INTRODUCTION TO GLOBAL MARITIME DISTRESS & SAFETY SYSTEM (GMDSS)

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AIM
An outline of GMDSS

Three elements

Distress alerting Maritime Safety Information (MSI) Search and Rescue (SAR)
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OLD SYSTEM

All vessels of 1600grt and above and all passenger vessels - morse telegraphy on 500 KHz All vessels of 300grt and above MF and VHF telephony on 2182 kHz and 156.8 MHz (Channel 16) Ship to ship alerting
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GMDSS The Differences

An integrated communications system using satellite and terrestrial radiocommunications systems to ensuring that a ship, regardless of location, can receive Maritime Safety Information and send Distress Alerts Full implementation 1 Feb 1999 Automated for rapid and reliable receipt of Maritime Safety Information (MSI) Developed by IMO in close co-operation with INMARSAT, ITU and other International Organisations, notably WMO, IHO and COSPAS SARSAT. Compulsory for all passenger vessels cargo ships over 300 gross tons on international voyages Compliance recommended for smaller vessels

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SOLAS V Regulation 4
(Navigational Warnings)
Each Contracting Government shall take all steps necessary to ensure that, when intelligence of any dangers is received from whatever reliable source, it shall be promptly brought to the knowledge of those concerned and communicated to other interested Governments* * Refer to the Guidance on the IMO/IHO World-Wide Navigational Warning Service adopted by the Organization by resolution A.706(17) as amended
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Undertakings By Contracting Governments

(SOLAS IV Extract of Regulation 5: Provision of radiocommunication services)

Each Contracting Government undertakes to make available, as it deems practical and necessary, either individually or in cooperation with other Contracting Governments, appropriate shore-based facilities for space and terrestrial radiocommunication services having due regard to the recommendations of the Organisation.
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9 Functional Requirements
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

9.

Transmission of ship-to-shore distress alerts by at least two separate and independent means, each using a different radio communication service; Reception of shore-to-ship distress alerts; Transmission and reception of ship-to-ship distress alerts; Transmission and reception of search and rescue co-ordinating communications; Transmission and reception of on-scene communications; Transmission and reception of signals for locating; Transmission and reception of Maritime Safety Information (MSI); Transmission and reception of general radio communications to and from shore-based radio systems or networks; Transmission and reception of bridge-to-bridge communications;
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GMDSS Includes

Distress alerting (via DSC radio and/or satellite) Locating signals (SARTs, EPIRBs) Transmission/reception of MSI General communications (ship to ship, ship to shore and SAR coordination via DSC radio and/or satellite)
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Description of GMDSS Sea Areas

Area Description A1: Within range of shoreshore-based VHF stations Distance Depends on antenna height at shoreshore-based VHF station, about 2020-50n miles Radio VHF Frequencies 156.525 MHz (Ch 70) for DSC or 156.8 MHz (Ch16) RT EPIRBs 406 MHz CospasCospas-Sarsat or VHF EPIRB Survival Craft 9 GHz radar transponder (SART); VHF portable radio (Ch 16 and one other frequency) as above

A 2: Within range of shoreshore-based MF stations

about 5050-250 n miles

MF VHF

as above, plus, 2187.5 kHz DSC, 2182 kHz RT, 2174.5 kHz NBDP, 518 kHz NAVTEX as above, plus, 1.51.5-1.6 GHz alerting or as A1 and A2 plus all HF frequencies

406 MHz CospasCospas-Sarsat

A 3: Within geogeo-stationary satellite range (i.e. Inmarsat) Inmarsat) A 4: Other areas (i.e., beyond Inmarsat range)

70 70N-70 70S

HF or Satellite MF VHF HF MF VHF

406 MHz CospasCospas-Sarsat

as above

North of 70 70N or South of 70 70S

406 MHz CospasCospas-Sarsat

as above

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Global Maritime distress and Safety System

Distress alerting ~ ship-to-shore Distress alerting ~ shore-to-ship Distress alerting ~ ship-to-ship SAR co-ordination communications Locating signals Bridge to Bridge communications INMARSAT Geostationary satellite transmission system (global coverage between 70N and 70S) Transmitting & Receiving Maritime Safety Information General radiocommunications COSPAS-SARSAT Polar orbiting satellite system operating globally the distress alert from 406 MHz EPIRB.

area within RT coverage of at least one VHF coast radio station (~20-30 miles) providing continuous availability of digital selective calling (DSC) alerting area, excluding area A1, within the RT coverage of at least one MF DSC coast radio station providing Rescue continuous availability of alerting Area 1 co-ordination area, excluding areas A1 and A2, within centre the coverage of INMARSAT Area 2 (RCC) geostationary satellites providing for continuous availability of alerting Coast radio Area 3 area, excluding areas A1, station al (HF, MF, VHF DSC) A2 and A3. Basically, in n g si very high latitudes, e.g. the Area 4 B IR polar regions. Possibly on EP coverage of one HF DSC station General radiocommunications - medical advice - vessel traffic services The United Kingdom Office - Hydrographic ship reporting - public correspondence

Coast earth station (CES)

Local user terminal mission control centre (LUT/MCC)

Terrestrial communication network

Distress alert is normally initiated manually Manual acknowledgement

Ship in distress

Maritime Safety Information - Navigational warnings - Meteorological warnings - SAR information WWNWS

CARRIAGE REQUIREMENTS

Radio equipment related to the areas the ship will navigate (VHF/MF/HF DSC and/or Inmarsat C) Radar transponder operating in the 9GHz band (SART) and Satellite Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) Receiver capable of receiving International NAVTEX Service broadcasts, if the ship operates where NAVTEX is provided Enhanced Group Call (EGC) in Inmarsat areas where no NAVTEX is provided
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GMDSS MSI Broadcast Systems

