INTRODUCTION TO

GLOBAL MARITIME DISTRESS

& SAFETY SYSTEM (GMDSS)

Capacity BuildingTheTechnical Workshop

United Kingdom Hydrographic Office Jeddah, KSA
 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 co-
operation 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. Transmission of ship-to-shore distress alerts by at least
two separate and independent means, each using a
different radio communication service;
2. Reception of shore-to-ship distress alerts;
3. Transmission and reception of ship-to-ship distress
alerts;
4. Transmission and reception of search and rescue co--
ordinating communications;
5. Transmission and reception of on-scene
communications;
6. Transmission and reception of signals for locating;
7. Transmission and reception of Maritime Safety
Information (MSI);
8. Transmission and reception of general radio
communications to and from shore-based radio systems
or networks;
9. 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 co-
ordination via DSC radio and/or
satellite)
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 Description of GMDSS Sea Areas
Area Description Distance Radio Frequencies EPIRBs Survival Craft

A1: Within range of Depends on antenna VHF 156.525 MHz (Ch 70) for 406 MHz 9 GHz radar
shore-
shore-based VHF height at shore-
shore-based DSC Cospas-
Cospas-Sarsat transponder
stations VHF station, about or or VHF EPIRB (SART); VHF
20-
20-50n miles 156.8 MHz (Ch16) RT portable radio (Ch
16 and one other
frequency)
A 2: Within range of about 50-
50-250 n miles MF as above, plus, 406 MHz as above
shore-
shore-based MF VHF 2187.5 kHz DSC, Cospas-
Cospas-Sarsat
stations 2182 kHz RT,
2174.5 kHz NBDP,
518 kHz NAVTEX
A 3:
3: Within 70
70N-70
70S HF or as above, plus, 1.5-
1.5-1.6 406 MHz as above
geo-
geo-stationary Satellite GHz alerting or as A1 and Cospas-
Cospas-Sarsat
satellite range (i.e. MF A2 plus all HF
Inmarsat) frequencies
Inmarsat) VHF

A 4: Other areas (i.e., North of 70

70N HF 406 MHz as above
beyond Inmarsat or MF Cospas-
Cospas-Sarsat
range) South of 70
70S VHF

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 Global Maritime distress and Safety System
Distress alerting ~ ship-to-shore Transmitting & Receiving Maritime Safety Information
Distress alerting ~ shore-to-ship
Distress alerting ~ ship-to-ship General radiocommunications
SAR co-ordination communications
Locating signals
COSPAS-SARSAT
Bridge to Bridge communications
Polar orbiting satellite system
operating globally the distress alert
INMARSAT
from 406 MHz EPIRB.
Geostationary satellite transmission system Coast
(global coverage between 70N and 70S) earth
station
area within RT coverage of at least one VHF coast radio (CES)
station (~20-30 miles) providing continuous availability
of digital selective calling (DSC) alerting
area, excluding area A1, within the RT coverage of at Local user terminal mission
least one MF DSC coast radio station providing control centre
continuous availability of alerting Rescue (LUT/MCC)
Area 1
area, excluding areas A1 and A2, within co-ordination
the coverage of INMARSAT Area 2 centre
geostationary satellites providing for (RCC)
continuous availability of alerting Coast radio
Area 3
area, excluding areas A1, station Terrestrial
A2 and A3. Basically, in n al (HF, MF, VHF DSC) communication
g
very high latitudes, e.g. the Area 4 si network
B
polar regions. Possibly on IR
EP
coverage of one HF DSC
station
General Maritime Safety Information
Ship in radiocommunications - Navigational warnings
Distress alert is normally distress - medical advice - Meteorological warnings
initiated manually - vessel traffic services - SAR information
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ship reportingOffice
Manual acknowledgement WWNWS
- public correspondence
 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 136-
30E
NNNN

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 Global Maritime Distress and Safety System
Distress alerting ~ ship-to-shore Transmitting & Receiving Maritime Safety Information
Distress alerting ~ shore-to-ship
Distress alerting ~ ship-to-ship General radiocommunications
SAR co-ordination communications
Locating signals
COSPAS-SARSAT
Bridge to Bridge communications
Polar orbiting satellite system
INMARSAT operating globally the distress alert
Geostationary satellite transmission system from 406 Mhz EPIRB.
Coast
(global coverage between 70N and 70S) earth
station
area within RT coverage of at least one VHF coast radio (CES)
station (~20-30 miles) providing continuous availability
of digital selective calling (DSC) alerting
area, excluding area A1, within the RT coverage of at Local user terminal mission
least one MF DSC coast radio station providing control centre
continuous availability of alerting Rescue (LUT/MCC)
Area 1
area, excluding areas A1 and A2, within co-ordination
the coverage of INMARSAT Area 2 centre
geostationary satellites providing for (RCC)
continuous availability of alerting Coast radio
Area 3
area, excluding areas A1, station Terrestrial
A2 and A3. Basically, in n al (HF, MF, VHF DSC) communication
g
very high latitudes, e.g. the Area 4 si network
B
polar regions. Possibly on IR
EP
coverage of one HF DSC
station
General Maritime Safety Information
Ship in radiocommunications - Navigational warnings
Distress alert is normally distress - medical advice - Meteorological warnings
initiated manually - vessel traffic services - SAR information
The United Kingdom- Hydrographic
ship reportingOffice
Manual acknowledgement WWNWS
- public correspondence
 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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