Euro LRIT deal signed

The European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) has contracted French-based firms CLS (Collecte Localisation Satellites) and Highdeal to set up a Long Range Identification and Tracking Data Centre for EU member states “as early as possible in 2009”. EMSA executive director Willem de Ruiter expressed his confidence in the two companies to set up a robust system for the collection and distribution of long range ship position reports. Mr. de Ruiter recalled that it was only on 2 October 2007 that the task of providing an EU LRIT Data Centre was given to the Agency by the European Transport Ministers. Substantial work has been carried out by a dedicated task force since this date.
He said: "With the professional experience of these companies I trust that a good European LRIT system will soon be available to serve over 10,000 vessels flying the flag of EU member states and interested overseas territories."
IMO SOLAS regulations mandate that each Flag State should collect at least a position report every 6 hours (4 times per day) from ships flying its flag. Information will be used for maritime safety, maritime security, environmental protection and Search and Rescue.
All EU states will share an LRIT information repository, a common interface to the International Data Exchange (IDE) for requesting LRIT information on ships flying non-EU flags, and a common interface to LRIT information.