NAVTEX - a direct printing telegraphic service for Coastal Warnings SafetyNET Enhanced Group Call (EGC) satellite system for long range warnings (NAVAREA) or for Coastal Warnings in areas where the International NAVTEX service is not provided
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Search and Rescue

SAR Regions (SRR) are areas of defined dimensions associated with an RCC within which SAR services are provided. Governments responsibilities As a member of SOLAS, a state is obliged to provide certain maritime or aeronautical SAR co-ordination services
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GMDSS/MSI Guidance Panels

International Hydrographic Organization (IHO)

Commission on the Promulgation of Radio Navigational Warnings

International Maritime Organization (IMO)

International SafetyNET Coordinating Panel NAVTEX Coordinating Panel

World Meteorological Organization (WMO)

Commission for Marine Meteorology Sub-Group of Experts on Marine Observations and Telecommunications
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GMDSS Guidance Documents

SOLAS

GMDSS Handbook, 3Rd 2001 Edition

International SafetyNET Manual 2003 Edition

NAVTEX Manual, 2006 Edition

Joint IMO/IHO/WMO Manual on Maritime Safety Information 2003 Edition

Manual on MSI Special Pub S-53 (IHO)

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SUMMARY

GMDSS is an important change in maritime safety Rapid High reliability Simple operation World-wide any time of day or night

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Are there any questions?

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SOLAS IV Regulation 2.1.9 Maritime Safety Information: Navigational and meteorological warnings, meteorological forecasts and other urgent safety related messages broadcast to ships
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Radio Equipment Carriage Requirements

Depends upon area of operations Minimum of VHF All vessels covered by the SOLAS convention must carry a NAVTEX receiver Those vessels operating outside the coverage of NAVTEX stations must carry a satellite Enhanced Group Calling (EGC) receiver (INMARSAT-C or equivalent) Sea areas around the world have been designated into one of 4 categories: A1, A2, A3, A4
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GMDSS Sea Areas

AREA A1 Within RT coverage of at least one VHF Coast Radio Station (20-50 miles) providing continuous availability for DSC alerting AREA A2 excluding area A1, within RT coverage of at least one MF Coast Radio Station (out to approx 250 - 400 miles) providing continuous availability for DSC alerting AREA A3 excluding areas A1 and A2, within the coverage of INMARSAT geostationary satellites providing continuous availability of alerting (approx 70N to 70S) AREA A4 - all areas not covered by the above (HF cover only)

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Sample NAVTEX Warning

BNM 382-2005 ZCZC QA98 CCGD11 CA-SEACOAST-CORONADO THE U.S. NAVY WILL BE INSTALLING A 12 SECTION PIER AT ORANGE BEACH BOAT LANE 9, SILVER STRAND, CORONADO FROM 14 APRIL TO 03 MAY 2005. MARINERS ARE REQUESTED TO REMAIN 5000 YARDS FROM THIS AREA DURING THIS TIME. NNNN
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Sample NAVAREA Warning

CCODE/1:31:12:18:00/PAC/DMA/CCODE NAVAREA XII 242/05 (75) AUSTRALIA SEISMIC SURVEY IN PROGRESS UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE BY M/V WESTERN ATLAS TOWING 2.5 MILE LONG CABLE IN AREA BETWEEN 35-00S 36-30S AND 134-40E 13630E NNNN
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Global Maritime Distress and Safety System

Distress alerting ~ ship-to-shore Distress alerting ~ shore-to-ship Distress alerting ~ ship-to-ship SAR co-ordination communications Locating signals Bridge to Bridge communications INMARSAT Geostationary satellite transmission system (global coverage between 70N and 70S) Transmitting & Receiving Maritime Safety Information General radiocommunications COSPAS-SARSAT Polar orbiting satellite system operating globally the distress alert from 406 Mhz EPIRB.

area within RT coverage of at least one VHF coast radio station (~20-30 miles) providing continuous availability of digital selective calling (DSC) alerting area, excluding area A1, within the RT coverage of at least one MF DSC coast radio station providing Rescue continuous availability of alerting Area 1 co-ordination area, excluding areas A1 and A2, within centre the coverage of INMARSAT Area 2 (RCC) geostationary satellites providing for continuous availability of alerting Coast radio Area 3 area, excluding areas A1, station al (HF, MF, VHF DSC) A2 and A3. Basically, in n g si very high latitudes, e.g. the Area 4 B IR polar regions. Possibly on EP coverage of one HF DSC station General radiocommunications - medical advice - vessel traffic services The United Kingdom Office - Hydrographic ship reporting - public correspondence

Coast earth station (CES)

Local user terminal mission control centre (LUT/MCC)

Terrestrial communication network

Distress alert is normally initiated manually Manual acknowledgement

Ship in distress

Maritime Safety Information - Navigational warnings - Meteorological warnings - SAR information WWNWS

GMDSS THE DIFFERENCES

An integrated communications system using satellite and terrestrial radio communication systems to ensure that, no matter where a ship is located, it can receive Maritime Safety Information (MSI) and send Distress Alerts which will be received Developed by IMO in close co-operation with Inmarsat and other International Organisations, notably WMO, IHO and the COSPAS - SARSAT partners
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GMDSS

Regulations contained in the 1974 SOLAS Convention, as amended in 1988. Ratified by 138 countries covering 98.36% of the worlds merchant shipping by tonnage Full GMDSS should have been implemented by 1 February 1999
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