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