Looking to defuse the frustration that has been expressed in the UK industry press and across social media concerning the confusion around the introduction of the Inshore VMS programme fleet, the Marine Management Organisation has reiterated that it will continue to support the system’s rollout.
This comes in the wake of the decision to withdraw two of the devices that have been confirmed following independent testing as not meeting the required specification.
Initially, four devices were approved by MMO as part of the I-VMS process, for which suppliers were required to provide documentation and assurances to confirm that their devices met the specification set out in the Functional I-VMS Device Specification of Requirements. According to an MMO statement, all suppliers provided evidence that their devices met the specification required.
With four devices Type Approved by MMO, the roll-out began in early 2022, but later in the year, concerns were raised that devices being installed by some suppliers did not meet the required specifications.
‘MMO acted by engaging an external expert contractor to undertake independent testing of all four devices, against the Functional I-VMS Device Specification of Requirements. The outcome of this independent testing is that two devices remain available to the fishing industry, and two devices have had their Type Approval revoked and will no longer by supported by MMO or the grant funding,’ an MMO representative stated.
‘MMO’s priority is to support affected fishers who have bought devices in good faith, which do not to meet the required specifications for Type Approval, and for which Type Approval has been revoked. Those fishers will receive financial support to purchase suitable replacement devices. MMO is now working with the remaining Type Approved device suppliers to finalise arrangements which will inform approach to restart the I-VMS roll-out.’
The MMO has responded to criticisms by Maritime Systems Limited, one of the suppliers who has had its Type Approval revoked, which released a formal statement, refuting a number of the company’s claims as being ‘not factually correct’.
‘Maritime Systems Ltd provided MMO with a fix plan in response to the failures identified with its device, however the fix plan provided did not give MMO the necessary confidence that issues with the device could be fixed and fixed within a reasonable timescale. The Type Approval was revoked as a result,’ the MMO stated.
The other company to have its Type Approval revoked, Satlink, did not provide MMO with any proposals to fix the issues identified with its device.
‘MMO will continue to support fishers in the roll-out of I-VMS,’ the MMO has announced in a statement.
‘MMO is aware of statements and communications circulating across social media and in industry press regarding the Inshore Vessel Monitoring System (I-VMS) programme. Specifically, those relating to the recent decision to remove two devices that were confirmed as not meeting the required specification following independent testing.’
