Review of Vessel Traffic Reporting and Routeing Measures in UK Coastal Waters

The contractor is invited to conduct a review and provide a report that incorporates the three output requirements as detailed below.

To provide the MCA with the flexibility to undertake 1, 2 or all of the output review options. Please note that the provision of output 1 is a compulsory requirement of this tender and outputs 2 &3 may be commissioned as an additional option as part of this review.

Output 1 - Review the arrangements for the safety of shipping in the Pentland Firth, giving particular consideration to:

Defining the purpose of the Pentland Firth voluntary reporting scheme. This should include the information to be provided by vessels in the area and the subsequent use of that information by the coastguard.

The potential benefits of making the Pentland Firth voluntary reporting scheme compulsory.

Identifying the level of surveillance and monitoring required of vessels operating in the Pentland Firth. In particular, establishing HMCG operational routines for the use of AIS information and operator procedures to monitor AIS tracks and respond to loss of AIS contact.

Whether, given the frequent and extreme local sea conditions, advisory information should be broadcast to ships in addition to routine maritime safety information.

Output 2 - Conduct a review of all UK Mandatory and voluntary reporting schemes in accordance with IMO circular No. 1060 - (Guidance Note on the preparation of proposals on ships’ routeing systems and ship reporting systems for submission to the sub-committee on safety of navigation) to establish whether they are still fit for purpose.

Output 3 - Conduct a review of all UK Traffic Routeing measures in accordance with IMO circular No. 1060 - (Guidance Note on the preparation of proposals on ships’ routeing systems and ship reporting systems for submission to the sub-committee on safety of navigation) to establish whether they are still fit for purpose