IEC 61108-3:2010 - Overview
IEC 61108-3:2010 is an international standard that defines the performance requirements, test methods and required test results for shipborne Galileo GNSS receiver equipment. Published by the IEC for maritime navigation and radiocommunication equipment, the standard implements IMO resolution MSC.233(82) and references general navigation requirements from IMO A.694(17). It is intended for Galileo receiver equipment that uses Galileo Global Navigation Satellite System signals to determine position onboard ships.
Key topics and technical requirements
The standard covers practical, testable requirements and test procedures for marine GNSS equipment, including:
- Minimum performance standards for Galileo shipborne receivers and required facilities and configuration for testing.
- Receiver outputs and data requirements (position, time, navigational warnings, status indicators).
- Accuracy and acquisition - methods for determining position accuracy and signal acquisition behaviour.
- Antenna and I/O requirements - antenna design considerations, input/output connections and protection from shipborne transmitters.
- Dynamic range and sensitivity - receiver sensitivity, dynamic range and acquisition time limits.
- Interference environment and RF tests - typical RF interference conditions, CW/NBI in-band limits and re-acquisition testing.
- Integrity and RAIM - Galileo integrity concepts, Receiver Autonomous Integrity Monitoring (RAIM) and associated test methods (including Fault Detection and Exclusion).
- Position update and velocity outputs - requirements for Position Updating, Course Over Ground (COG), Speed Over Ground (SOG) and UTC time output.
- Differential Galileo input - support and testing for differential corrections.
- Test documentation and presentation - required test sites, test sequence, signal scenarios and presentation of results.
Annexes provide detailed informative and normative content such as Galileo signal characteristics, integrity concepts, RAIM testing guidance and defined interference environments.
Practical applications and users
IEC 61108-3:2010 is essential for stakeholders in maritime navigation and GNSS equipment certification:
- Manufacturers of marine GNSS/Galileo receivers - to design compliant products and prepare test evidence.
- Test laboratories and certification bodies - to perform standardized performance and RF interference tests required for type approval.
- Shipyards and system integrators - to select and validate navigation equipment for compliance with IMO and IEC requirements.
- Flag administrations and maritime authorities - to assess conformity for safety-of-life navigation systems.
- Maritime electronics engineers and surveyors - for installation guidelines and interoperability with other shipborne systems.
Related standards
- IEC 60945 - general maritime equipment requirements (IEC 61108-3 takes precedence where different).
- IMO MSC.233(82) and IMO A.694(17) - foundational IMO resolutions referenced by the standard.
- IEC 62288 - presentation of navigation-related information on shipborne displays.
Keywords: IEC 61108-3:2010, Galileo receiver equipment, GNSS, maritime navigation, performance requirements, test methods, shipborne receiver, RAIM, RF interference, IMO MSC.233(82).