The Long-Range Identification and Tracking (LRIT) regulation will apply to the following ship types engaged on international voyages:

• All passenger ships including high speed craft,
• Cargo ships, including high speed craft of 300 gross tonnage and above, and
• Mobile offshore drilling units.

All vessels of 300 gross tonnage and above on international voyage will need to be compliant with LRIT regulations.

Those ships operating exclusively in coastal Sea Area A1 and fitted with an Automatic Identification System will be exempt, while ships operating in near-coastal Sea Area A2 not fitted with Inmarsat C GMDSS will be required to fit a compliant terminal. Ships operating in polar Sea Area A4 above 70 degrees latitude will require a non-Inmarsat terminal that operates in conjunction with a low-earth orbit Communication Service Provider (CSP) approved by the Flag in conjunction with its appointed Application Service Provider (ASP).

A phased approach to the implementation of the regulation will allow for compliance not later than the first radio survey after 31 December 2008 or in the case of ships operating in Sea Area A4 not later than the first radio survey after 1 July 2009.

The terminal must be capable of being configured to transmit the following minimum information set in an Automatic Position Report (APR):

• The identity of the ship,
• The position of the ship, and
• The date and time of the position.