SOLAS Chapter II-2, Regulation 10.10.4, Fire Fighter Communication, Fire Fighter Radios survey rules.
2.3 Survey
In Regulation 10.10.4 the deadline for vessels constructed before 1 July 2014 to comply with the Regulation 10.10.4 is “ …not later than the first survey after 1 July 2018.”
Vessels are covered by various mandatory surveys during their active life time i.e. Radio Survey, Survey of Life-Saving Appliances, Surveys on structure, machinery etc.
The time for the various individual surveys may be different depending on type of vessel, type of survey, type of equipment, the anniversary of the vessel and date of latest survey carried out.
Radio installations, including those used in life-saving appliances of cargo ships and passenger ships to which SOLAS Chapters III and IV apply, shall be subject to Initial Surveys, Renewal Surveys and Periodical Surveys at specified intervals.
Live-saving appliances are subject to similar surveys however i.e. radio installations are not part of the life-sav- ing appliance survey.
The fire-fighter radios are described in SOLAS Chapter II-2, Regulation 10.10.4.
The extent of the individual survey naturally depends on the individual equipment under the SOLAS require- ments specified in IMO performance standards further detailed in IEC/ISO test standards for such equipment. These requirements are enforced by the vessels flag state. For vessels flying the flag from an EU member country and for many vessels flying a flag of convenience these requirements are for radio communication equipment administrated under the Marine Equipment Directive (MED). Equipment not covered by the MED administration is managed under the R&TTE Directive, which is being replaced by the Radio Equipment Direc- tive (RED). In both the R&TTE and the new RED maritime electronics are required to be approved according to EN/IEC 60945, and the relevant radio communication standards, i.e. ETSI to ensure that equipment is suitable for use in the marine environment and has passed a predefined set of test to prove the performance standards.
The inspection and survey of ships, as to regards of the enforcement of the provision of the regulations and granting of exemptions therefrom, is administrated by the flag state and carried out by officers of that ad- ministration, but more often this is entrusted to the inspections and surveyors nominated for the purpose or to organizations recognized by the Administration.
The surveyor will carry out inspection and surveys requested by the appropriate flag state and if, determined by the surveyor that the conditions of the ship or its equipment does not correspond substantially with the particulars of the certificate in question, shall immediately ensure that corrective actions is taken. Additional to the inspections required by the flag state, port states are able to perform additional inspections on their own initiative.
When applicable, the Government of both port state and flag state shall ensure that the ship is seaworthy and sail without danger to the ship, the environment, and persons on board.