If your vessel flies the St. Kitts and Nevis flag, there’s a compliance requirement worth knowing about. We are pleased to share an important update for owners and managers of St. Kitts and Nevis flagged vessels. Master Systems has been granted flag authorisation by the St. Kitts and Nevis International Ship Registry to carry out Radio Survey and related services on St. Kitts and Nevis flagged tonnage. The Letter of Authorisation was issued on 13 July 2026 (Ref. LTR-TEC-26058), and it marks a significant milestone for our Radio Survey capability.

What Circular MC 19 09 (Rev.2) Requires

Under Circular MC 19 09 (Rev.2), the St. Kitts and Nevis flag administration requires that companies carrying out Radio Survey on board St. Kitts and Nevis flagged vessels hold a flag approval, in addition to the mandatory class approval they already carry.

In practical terms, this means having a valid IACS Certificate of Approval is no longer enough on its own for Radio Surveys on this flag. Service providers also need direct authorisation from the flag administration itself.

Master Systems Is Now Flag Authorised

We’re glad to confirm that Master Systems has obtained this authorisation from the St. Kitts and Nevis International Ship Registry. The Letter of Authorisation, issued on 13 July 2026 (Ref. LTR-TEC-26058), confirms Master Systems is approved to carry out the following services on St. Kitts and Nevis flagged vessels:

• Inspection and testing of Radio Communication Equipment
• Inspection, performance testing, and maintenance of Automatic Identification Systems (AIS)
• Inspection, performance testing, and maintenance of LRIT systems

The approval is granted on condition that Master Systems maintains a valid IACS Certificate of Approval for these services, and it remains valid until 13 July 2031.

Why This Matters for Ship Owners and Managers

This authorisation had a commercial dimension for us. Without it, Radio Surveys carried out by Master Systems on St. Kitts and Nevis flagged vessels would not have met the flag’s own requirement under MC 19 09 (Rev.2), regardless of our class approval status. That’s now resolved.

For ship owners and managers operating St. Kitts and Nevis flagged tonnage, this means you can continue using Master Systems for Radio Communication Equipment, AIS, and LRIT surveys with the confidence that both the class and flag requirements are satisfied. As always, the decision to engage a particular service provider remains the responsibility of the ship owner or manager, but the flag-side compliance gap that MC 19 09 (Rev.2) introduced is no longer a concern with us.

Get in Touch

If you manage St. Kitts and Nevis flagged vessels and have Radio Survey, AIS, or LRIT inspections coming up, reach out to Master Systems to schedule a survey or confirm documentation ahead of your next class visit.