[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 84 (Thursday, May 1, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23285-23286]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-10803]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 041603C]


Vessel Monitoring Systems; Additional Approved Mobile 
Transmitting Unit

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of vessel monitoring systems; approval.

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SUMMARY: This document provides notice of additional vessel monitoring 
systems (VMS) approved by NOAA for use by pelagic longline vessels in 
the Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Fisheries and sets forth 
relevant features of the VMS. This notification is being issued in 
addition to the approval notice published on March 11, 2003, and 
provides updated address information for one of the VMS providers.

ADDRESSES: To obtain copies of the list of NOAA approved VMS mobile 
transmitting units and NOAA approved VMS communications service 
providers, or information regarding the status of VMSs being evaluated 
by NOAA for approval, write to NMFS Office for Law Enforcement (OLE), 
8484 Georgia Avenue, Suite 415, Silver Spring, MD 20910.
    To submit a completed and signed checklist, mail or fax it to NOAA 
Enforcement, 9721 Executive Center Drive North, Koger Building, St. 
Petersburg, FL 33702, fax 727-570-5575.
    For more addresses regarding approved VMS, see the SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION section, under the heading VMS Provider Addresses.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For current listing information Mark 
Oswell, Outreach Specialist, phone 301-427-2300, fax 301-427-2055. For 
questions regarding VMS installation, activation checklists, and status 
of evaluations, contact Jonathan Pinkerton, National VMS Program 
Manager, phone 301-427-2300, fax 301-427-2055. For questions regarding 
the checklist, contact Fred Kyle, Special Agent, NMFS Office for Law 
Enforcement, Southeast Division, phone 727-570-5344.
    The public may acquire this notice, installation checklist, and 
relevant updates via the ``fax-back'' service, or at the OLE website 
http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/ole/vms.html. Telephone requests can be made 
by calling 301-427-2300.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. The VMS Requirement

    Information regarding the VMS requirement was described in the VMS 
approval notice published March 11, 2003 (68 FR 11534) and is not 
repeated here. This approval notice is being issued in addition to that 
notice.

II. VMS Mobile Transceiver Unit

    The additional Inmarsat-C satellite communications VMS transmitting 
unit that meets the minimum technical requirements for the HMS 
Fisheries is the Thrane & Thrane Fishery ``Mini-C'' (part number TT-
3026-NMFS). The address for the Thrane & Thrane distributor (LandSea 
Systems) dealer contact is provided under the heading VMS Provider 
Addresses.
    Pursuant to 50 CFR 635.69(d), NMFS will provide an installation and 
activation checklist for the below listed units which the vessel owner 
must follow. The vessel owner must sign a statement on the checklist 
certifying compliance with the installation procedures and return the 
checklist to NMFS. Installation can be performed by experienced crew or 
by an electronics specialist, and the installation cost is paid by the 
owner.
    The owner may confirm that automated position reports are being 
received by calling the NMFS Office for Law Enforcement in St. 
Petersburg, FL at 727-570-5344.
    Thrane & Thrane TT-3026-NMFS features: The transceiver consists of 
an integrated GPS/Inmarsat-C unit mounted atop the vessel. The unit is 
factory pre-configured for NMFS VMS operations (non-Global Maritime 
Distress & Safety System (non-GMDSS)). Satellite commissioning services 
are provided by LandSea Systems personnel.
    Automatic GPS position reporting starts after transceiver 
installation and power activation onboard the vessel. The unit is an 
integrated transceiver/antenna/GPS design using a floating 10 to 32 VDC 
power supply. The unit is configured for automatic reduced position 
transmissions when the vessel is stationary (i.e., in port). It allows 
for port stays without power drain or power shut down. The unit 
restarts normal position transmission automatically when the vessel 
goes to sea.
    A configuration option is available to automatically send position 
reports to a private address, such as a fleet management company. 
Another available option is the ability to send and receive private e-
mail and other messages with the purchase and installation of an input 
device such as a laptop or personal computer.
    A vessel owner wishing to purchase this system may contact the 
entity identified under the heading VMS Provider Addresses for Thrane & 
Thrane TT-3026-NMFS. The owner should identify himself or herself as a 
vessel owner in the ``United States HMS Fishery.'' The Thrane & Thrane 
unitized transceiver the vessel owner purchases will be configured for 
the HMS Fisheries.
    To use the Mini-C, the vessel owner will need to establish an 
Inmarsat-C system use contract with an approved Inmarsat-C 
communications service provider. The owner will be required to complete 
the Inmarsat-C ``Registration for Service Activation for Maritime 
Mobile Earth Station.'' The owner should consult with LandSea Systems 
when completing this form.
    LandSea Systems personnel will perform the following before 
shipment: (a) configure the TT-3026-NMFS according to NMFS OLE 
specifications for the HMS Fisheries; (b) download the predetermined 
NMFS position reporting and broadcast command identification numbers 
into the unit; (c) test the unit to ensure operation when installation 
has been completed on the vessel; and (d) forward the Inmarsat service 
provider and TT-3026-NMFS identifying information to the NOAA Office 
for Law Enforcement.

