During this decade, CIRM took an interest in standards
for gyrocompasses, the National Marine Electronics
Association (NMEA) focused on the use of LORAN for
controlling an auto-pilot and, later, the IMO became
involved during the development of the GMDSS.

By the mid-1980s the interface issue looked like it

might polarize into two areas: exchange of navigational
information and exchange of radiocommunication
information. TC 80 helped to resolve this potential
problem by developing standards suitable for all
information exchange in the IEC 61162 series which
today contains the accepted industry standards.

9
 The work programme

IEC TC 80 has produced standards for all the of handling alarms deriving from malfunctions of
equipment which is required by the Safety of Life at Sea equipment and navigational warnings. TC 80 is
(SOLAS) Convention to be carried on the bridge of a developing standards for Integrated Navigation
ship. This includes the Automatic Identification System Systems and Bridge Alarm Management to assist in
(AIS), the Electronic Chart Display and Information these areas.
System (ECDIS), the Voyage Data Recorder, the radio
installation and the radar. IMO
The International Maritime Organization, founded in
Where appropriate, such as in the case of the 1948, is a specialized agency of the United Nations
Automatic Identification System, TC 80 has also with headquarters in London and known until 1982 as
produced standards for equipment intended for use on the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organi-
small vessels which has to interwork with the SOLAS zation (IMCO). It is a technical organization consisting
equipment and also for supporting shore-based of member states which has drafted some 40 Conven-
equipment. tions and 800 supporting Resolutions.

Current interest in IMO is on reducing the workload of

the bridge team through better integrated navigation
systems and displays and reducing the workload

10
CIRM ISO TC 8 standards which complement the work of
The Comité International Radio-Maritime, or Interna- IEC TC 80, or have been produced jointly, include the
tional Maritime Radio Committee, promotes use of following:
electronic technology for shipping and the safety of life
at sea, and fosters relations between all organizations Magnetic compass (25862)
concerned with electronic aids to marine navigation Ship’s bridge layout (8468)
and marine radiocommunications. Gyro-compass (8728, 16328)
Radar reflector (8729)
CIRM was accorded consultative status by IMCO in Echo sounder (9875)
1961. It is also a Sector Member of the ITU, and is a Heading controller (11674, 16329)
Liaison Member both of the ISO and of the IEC. Night vision (16273)
Searchlight (17884)
CIRM provides the Secretary of TC 80 under an Programmable electronic systems (17894)
agreement with the British Standards Institution. ECS database (19379)
Transmitting heading devices (22090)
ISO Rate of turn indicator (20672)
At ISO, the International Organization for Rudder indicator (20673)
Standardization, TC 8 deals with ships and marine Propeller indicator (22554, 22555)
technology and has subcommittee SC 5 (Navigation Signal lamp (25861) and
and ship operation) which has a liaison with IEC TC 80. Wind vane (10596)

11
 Abbreviations

AIS Automatic Identification Systems LORAN Long Range Radio-Navigation System

CCIR International Radio Consultative Committee NMEA National Marine Electronics Association
(now part of ITU-R) SOLAS International Convention for the Safety of
CIRM International Maritime Radio Committee Life at Sea
CISPR International Special Committee on Radio RTCM Radio Technical Commission for Maritime
Interference Services
ECDIS Electronic Chart Display and Information
System
ECS Electronic Chart System
EMC Electromagnetic Compatibility
GMDSS Global Maritime Distress and Safety System
IALA International Association of Marine Aids to
Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities
IMO International Maritime Organization
(formerly IMCO Inter-Governmental
Maritime Consultative Organization)
ISO International Organization for
Standardization
ITU International Telecommunication Union

12
3
 Current Publications issued by TC 80 with
the reference to the IMO performance
standards where applicable

IEC PUBLICATION IMO Resolution TITLE

IEC 60945 Ed. 4.0 A.694(17) Maritime navigation and radiocommunication equipment and systems - General
requirements - Methods of testing and required test results

