Introduction GMDSS (in English)

Introduction to Global Maritime Distress Safety System (GMDSS)

During the 18th century, the ships sailing in international and coastal waters were dependent on the morse code to send any kind of distress signal to a coastal authority of ships in the nearby vicinity during emergency.

Since it was a transmission of texture information using tones or lights, of message was never clear to understand what kind of emergency is there on board ships. Therefore, an internationally agreed safety procedure was adopted by IMO under SOLAS IV which is known as Global Maritime Distress Safety System (GMDSS)

GMDSS and its uses

On the 1st feb 1999, the fully implemented GMDSS came to picture. It was a set standard for usage of communication protocol, procedures and safety equipment to be used at the time of distress situation by the ship. Under GMDSS all the passenger ships and cargo ship above 300 GT involved in the voyages in international waters have to carry equipment as per GMDSS.

When a ship uses GMDSS, it basically sends a distress signal via a satellite or radio communication equipment. It's also used as a medium for sending or receiving maritime safety information and general communication channel.

In the GMDSS framework, there are different sea areas to allot the working equipment in the respective area. They are as follows :

- Area (A1), Range 20 to 50 NM, Equipment VHF DSC

- Area (A2), Range 50 to 400 NM, Equipment VHF + MF

- Area (A3), Range 70' N to 70' S, Equipment VHF + MF + One INMARSAT

- Area (A4), Range Above 70' N to 70' S, Equipment  HF + VHF + MF

To understand the above table further, following are the ranges with regard to the frequencies in a specific band :

1. Medium frequencies : 300 KHz to 3 MHz

2. High frequencies : 3 MHz to 30 MHz

3. Very high frequencies : 30 MHz to 300 MHz

4. Very high frequencies (VHF)

5. For the purpose of maritime communication, the range 156 MHz to 174 MHz is allocated channel 16, which is set at 156.800 MHz, is for distress, urgency and safety communication, channel 70 set at 156.525 MHz, if for routine VHF DSC (Digital Selective Calling) watch

6. Guard channels are set put above and below channel 16 to avoid any interference on channel 16, One cannot have seamless traffic on channel 16 with interference with regard to other communication aside from distress safety and urgency

7. Among other things, the VHF set runs on a 24 volt DC supply with J3E type of transmission for radiotelephony and G2B type of transmission for VHF

The different elements of GMDSS are as follows : 

1. INMARSAT : it is satellite operated system that includes ship earth station terminals - Inmarsat B, C and F77. It provides telex, telephone and data transfer services between ship to ship, ship to shore, and shore to ship along with a priority telex and telephone service connected to shore rescue centres.

  

2. NAVTEX : navtex is an internationally adopted automated system which is used to distribute MSI maritime safety information, and includes weather forecasts and warnings, navigational warnings, search and rescue notices and other similar safety information.

3. Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) : epirb is an equipment to help determine the position of survivors during a SAR operation. It is a ssecondary mean of distress alerting.

4. Search and Rescue Locating Equipment : primarily the search and rescue radar transponder. This is used to home search and rescue units to the position of distress which transmits upon interrogation.

5. Digital Selevtive Calling (DSC) :this is a calling service between ship to ship, ship to shore or vice versa for safety and distress information mainly on high or medium frequency and VHF maritime radio.

Documents to be carried onboard with regard to GMDSS :

1. ship's Radio license

2. radio operators certificate 

3. safety radio certificate 

4. GMDSS radio log book

5. ITU list of cell signs and numerical identities of stations used by maritime mobile and maritime mobile satellite services

6. ITU list of coast stations

7. ITU list of ship station

8. ITU list of radio determination and special service stations

9. Antenna rigging plan

10. Valid shore based maintenance certificate

GMDSS training

The handling of GMDSS equipment requires certified training as well as licensing from the telecommunication department of the department. The general operators certficate (GOC) is mandatory in order for an officer to be allowed to handle GMDSS equipment on board the ship.

To obtain this GOC, a short course is compulsory to attend following which an exam is conducted (written and oral), which need to be cleared. This training is aimed at cadets who ought to become licensed radio operators to operate all the equipment in conjunction with the regulations laid out for GMDSS.

The training period is around 12 days and owing to the course being mandatory, it is advised to call in to an approved institute to book a seat for a future date, well in advance. Depending which country the individual is from, they must check the respective institute websites as well as the ministry of shipping (or whichever applicable for their country) websites to get the full details on eligibility and criteria for admission into the GMDSS course.

Over the period of  the course, the officer is taugh: about the various aspects of GMDSS ranging from radio log to sending INMARSAT message and all such aspects of it which will be required when carrying out communication on board. The written exam tests the theory whereas the oral examination is a one on one session with a surveyor who tests the individual on the different aspects of GMDSS covering the whole syllabus (theory as well as piratical).

Recommended GMDSS book :

GMDSS - A guide for global maritime distress safety system

GMDSS - A user's handbook

Admiralty list radio signal (ALRS) volume 5 :

GMDSS

NP285 of ALRS Vol. 5 is the publication with extensive information in the theory as well as practical use for all things pertaining to the GMDSS. Correction for this is found in section 6 of the weekly notice to mariners (NTM). Its contents covers as follows :

1. Distress communication and false alert

2. operation procedure for use of DSC equipment

3. search and rescue transponder

4. extract from ITU radio regulation

5. VHF DSC list of coast stations for sea area A1

6. MF DSC list of coast station for sea Area A2

7. HF DSC list of coast stations for sea area A3

8. INMARSAT

9. Maritime safety information (MSI)

10. safetynet

11. NAVTEX

12. Distress, search and rescue

In case it's used in emergency, it is used for on scene coordination between the survival craft and the search and rescue unit. The IMO requirements for the survival craft transceivers are as follows :

1. Can be operated by unskilled personnel

2. Transmission and reception on 156.8 MHz (Channel 16) and 156.3 MHz (Channel 6)

3. Withstand a drop of 1 meter

4. Watertight to a depth of 1 meter for 5 minutes

5. Minimum power of 0.25 watts

6. A power reductions switch available 

7. The antenna must be omni-directional and verticallypolarized

8. Battery power capacity for 8 hours (nickle cadmium of lithium battery)

The scope of GMDSS is vast and extensive reading on it, through publications and manual and all other available means, is the only way to get better at handling the equipment and gain further knowledge about the setup

Being a mandatory setup on board ships which is also the key setup with regard emergency situations, it is actually in self interest for the ship's officer to gain maximum knowhow on every aspect of the GMDSS.