Protecting maritime radio frequencies

The World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-15) has agreed to continue to preserve certain radio frequencies for use by maritime radar and not allocate them to mobile services. Radar is vital to safe navigation and the deployment of new mobile applications in those bands could have caused interference. An IMO paper advocating that position was presented to the conference, which is also expected to decide favourably on allocation of other frequencies that might impact on maritime communication and navigation equipment. It will also develop a draft agenda for the next WRC, to take place in 2019. IMO is supporting proposals for new agenda items to protect navigational safety and the integrity of the global maritime distress and safety system.  IMO’s Hans van der Graaf has been attending the conference, held by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) in Geneva, Switzerland (2-27 November).