IEC 61023 Ed. 3.0 MSC.96(72) Maritime navigation and radiocommunication equipment and systems - Marine
speed and distance measuring equipment (SDME) - Performance requirements,
methods of testing and required test results

IEC 61075 Ed. 1.0 A.818(19) Loran-C receivers for ships - Minimum performance standards - Methods of
testing and required test results

IEC 61097-1 Ed. 2.0 A.802(19) Global maritime distress and safety system (GMDSS) - Part 1: Radar
amended by MSC.247(83) transponder - Marine search and rescue (SART) - Operational and performance
requirements, methods of testing and required test results

IEC 61097-2 Ed. 3.0 A.810(19) Global maritime distress and safety system (GMDSS) - Part 2: COSPAS-
amended by MSC.56(66) SARSAT EPIRB - Satellite emergency position indicating radio beacon operating
and MSC.120(74) on 406 MHz - Operational and performance requirements, methods of testing
and required test results

IEC 61097-3 Ed. 1.0 A.803(19) Global maritime distress and safety system (GMDSS) - Part 3: Digital selective
A.804(19), A.806(19) calling (DSC) equipment - Operational and performance requirements, methods
amended by MSC.68(68) of testing and required testing results

IEC 61097-4 Ed. 2.0 A.807(19) Global maritime distress and safety system (GMDSS) - Part 4: INMARSAT-C
amended MSC.68(68) ship earth station and INMARSAT enhanced group call (EGC) equipment -
Annex 4 Operational and performance requirements, methods of testing and required
test results

IEC 61097-6 Ed. 2.0 MSC.148(77) Global maritime distress and safety system (GMDSS) - Part 6: Narrowband
direct-printing telegraph equipment for the reception of navigational and
meteorological warnings and urgent information to ships (NAVTEX)

IEC 61097-7 Ed. 1.0 A.803(19) Global maritime distress and safety system (GMDSS) - Part 7: Shipborne
amended MSC.68(68) VHF radiotelephone transmitter and receiver - Operational and performance
Annex 1 requirements, methods of testing and required test results

IEC 61097-8 Ed. 1.0 A.803(19) Global maritime distress and safety system (GMDSS) - Part 8: Shipborne
A.804(19), A.806(19) watchkeeping receivers for the reception of digital selective calling
(DSC) in the maritime MF, MF/HF and VHF bands - Operational
and performance requirements, methods of testing and required test
results

IEC 61097-9 Ed. 1.0 A.806(19) Global maritime distress and safety system (GMDSS) - Part 9: Shipborne
amended MSC.68(68) transmitters and receivers for use in the MF and HF bands suitable for
Annex 3 telephony, digital selective calling (DSC) and narrow band direct printing (NBDP)
- Operational and performance requirements, methods of testing and required
test results

IEC 61097-12 Ed. 1.0 A.809(19) Global maritime distress and safety system (GMDSS) - Part 12: Survival craft
portable two-way VHF radiotelephone apparatus - Operational and performance
requirements, methods of testing and required test results

14
IEC PUBLICATION IMO Resolution TITLE

IEC 61097-13 Ed 1.0 Global maritime distress and safety system (GMDSS) - Part 13: Inmarsat F77
ship earth station equipment - Operational and performance requirements,
methods of testing and required test results

IEC 61097-14 Ed 1.0 MSC.246(83) Global maritime distress and safety system (GMDSS) - Part 14: AIS search and
rescue transmitter (AIS-SART) - Operational and performance requirements,
methods of testing and required test results

IEC 61108-1 Ed. 2.0 MSC.112(73) Maritime navigation and radiocommunication equipment and systems - Global
navigation satellite systems (GNSS) - Part 1: Global positioning system (GPS) -
Receiver equipment - Performance standards, methods of testing and required
test results

