Regulations and Rules in GMDSS

2. GMDSS ~~~~  Regulations and Rules

GMDSS is a combination of regulations and rules for shipping and radio communication.
2.1.1 Safety Of Life At Sea SOLAS

The SOLAS Convention is concerning the safety of merchant ships. It was adopted in 1920, in response to the Titanic disaster 1914. In1988 Chapter IV radiocommunication of the Safety Of Life At Sea SOLAS convention incorporates GMDSS. SOLAS was adopted 1960 by the International Maritime Organisation IMO.

The IMO is a specialized agency of the United Nations UN and based
in London.
2.1.2 Radio Regulations RR
The Radio Regulations RR mainly setting out frequency bands and
technical parameters. Radio Regulations incorporating decisions of
the World Radiocommunication Conferences WRC by the International
Telecommunication Organisation ITU. www.itu.int
ITU is a specialized agency of the United Nations UN and based in
Geneva. www.un.org
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2.2 Sea areas A1-A4
g. 4: UK GMDSS sea areas
2.2.1 A1 - Very High Frequency VHF
An area within radiotelephone coverage of at least one VHF coast
station in which continous DSC alerting is available, as may by de ned
by a contracting government. 30nm from coast
2.2.2 A2 - Medium Frequency MF
An area within radiotelephone coverage of at least one MF coast
station in which continous DSC alerting is available, as may by de ned
by a contracting government (excluding A1). 150nm from coast
2.2.3 A3 - International Maritime Satellite INMARSAT
An area within the coverage of all INMARSAT geostationary satellites,
in which continous distress alerting is available (excluding A1 and A2).
70 S-70 N
2.2.4 A4 - polar regions
The remaining sea area outside A1, A2 and A3.
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2.3 Shorebased system
2.3.1 Master Plan
The Master Plan contains status of shore-based facilies for the GMDSS.
Resue Co-ordination Centres RCC
Coast Stations CS
Satellite services
GMDSS Master Plan www.imo.org
ALRS Volume 5 GMDSS www.ukho.gov.uk
2.3.2 Search And Rescue SAR
The Search And Rescue Convention SAR from IMO aimed an international
SAR plan, so that, no matter where an accident occurs, the
rescue of persons in distress at sea will be co-ordinated by a SAR
organization. www.imo.org
National SAR organisations:
Germany:
Deutsche Gesellschaft zur Rettung Schi bruchiger DGzRS
www.dgzrs.de
Bremen Rescue www.mrcc-bremen.de
Switzerland:
Swiss Maritime Navigation O ce, RCC Zurich
Swiss Air Rescue www.rega.ch
United Kingdom:
Her Majesty Coastguard HMCG www.mcga.gov.uk
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2.4 Shipbord system
2.4.1 Radio equipment for SOLAS vessels
SOLAS vessels on international voyages are compulsory tted.
Mandatory equipment is de ned by navigation area.
It must be approved by IMO and carry a wheelmark symbol.
area certi cate equipment
A1 ROC/GOC VHF RT DSC
VHF DSC watch receiver
VHF handheld device
NAVTEX receiver
EPIRB
oat free
SART
A2 GOC MF RT DSC
MF DSC watch receiver
A3 GOC either INMARSAT MES + EGC receiver
or MF/HF RT DSC + watch receiver
A4 GOC MF/HF RT DSC
MF/HF DSC + watch receiver
MF/HF telex
On compulsory tted vessels the availability of equipment must be
guaranted. This can be done by 3 di erent methods listed. Ships
sailing in Sea Area A1 or A2 can choose one of these 3 methods,
while sailing in A3 or A4 they have to choose 2 of these 3 methods.
1. DOE Duplication Of Equipment
A1 and A2: VHF RT DSC
A3 and A4: MF/HF RT DSC or INMARSAT MES
2. SBM Shore Based Maintenance (contract, arrangment)
3. ASM At Sea Maintenance (quali ed personal)
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2.4.2 Radio equipment for non-SOLAS vessels
Ships not sailing under provisions of SOLAS are voluntary GMDSS
tted and called non-SOLAS vessels. GMDSS equipment may recommended
by natinonal organisation or required by national law.
It must comply with the regulations of the European Union EU and
carry a Conform European CE Symbol. eur-lex.europa.eu
Austria: by law (JachtZulVO) www.ris.bka.gv.at
area certi cate equipment
all radio receiver
inshore >3nm SRC VHF RT
ocean >200nm EPIRB
Germany: recommended (Sicherheitsrichtlinien) www.dsv.de
area certi cate equipment
all radio or NAVTEX receiver
inshore SRC VHF RT
ocean EPIRB