III. Communications Service Providers

    This information was provided in an earlier notice published March 
11, 2003 (68 FR 11534) and is not repeated here. As a convenience to 
the vessel owner

[[Page 23286]]

both Telenor and Xantic services and customer support are available 
through LandSea Systems. LandSea Systems provides customer service for 
Xantic users to support and establish two-way transmission of 
transceiver and land-based control centers. This supports the Office of 
Law Enforcement's message needs and, optionally, fishermen's private 
messaging needs.

IV. VMS Provider Addresses

    For Thrane & Thrane TT-3026-NMFS information, contact Ken Ravenna, 
Marine Products, LandSea Systems, Inc., 509 Viking Drive, Suite K, L, 
and M, Virginia Beach, VA 23452; voice: 757-463-9557; fax: 757-463-
9581, e-mail: [email protected].; website: http://www.landseasystems.com.
    For Telenor information, contact Telenor Satellite Services, 6560 
Rock Spring Drive, Bethesda, MD 20817; Telenor Customer Care, phone: 
800-685-7898 or 301-838-7700; e-mail: usa.com">www.customercare@telenor-usa.com.; website: www.telenor-usa.com. Alternate Contact: Courtney 
Coleman, Manager COMSAT-C Services Marketing, 6560 Rock Spring Dr., 
Bethesda, MD 20817; phone: 301-214-3293; e-mail: 
usa.com">courtney.coleman@telenor-usa.com.
    For Xantic, the contact information published in the March 11, 2003 
notice (68 FR 11534) is no longer valid. The new contact for Xantic is 
LandSea Systems Inc., Donna Sherman, 509 Viking Drive, Suite K, L, and 
M, Virginia Beach, VA 23452; voice: 757 463-9557; fax: 757 463-9581 e-
mail: [email protected]. Alternate contacts: Xantic, Folef 
Hooft Graafland, 6100 Hollywood Boulevard, Suite 410, Hollywood, FL 
33024; voice: (954) 962-9908 Ext. 11; fax: (954) 962-1164; 
Cellular:(954) 214-2609; e-mail: [email protected]; Andre 
Cortese, 1211 Connecticut Ave., NW, Suite 504, Washington, DC 20036; 
telephone number: 202-785-5615; e-mail: [email protected]; 
Bobbie Thach, 1211 Connecticut Ave, NW Suite 504, Washington, DC 20036; 
voice: (202) 785-5614; fax: (202) 785-5616; e-mail: 
[email protected]. Customer Service, contact LandSea Systems, 
Inc.,509 Viking Drive, Suite K, L, and M, Virginia Beach, VA 23452; 
voice: 757-463-9557; fax: 757-463-9581, e-mail: 
[email protected].; or Xantic Netherlands, toll free: 1-888-440-
8988; website: www.Xantic.net.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801, et seq.

    Dated: April 25, 2003.
Rebecca Lent,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 03-10803 Filed 4-30-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S