IEC 61108-2 Ed. 1.0 MSC.113(73) Maritime navigation and radiocommunication equipment and systems - Global
navigation satellite systems (GNSS) - Part 2: Global navigation satellite system
(GLONASS) - Receiver equipment - Performance standards, methods of testing
and required test results

IEC 61108-3 Ed. 1.0 MSC.233(82) Maritime navigation and radiocommunication equipment and systems - Global
navigation satellite systems (GNSS) - Part 3: Galileo receiver equipment -
Performance requirements, methods of testing and required test results

IEC 61108-4 Ed. 1.0 MSC.114(73) Maritime navigation and radiocommunication equipment and systems - Global
navigation satellite systems (GNSS) - Part 4: Shipborne DGPS and DGLONASS
maritime radio beacon receiver equipment - Performance requirements,
methods of testing and required test results

IEC 61162-1 Ed. 4.0 Maritime navigation and radiocommunication equipment and systems - Digital
interfaces - Part 1: Single talker and multiple listeners

IEC 61162-2 Ed. 1.0 Maritime navigation and radiocommunication equipment and systems - Digital
interfaces - Part 2: Single talker and multiple listeners, high-speed transmission

IEC 61162-3 Ed.1.1 Maritime navigation and radiocommunication equipment and systems - Digital
interfaces - Part 3: Serial data instrument network

IEC 61162-450 Ed. 1 Maritime navigation and radiocommunication equipment and systems - Digital
interfaces - Part 450: Multiple talkers and multiple listeners - Ethernet interconnection

IEC 61174 Ed. 3.0 MSC.232(82) Maritime navigation and radiocommunication equipment and systems -
Electronic chart display and information system (ECDIS) - Operational and
performance requirements, methods of testing and required test results

IEC 61209 Ed. 1.0 MSC.64(67) Annex 1 Maritime navigation and radiocommunication equipment and systems -
Integrated bridge systems (IBS) - Operational and performance requirements,
methods of testing and required test results

IEC 61993-1 Ed. 1.0 Maritime navigation and radiocommunication equipment and systems - Part 1:
Shipborne automatic transponder system installation using VHF digital selective
calling (DSC) techniques - Operational and performance requirements, methods
of testing and required test results

15
 IEC PUBLICATION IMO Resolution TITLE

IEC 61993-2 Ed. 1.0 MSC.74(69) Annex 3 Maritime navigation and radiocommunication equipment and systems -
Automatic identification systems (AIS) - Part 2: Class A shipborne equipment
of the universal automatic identification system (AIS) - Operational and
performance requirements, methods of test and required test results

IEC 61996-1 Ed. 1.0 A.861(20) Maritime navigation and radiocommunication equipment and systems -
amended by MSC.214(81) Shipborne voyage data recorder (VDR) - Part 1: Voyage data recorder (VDR) -
Performance requirements, methods of testing and required test results

IEC 61996-2 Ed. 2.0 MSC.163(78) Maritime navigation and radiocommunication equipment and systems -
amended by MSC.214(81) Shipborne voyage data recorder (VDR) - Part 2: Simplified voyage data recorder
(S-VDR) - Performance requirements, methods of testing and required test results

IEC 62065 Ed. 1.0 MSC.74(69) Annex 2 Maritime navigation and radiocommunication equipment and systems - Track
control systems - Operational and performance requirements, methods of testing
and required test results

IEC 62238 Ed. 1.0 Maritime navigation and radiocommunication equipment and systems - VHF
radiotelephone equipment incorporating Class «D» Digital Selective Calling
(DSC) - Methods of testing and required test results

IEC 62252 Ed. 1.0 Maritime navigation and radiocommunication equipment and systems -
Radar for craft not in compliance with IMO SOLAS Chapter V - Performance
requirements, methods of test and required test results

IEC 62287-1 Ed. 2.0 Maritime navigation and radiocommunication equipment and systems - Class
B shipborne equipment of the automatic identification system (AIS) - Part 1:
Carrier-sense time division multiple access (CSTDMA) techniques

