Towards the end of February The Nautical Institute announced a consultation to help assess the latest proposals for standardised navigation equipment. The latest suggestions were presented at IMO’s fifth session of its NCSR (Navigation, Communication and Search and Rescue) Sub-committee by the Institute and other stakeholders including CIRM (Comité International Radio-Maritime), the Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, and delegation members from Australia and the Republic of Korea.

Navigators’ views are sought on the latest concept for S-Mode which is in the closing stages of development before being finalised next year (2019). This is for an ‘always on’ standardisation of key features to be adopted by the leading manufacturers of navigation systems.