GMDSS: NINE (9) VITAL FUNCTIONS

In accordance with the provision of the 1974/78 SOLAS Convention, all

ships covered by this convention must be equipped with a complete set of
GMDSS (Global Maritime Distress and Safety System). This was enforced on
February 1, 1999. Since the general concept of GMDSS was to provide rapid and
to make alerting automatically when in distress. SOLAS made provisions
(SOLAS Chapter IV) to govern this system particularly the 9 Communication
Functional Requirements and shall be used by ships to its fullest capability. The
9 vital functions of GMDSS are as follow:

1. Ship-to-Shore Distress Alerts

Ships in distress regardless of its position should be able to

transmit a ship to shore distress alert in at least two independent ways.
The alerting functions might be by terrestrial or by satellite means. The
distress alert should indicate the ship's identification, position, time the
position was valid, and the type of distress. When the distress alert is sent
to a land based station, the same distress alert will be registered by all
ship within vicinity. The equipment used is EPIRB, Digital Selective Calling
(DSC) or Inmarsat.

2. Shore to Ship Distress Alerts

The rescue coordination center or coast radio station receiving a

distress alert must transmit a distress acknowledgement address to all
ships. This must be sent on the same frequency as the call was received.
The acknowledgement should include the identification of the ship whose
distress call is being acknowledged. When a coast radio station receives
the first information about the maritime craft in distress, it is required to
relay this information to a rescue coordination center. The rescue
coordination center or coast radio station may transmit a distress relay
address to ships in the vicinity. If the person responsible for the coast
station considers that it is appropriate to do so. The equipment used is
DSC (Digital Selective Calling), SafetyNET or Navtex.
3. Ship to Ship Distress Alerts

If the distress alert is transmitted on VHF (Very High Frequency),

MF (Medium Frequency) or HF (High Frequency), ships in vicinity as well
as coast stations within reach will be alerted. DSC (Digital Selective
Calling) is used for all stations distress alerting in the VHF, MF or HF. The
equipment used is VHF Channel 13 and 16 or VHF, MF or HF DSC.

4. Search and Rescue Co-ordinating Communications

Search and Rescue (SAR) Co-ordinating Communications are

those necessary for the Rescue Coordination Center (RCC) to coordinate
and control the search and rescue operation. The methods of
communications are telephony or telex, terrestrial or satellite. The
equipment used is Navtex or SafetyNET and voice communications using
MF (Medium Frequency)/HF (High Frequency), or VHF (Very High
Frequency) or Inmarsat.

5. On-Scene Communications

On-scene communications are normally on short range VHF (Very

High Frequency) and MF (Medium Frequency) bands. The frequencies
are designated for distress and safety traffic. This is communications
related to the ship in distress and the rescue of survivors. The equipment
used is voice communications using MF (Medium Frequency)/HF (High
Frequency), and VHF (Very High Frequency).
6. Locating

Locating is the finding of the ship in distress or its survival crafts. In

GMDSS, this means SART (Search and Rescue Radar Transponder). The
SART signal can be identified as 12 dots beacon echoes of a radar screen
of 3 cm radar.

7. Maritime Safety Information

Maritime safety information broadcasts include navigational

warnings, meteorological warnings and forecasts and other urgent safety
related information. Ships within the range of radio coast stations receive
MSI via Navtex on 518 KHz. On oncoast water is either receives MSI via
satellite SafetyNET service using the Inmarsat, EGC (Enhanced Group
Call) or via HF Radiotelex. The equipment used is Navtex and SafetyNET.

8. General Radio Communications

General Radio Communications according to GMDSS are ship to

shore communications other than distress, urgency and safety messages
which may have an impact on the ships safety. The equipment used is
DSC to set up a telephone or telex link on MF/HF or VHF and the
Inmarsat network.

9. Bridge to Bridge Communications

Bridge to bridge communications means safety communications

between ships. Channel 13 is reserved for short range communications,
safety of navigation and maneuvering traffic on VHF radiotelephony. The
equipment used is MF (Medium Frequency)/HF (High Frequency), and
VHF (Very High Frequency).