1. The Sub-Committee on Radiocommunications (COM) at its thirty-seventh session was informed that some Administrations have experienced difficulties in applying the provisions of resolution 4 of the 1988 GMDSS Conference concerning acceptance ofa satellite EPIRB in lieu of the survival craft EPIRBs required by regulation 111/6.2.3 of the 1983 SOLAS amendments owing to shortages in the supply of 406 MHz EPIRB. The Sub-Committee concurred in the opinion of the delegations of Greece and Sweden that, for the purpose of port State control, a letter should be issued by the Administrations concerned to ships flying their flags and unable to obtain satellite EPIRBs.

2. Member Governments are invited to note this shortage and to treat with discretion ships provided with such letters pending supply of satellite EPIRBs and also to bring this information to the attention of all concerned.