Switzerland: recommended www.eda.admin.ch
area certi cate equipment
all SSB radio receiver
ocean EPIRB
United Kingdom: recommended www.mcga.gov.uk
area certi cate equipment
all SRC VHF handheld
inshore >3nm SRC VHF RT DSC
o shore >20nm NAVTEX receiver
o shore >60nm EPIRB, SART
o shore >60nm LRC MF RT DSC
ocean >150nm LRC INMARSAT
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2.4.3 Radio equipment tests
Required by SOLAS vessels, recommended by non-SOLAS vessels.
Daily
DSC internal (self test)
batteries (damage, voltage test, load test, charge)
printer (function, paper)
Weekly
VHF handheld (batteries, damages, RX, TX)
MF/HF DSC test call (to coast station) LRC/GOC
generator (function)
Monthly
EPIRB internal (batteries, damages, selftest)
SART (batteries, damages, selftest)
antenna (damages, cleaning, insulators)
Yearly
EPIRB transmission test (company ashore)
2.4.4 Radio watch
Continuous digital radio watchkeeping is required by SOLAS vessels
and recommended by non-SOLAS vessels while at sea.
MF NAVTEX receiver on 518kHz
VHF DSC watch receiver on ch70
MF/HF DSC scan watch receiver LRC/GOC
INMARSAT SafetyNET EGC receiver LRC/GOC
Every ship, while at sea, shall continue to maintain, when practicable,
countinuous watch.
VHF RT listening on ch16
VHF RT listening on ch13 SOLAS vessels
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2.4.5 Ship radio licence
Ship radio stations have to be licensed and are costumable. License
is issued by the authority of state and must be carried on board.
Ships name and registration number
Radio Telephone RT identi cation: callsign
Digital Selective Calling DSC identi cation: MMSI
INMARSAT identi cation: IMN LRC/GOC
Telex identi cation: selcal GOC
Accounting Authority: AAIC
List of radio equipment (manufacturer & type)
National radio licensing administrations:
Austria: by law (TKG, TKGV) www.ris.bka.gv.at
Fernmeldebehorde I. Instanz FMB www.bmvit.gv.at
Licencing fee 49,05 EUR, using fee 10,90 EUR/month
validation: 10 years
Germany:
Bundesnetzagentur BNetzA www.bundesnetzagentur.de
Licencing fee 130,- EUR, using fee 21,10 EUR/year
validation: life of vessel
Switzerland:
Bundesamt fur Kommunikation www.bakom.ch
Licencing fee 50,- SFR, using fee 10,- SFR/month
validation: 1 year
United Kingdom:
O ce for Comminication www.ofcom.org.uk
Licencing fee 20,- GBP, using fee 20,- GBP/year
validation: life of vessel
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2.4.6 Radio log book
For SOLAS vessels a GMDSS radio log book with the following minimum
entries is required:
Summary of distress/urgency/safety tra c
Important incidents connected to the radio service
Appropriate ships position every day
Master must sign every day
Equipment tests
National radio log book forms:
Austria: Seeschi fahrtsverordnung www.ris.bka.gv.at
United Kingdom: Martime Safety Agency www.mcga.gov.uk
date/time station station communications frequency
UTC to from summary, tests, remarks channel, satellite
2.4.7 Documents
The following documents must be carried on bord:
Ships radio licence
Radio operator certi cates
compulsory tted SOLAS vessels in addition:
Radio log book
ITU List of Coast Stations or ALRS Volume 1
ITU List of Ship Stations
ITU List of Callsigns and Numerical Identities
ITU Manual for use by Maritime Mobile Services
ALRS www.ukho.gov.uk
ITU www.itu.int
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2.4.8 Radio secrecy
No person shall divulge or publish the contents of any messages transmitted
or received by such station, or to another station employed to
forward such message to its destination, unless legally required so to
do by the court of competent jurisdiction or other competent authority.
Radio operators have to declare this.
2.4.9 Accounting Authority Identi cation Code AAIC
Accounting authorities are used to facilitate the e ective collection
and distribution of radiocommunication charges between ship and
coast stations and the Public Switched Telephone Network PSTN
and Packet Switched Data Network PSDN.
Ship stations need a contract with AAIC for public correspondations.
AAIC: 2 letters (country) + 2 numbers (company):
Examples:
AU01 Telekom Austria AG www.telekom.at
DP07 Seefunk www.dp07.de
GB11 NSSL Limited www.satcom-solutions.com
Maritime Mobile Access and Retrieval System MARS