G.M.D.S.

GlobalMaritimeDistress and SafetySystem

AndyFuller CEO MarineWorksLtd
1

G.M.D.S.S thefoundations
Radiofirstusedto savelivesatseain 1899 SOLASConvention developedpostTitanic SOLASChapterIV regulatesradiocomms inships CunardsM/VAusonia1921
2

G.M.D.S.S whathappenednext
MF/HFradiousingMorseCode andRadioTelex DistressWatch keptbyRadio Officerinperson rightupto1999!
ContainershipDubaiaround1989
3

G.M.D.S.S theG.M.D.S.S.
introducedsatellitesfordistress, safetyandgeneralcommunications adoptedbyIMOin1988 transitionalperiod1992to1999 phasedimplementationbeganwith NAVTEXandEPIRBs
4

G.M.D.S.S theoperationalconcept
equipmentmatchedtoareaof operationsSeaAreasA1,A2,A3&A4 newcoresystemsincluded:
DISTRESSbuttonforprimary alerting SatelliteEPIRBsforlastresortalertDistress (SOS) button NAVTEXandSafetyNETforMSI satcomforshipsworkingoffshore
5

G.M.D.S.S 4SeaAreas
A1:withinrangeofshorebasedVHF DSCalerting(3050Nm) A2:withinrangeofshorebasedMFDSC alerting(c.150400NmexcludingA1) A3:anyareaoutsideA2butwithin coverageofInmarsatsatellites(between about76degsN&S) A4:anyareaoutsideA1,A2&A3 (essentiallyPolarregions)
6

G.M.D.S.S Inmarsatcoverage

G.M.D.S.S 9functionalrequirements(1)
1 transmitshiptoshoredistressalerts (2independentmethods) 2 receiveshoretoshipdistressalerts 3 shiptoshipdistressalerts 4 rescuecoordinatingcomms 5 onscenecomms 6 signalsforlocating
8

G.M.D.S.S 9functionalrequirements(2)
7 transmitandreceiveMaritime SafetyInformation(MSI) 8 generalradiocommunications 9 bridgetobridgecomms

G.M.D.S.S theG.M.D.S.S.radiostation

10

G.M.D.S.S theEPIRB
EmergencyPosition IndicatingRadioBeacon mostlyCOSPASSARSAT 406mHz someInmarsatEEPIRBs also
11

G.M.D.S.S MaritimeSafetyInformation
includes:
navigational warnings meteorological warningsand forecasts otherurgent safetyrelated information

automated broadcastviatwo systems:

NAVTEX SafetyNET
12

G.M.D.S.S 16NAV/METAREAS

13

G.M.D.S.S NAVTEX
themediumrangesystemforMSI automaticwatch rejectsunwanted messages printsrelevant(!) messages
14

G.M.D.S.S DigitalSelectiveCalling (DSC)

onMFandHF everyterminalhas auniquenumber allshipscalls distresscalling

15

G.M.D.S.S InmarsatC
lowspeeddataterminal DTE (display/key emailandtelexmessaging board theONLYwaytoreceiveSafetyNET canbefittedin anyship

16

G.M.D.S.S acknowledgement
Thankstothe UKHydrographic Officeforuseof somegraphicsfrom theirexcellentvolume: AdmiraltyListof RadioSignalsVolume5
17