Navigation Equipment Technical Section
Systems Engineering Division (CG-ENG-3)
The navigation equipment technical section provides for type approval of marine navigation equipment such as compass, rate of turn, sounding, and night vision equipment as well as automatic identification systems (AIS), voyage data recorders (VDR), and long range information & tracking for ships (LRIT). Approval procedures are covered in Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular (NVIC) No. 08-01.
Approval Series:
The following table lists navigation equipment by U.S. Coast Guard approval series number. Normally this number would correspond to a specific U.S. regulation that provides for such approvals. In this case, however, international regulations implemented a requirement for type approval. Therefore, there is no corresponding cite in the U.S. Code of Federal Regulation (CFR). Any listed equipment having yes in the MRA column may be approved using the US/EC Mutual Recognition Agreement procedures. Navigation equipment for which no MRA exists may also be approved using either an independent laboratory accepted by the U.S. Coast Guard or an EU notified body as provided for in NVIC 08-01.
Approval
Series |
Equipment |
MRA |
| 165.101 |
Magnetic Compass |
Yes |
| 165.102 |
Transmitting Magnetic Heading Device (TMHD) |
Yes |
| 165.103 |
Gyrocompass |
Yes |
| 165.105 |
Speed & Distance Indicator |
Yes |
| 165.106 |
Rate of Turn Indicator |
Yes |
| 165.107 |
Echosounding |
Yes |
| 165.110 |
Heading Control System |
Yes |
| 165.111 |
Auto-Tracking Aid |
Yes |
| 165.112 |
Track Control |
Yes |
| 165.115 |
Radar Equipment with Automatic Radar Plotting Aid (ARPA) |
Yes |
| 165.116 |
Radar Equipment with Automatic Tracking Aid (ATA) |
Yes |
| 165.117 |
Radar Equipment with Electronic Plotting Aid (EPA) |
Yes |
| 165.120 |
Automatic Radar Plotting Aid (ARPA) |
Yes |
| 165.121 |
Electronic Plotting Aid |
Yes |
| 165.122 |
Chart Facilities for Shipborne Radar |
No |
| 165.123 |
Electronic Chart Display & Information System (ECDIS) |
No |
| 165.124 |
ECDIS Back-up Equipment |
No |
| 165.125 |
Raster Chart Display System (RCDS) |
No |
| 165.130 |
Global Positioning System (GPS) |
Yes |
| 165.131 |
Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS) |
Yes |
| 165.132 |
Differential GPS (DGPS) |
No |
| 165.133 |
Differential GLONASS (DGLONASS) |
No |
| 165.134 |
Combined GPS/GLONASS Receiver |
No |
| 165.135 |
Loran-C |
Yes |
| 165.136 |
Chayka |
Yes |
| 165.140 |
Integrated Bridge System |
Yes |
| 165.141 |
Integrated Navigation System |
No |
| 165.142 |
Bridge Navigational Watch Alarm System (BNWAS) |
No |
| 165.150 |
Voyage Data Recorder (VDR) |
Yes |
| 165.151 |
Simplified VDR |
No |
| 165.155 |
Automatic Identification System (AIS) |
Yes |
| 165.156 |
AIS-B/CS |
No |
| 165.160 |
Radar Reflector |
Yes |
| 165.165 |
Sound Reception System |
No |
| 165.166 |
Daylight Signaling Lamp |
No |
| 165.203 |
Gyrocompass for High Speed Craft |
Yes |
| 165.207 |
Long Range Information and Tracking for Ships (LRIT) |
No |
| 165.210 |
Automatic Steering Aid (autopilot) for High Speed Craft |
No |
| 165.218 |
Radar Equipment with Automatic Radar Plotting Aid (ARPA) for High Speed Craft |
No |
| 165.219 |
Radar Equipment with Automatic Tracking Aid (ATA) for High Speed Craft |
No |
| 165.251 |
Night Vision for High Speed Craft |
No |
Approval Procedures:
Send applications for equipment approval to the Systems Engineering Division (CG-ENG-3) and including the following:
- Signed cover letter requesting U.S. Coast Guard Type Approval of equipment.
- Signed test report, including any certificates.
- Example of equipment markings & labeling.
- Copy of manufacturer quality system manual & guidelines.
Approved Equipment & Laboratories:
Navigation equipment type approved by the U.S. Coast Guard are issued a Certificate of Approval that is valid for five years and then entered into the Coast Guard Maritime Information Exchange (CGMIX). This online searchable database is the official listing of all equipment and laboratories that have been accepted by the U.S. Coast Guard.
Contact the Systems Engineering Division (CG-ENG-3):
Commandant (CG-ENG-3)
U.S. Coast Guard
2703 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. SE STOP 7509
Washington, D.C. 20593-7509
Tel: +1 (202) 372-1375