IEC 62288 Ed. 1.0 MSC.191(79) Maritime navigation and radiocommunication equipment and systems -
Presentation of navigation-related information on shipborne navigational
displays - General requirements, methods of testing and required test results

IEC 62320-1 Ed. 1.1 Maritime navigation and radiocommunication equipment and systems -
Automatic identification system (AIS) - Part 1: AIS Base Stations - Minimum
operational and performance requirements, methods of testing and required test
results

IEC 62320-2 Ed. 1.0 Maritime navigation and radiocommunication equipment and systems -
Automatic identification system (AIS) - Part 2: AIS AtoN Stations - Operational
and performance requirements, methods of testing and required test results

IEC 62376 Ed. 1.0 Maritime navigation and radiocommunication equipment and systems -
Electronic chart system (ECS) - Operational and performance requirements,
methods of testing and required test results

IEC 62388 Ed. 1.0 MSC.192(79) Maritime navigation and radiocommunication equipment and systems -
Shipborne radar - Performance requirements, methods of testing and required
test results

IEC 62616 Ed. 1.0 MSC.128(75) Maritime navigation and radiocommunication equipment and systems - Bridge
navigational watch alarm system (BNWAS)

16
The IEC
The IEC, headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, is the (IECEE), quality of electronic components, materials and
world’s leading organization that prepares and publishes processes (IECQ) and certification of electrical equipment
International Standards for all electrical, electronic operated in explosive atmospheres (IECEx).
and related technologies – collectively known as
“electrotechnology”. IEC standards cover a vast range of The IEC has served the world’s electrical industry since
technologies from power generation, transmission and 1906, developing International Standards to promote quality,
distribution to home appliances and office equipment, safety, performance, reproducibility and environmental
semiconductors, fibre optics, batteries, flat panel displays compatibility of materials, products and systems.
and solar energy, to mention just a few. Wherever you find
electricity and electronics, you find the IEC supporting The IEC family, which now comprises more than
safety and performance, the environment, electrical 160 countries, includes all the world’s major trading nations.
energy efficiency and renewable energies. The IEC also This membership collectively represents about 85 % of
administers international conformity assessment schemes the world’s population and 95 % of the world’s electrical
in the areas of electrical equipment testing and certification generating capacity.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Please visit the IEC website at www.iec.ch for further information. In the «About the IEC» section, you can contact your
local IEC National Committee directly. Alternatively, please contact the IEC Central Office in Geneva, Switzerland or the
nearest IEC Regional Centre.

CENTRAL OFFICE LATIN AMERICA

International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) IEC Latin America Regional Centre (IEC-LARC)
3, rue de Varembé Av. Paulista, 1439 - 11° Andar
P.O. Box 131 Cj 114 - Bela Vista
CH-1211 Geneva 20 BR - São Paulo - SP
Switzerland Brazil - CEP 01311-200.

Tel: +41 22 919 0211 Tel: +55 11 3289 1544

Fax: +41 22 919 0300 Fax: +55 11 3289 0882
[email protected] [email protected]

ASIA-PACIFIC NORTH AMERICA

IEC Asia-Pacific Regional Centre (IEC-APRC) IEC Regional Centre for North America (IEC-ReCNA)
2 Bukit Merah Central 446 Main Street
SPRING Singapore Building 16th Floor
SP - Singapore 159835 US - Worcester, MA 01608
U.S.A.
Tel: +65 6279 1831
Fax: +65 6278 7573 Tel: +1 508 755 5663
[email protected] Fax: +1 508 755 5669
[email protected]
 ®

INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
3, rue de Varembé
PO Box 131
CH-1211 Geneva 20
Switzerland

Tel: + 41 22 919 02 11
[email protected]
www.iec.ch

2011-08

® Registered trademark of the International Electrotechnical Commission

Copyright © IEC, Geneva, Switzerland. 2011.