WHAT IS LRIT?

Question:
What is LRIT?
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Answer:
Long Range Identification and Tracking of Ships (LRIT) is a maritime security initiative that allows SOLAS Contracting Governments to request and receive position reports from vessels operating under their flag, vessels indicating intentions to enter a port under their jurisdiction, or vessels operating within 1000 nautical miles of their coast. In addition to enhancing maritime security, the regulations allow LRIT for search and rescue. LRIT information will be automatically transmitted from shipborne equipment to Liberia’s LRIT Data Center where it will be stored until it is requested.
Question:
Who has access to LRIT information?
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Answer:
As a flag State, Liberia has the right to protect LRIT information about vessels entitled to fly its flag and where appropriate, to allow or deny access to information. Safeguards to ensure the confidentiality have been built in to the LRIT system. LRIT Information can only be generated from the National Data Centers via the Recognized Application Service Provider (ASP) and the International Data Exchange (IDE).
Question:
What is a LRIT Certificate?
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Answer:
A LRIT Certificate is a document issued by the flag state to evidence LRIT shipborne equipment is of a type approved by the Administration and passed a Conformance Test conducted by an authorized testing Application Service Provider (ASP).
Question:
What vessels require a LRIT Certificate?
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Answer:
LRIT requirements apply to the following ships engaged in international voyages:

All passenger ships including high speed craft;
Cargo ships, including high speed craft of 300 gross tonnage and above;

Mobile offshore drilling units.
Question:
What are the requirements for LRIT shipborne equipment?
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Answer:
The equipment must be capable of being configured to transmit the following minimum information automatically, at reporting intervals from 15 minutes to 6 hours, to the LRIT Data Center designated by the Flag Administration:
The identity of the ship;
The position of the ship;

The date and time of the position.
Question:
What is the timeline for compliance?
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Answer:
Vessels operating in the following sea areas should be compliant no later than the first Radio Survey after 31 December 2008:
-A1 + A2 or
-A1 + A2 + A3 or
-A1 + A2 + A3 + A4
Vessels operating exclusively in sea area A4 should be compliant no later than the first radio survey after 1 July 2009.
Ships operating exclusively in sea area A1 and fitted with an Automatic Identification Systems (AIS) are exempt from LRIT regulations.

Ships to which SOLAS V/19-1 applies and constructed after 31 December 2008 must comply with the requirements at time of delivery.