Report No. DC 95-62        ACTION IN DOCKET CASE                May 2, 1995


        COMMISSION INITIATES INQUIRY SEEKING COMMENT CONCERNING THE
             INSPECTION OF RADIO INSTALLATIONS ON LARGE CARGO
                         AND SMALL PASSENGER SHIPS
                           (CI DOCKET NO. 95-55)

     The FCC is seeking information to compile a record to be
used in review of its current rules regarding the inspection of
ships for compliance with the Communications Act and the
International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea.  The
Commission said this inquiry is the first step to developing and
implementing an overall strategy to improve the manner in which
it conducts inspections without derogating the safety of life at
sea.

     Specifically, the Commission is seeking information that
will allow it to streamline ship inspection procedures for the
maritime services, remove unnecessary rules, to improve service
to the maritime community, and more importantly, preserve
maritime safety.

     The Communications Act requires the Commission to inspect
the radio installation of large cargo ships and certain passenger
ships of the United States at least once a year to ensure that
the radio installation is incompliance with the requirements of
the Act.  Additionally, the Act requires that the FCC inspect the
radio installation of small passenger vessels as necessary to
insure compliance with the radio installation requirements of the
Communications Act.  Currently, the Commission inspects small
passenger ships once every five years.

     The Commission proposed two marine related amendments to the
Communications Act.  The first amendment allows early
implementation of the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System
(GMDSS).  The second proposal will permit changes to the way the
Commission inspects large cargo vessels and small passenger
vessels.  In 1988, the Safety Convention was amended to
incorporate the equipment and principles of the GMDSS.  The
amendments incorporated advanced automated terrestrial data
systems, as well as satellite communications systems, and changed


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the distress alerting system from primarily ship-to-ship, to
primarily ship-to-shore.  The GMDSS amendments entered into
effect in 1992 and are to be phased in with full implementation
by 1999.  

     The Commission believes that it is both necessary and timely
to commence a thorough review of the policies, rules and
procedures used to regulate the inspection of compulsorily
equipped ships.  Therefore, comments are requested to compile a
complete record that will 1) allow the Commission to improve
current inspection processes, 2) develop a technically sufficient
regulatory environment for the inspection of ships subject to the
GMDSS, and 3) provide an overall strategy on how best to utilize
private sector entities to inspect compulsory ship stations.

     Action by the Commission April 24, 1995, by Notice of
Inquiry (FCC 95-171).  Chairman Hundt, Commissioners Quello,
Barrett, Ness, and Chong.

                                   -FCC-

     News Media contact: Patricia A. Chew at (202) 418-0500.
     Compliance and Information Bureau contact: George R. Dillon
at (202) 418-1100.