6. GLOBAL MARITIME DISTRESS AND SAFETY SYSTEM (GMDSS).

1. Australia's maritime area (search and rescue region, and Navarea X) has been declared GMDSS Sea Area A3, that is
for distress and safety purposes, the area will be supported by both satellite and HF terrestrial radio services. The AMSA
GMDSS HF DSC network employing stations at Wiluna and Charleville, and a network control site at RCC Australia provides
HF DSC and follow-on communications for distress and safety communications.

2. Non-SOLAS vessels may choose to use safety services through Limited Coast Radio Stations (LCRS) and Maritime
Rescue Stations (MRS) in the Inshore Boating Radio Service.

Overview of GMDSS Services in Australia

3. Australia operates an Inmarsat Land Earth Station (LES), located in Perth and linked to both the Pacific Ocean Region
(POR) and Indian Ocean Region (IOR) satellites. Communications via these satellites include distress priority channels and
a SafetyNET service for Maritime Safety Information (MSI) using enhanced group calling (EGC). The SafetyNET service
enables vessels to automatically receive MSI appropriate to their area of operation. Details of MSI promulgation are
specified in the next section. Further information on GMDSS can be obtained from the Australian GMDSS Handbook,
October 2008 edition.

4. Australia is associated with the Cospas-Sarsat system as a Ground Segment Provider. This satellite system is
designed to assist search and rescue operations using EPIRBs operating on 121.5/243 MHz and 406 MHz, and providing
alert and location data to rescue co-ordination centres (RCC). The regional ground segment includes satellite data receiving
antennas and processing equipment located at Albany (Western Australia), Bundaberg (Queensland) and Wellington (New
Zealand). These provide data to the Mission Control Centre located at the RCC in Canberra.

5. HF DSC distress and safety services are provided by the AMSA network with stations at Wiluna (WA) 26º 20’.45 S
120º 33’.40 E and Charleville (QLD) 26º 19’.83 S 146º 15’.85 E. The station/network identifier is RCC Australia using the
callsign VIC and MMSI number 005030001. See the AUSREP Map page 25 for station locations.

6. The network provides continuous watch on HF Digital Selective Calling (DSC). The following HF DSC distress and
safety channels are guarded: 4207.5, 6312.0, 8414.5, 12577.0 and 16804.5 kHz.

7. It should be noted that the AMSA HF DSC network can only be accessed by a DSC call. HF voice and NBDP are
available in the 4, 6, 8, 12 and 16 MHz bands for follow-on communications after an initial DSC call. No aural watch is kept
on HF radio telephony distress and safety frequencies. Broadcast of MSI for SOLAS vessels is via Inmarsat SafetyNET.

8. RCC Australia will continue to make HF radiotelephone distress and safety broadcasts for search and rescue
coordination purposes. Vessels fitted with MF/HF DSC watchkeeping receivers are required to continually maintain a DSC
watch whilst at sea on 2187.5 kHz for ship to ship alerting and 8414.5 kHz as well as at least one of the distress and safety
DSC frequencies 4207.5, 6312, 12577 and 16804.5 kHz appropriate to the time of day and the geographic position of the
ship . This watch may be kept by means of a scanning receiver. Broadcasts on radiotelephone frequencies will be preceded
by a DSC announcement.

9. Queries on any aspect of GMDSS may be addressed to:

General Manager
Emergency Response, AMSA
GPO Box 2181
Canberra
ACT 2601.

Australian Maritime Safety Authority, Canberra. (AA439709)

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