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Marine Communication MSN 243: Introduction For The GMDSS Global Maritime Distress and Safety System

The GMDSS was implemented in 1992 to improve maritime distress and safety communications. It requires appropriately certified operators to prioritize distress, urgency, safety, and routine communications using satellite and terrestrial radio systems. Ships must carry equipment for distress alerting and communications based on their area of operation, which range from short-range VHF to global Inmarsat coverage. The GMDSS coordination search and rescue authorities and vessels to quickly respond to distress incidents.

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Aboody AL-ghamdy
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79 views

Marine Communication MSN 243: Introduction For The GMDSS Global Maritime Distress and Safety System

The GMDSS was implemented in 1992 to improve maritime distress and safety communications. It requires appropriately certified operators to prioritize distress, urgency, safety, and routine communications using satellite and terrestrial radio systems. Ships must carry equipment for distress alerting and communications based on their area of operation, which range from short-range VHF to global Inmarsat coverage. The GMDSS coordination search and rescue authorities and vessels to quickly respond to distress incidents.

Uploaded by

Aboody AL-ghamdy
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Marine communication

MSN 243
Introduction for the GMDSS
Global Maritime Distress And Safety System
History
• The GMDSS was entered into force in 1992 and fully implemented in
1999, how was it before that?
• Morse code.
• Radio operators.
• In case of distress no guarantee that the messages will be heard by any
other stations.
GMDSS watchkeeping requirements

• All GMDSS communication are under control of an


appropriately certified operator.
• Communication procedures and discipline are
followed so that interference with other radio users
is avoided. Distre
• Frequencies are used for their correct purpose. ss
• GMDSS communication are prioritised according Urgency
to their importance for safety of life at sea;
Safety (MSI)

Other routine communications


GMDSS function requirement
The GMDSS provides every ship, while at sea, the following basic communication functions:
• transmitting ship-to-shore distress alerts (by at least two separate and independent methods)
• receiving shore-to-ship distress alerts
• transmitting and receiving ship-to-ship distress alerts
• transmitting and receiving search and rescue coordinating communications
• transmitting and receiving on-scene communications
• transmitting and receiving signals for locating
• transmitting and receiving maritime safety information
• transmitting and receiving general communications
• transmitting and receiving bridge-to-bridge communications.
GMDSS carriage requirement and
communication priorities
• The carriage requirement is determined by ship’s area of navigation, not the ship’s size.
• Distress communication: indicates that a mobile unit or person is threatened by grave
and imminent danger and requires immediate assistance.
• Distress calls transmitted by radiotelephony are prefixed by the spoken word MAYDAY.
• Urgency communication: indicates that the calling station has a very urgent message
concerning the safety of a mobile unit or person.
• Urgency messages transmitted via radiotelephony are prefixed by the words PAN PAN.
• Safety message: indicates that the calling station has an important navigational or
meteorological warning to transmit.
• Safety messages sent via radiotelephony are prefixed by the word SECURITE.
• Routine/public communication: exchange routine information between ships and shore.
GMDSS areas of operation
• There are four areas of operation, each has different communication systems
due to the range and services limitations.
• Sea Area A1: within the radiotelephone coverage of at least one VHF coast
station in which continuous VHF DSC alerting is available (approx. 20-30
nm).
• Sea Area A2: within the radiotelephone coverage of at least one MF coast
station in which continuous MF DSC alerting is available (within approx. 100
nm).
• Sea Area A3: within the coverage area of an Inmarsat geostationary satellite
in which continuous alerting is available (approx. between 76° N and S).
• Sea Area A4: the remaining sea areas outside areas A1, A2 and A3 (basically,
the polar regions).
GMDSS operational concept
• The GMDSS allows search and rescue authorities ashore, as well as shipping in the
vicinity of the ship in distress, to be quickly alerted to a distress incident so that they
can assist in a coordinated search and rescue operation with minimum delay.
• the GMDSS provides urgency and safety communications methods and the
broadcasting of maritime safety information (MSI) (navigational and meteorological
information) to ships.
• Two systems are used for broadcasting MSI:
• NAVTEX — which uses MF radio to provide coastal warnings
• SafetyNET — which uses Inmarsat satellites to provide coverage from about 76
degrees north to 76 degrees south latitude.
Types of stations at sea
• Ship station, ship to ship and ship to shore stations.
• Coastal radio stations.
• Port operations stations, including VTS.
• Aircraft stations, for search and rescue operation.
• Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC)
Communication systems in GMDSS
• Satellite communication:
• INMARSAT: geostationary satellites, distress alerting and two-way
communication.
• COSPAS-SARSAT: is used for alerting of distress by EPIRB to provide identity
and position of ship in distress, one-way of communication.
• Terrestrial communication: Digital Selective Calls DSC is the basic of distress
alerting and safety communications, then it is followed by radiotelephony calls.
• Long-range service: using HF frequency, used for long range communication,
uses Inmarsat (when available) and long-range capability.
• Medium-range service: MF frequency, for ship-to-ship and ship-to-shore
communication and for SAR operation.
• Short-range service: VHF frequency, most common method for short range
communication.

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