INTRODUCTION TO

GLOBAL MARITIME DISTRESS

& SAFETY SYSTEM (GMDSS)

United Kingdom Hydrographic

Office Jeddah, KSA
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Workshop

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 cooperation 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.

2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

9.

Transmission of ship-to-shore distress alerts by at least

two separate and independent means, each using a
different radio communication service;
Reception of shore-to-ship distress alerts;
Transmission and reception of ship-to-ship distress
alerts;
Transmission and reception of search and rescue co-ordinating communications;
Transmission and reception of on-scene
communications;
Transmission and reception of signals for locating;
Transmission and reception of Maritime Safety
Information (MSI);
Transmission and reception of general radio
communications to and from shore-based radio systems
or networks;
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 coordination 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

shoreshore-based VHF
stations

Depends on antenna
height at shoreshore-based
VHF station, about
2020-50n miles

VHF

156.525 MHz (Ch 70) for

DSC
or
156.8 MHz (Ch16) RT

406 MHz
CospasCospas-Sarsat
or VHF EPIRB

9 GHz radar
transponder
(SART); VHF
portable radio (Ch
16 and one other
frequency)

A 2: Within range of
shoreshore-based MF
stations

about 5050-250 n miles

MF
VHF

as above, plus,
2187.5 kHz DSC,
2182 kHz RT,
2174.5 kHz NBDP,
518 kHz NAVTEX

406 MHz
CospasCospas-Sarsat

as above

A 3:
3: Within
geogeo-stationary
satellite range (i.e.
Inmarsat)
Inmarsat)

70
70N-70
70S

HF or
Satellite
MF
VHF

as above, plus, 1.51.5-1.6

GHz alerting or as A1 and
A2 plus all HF
frequencies

406 MHz
CospasCospas-Sarsat

as above

A 4: Other areas (i.e.,

beyond Inmarsat
range)

North of 70
70N
or
South of 70
70S

HF
MF
VHF

406 MHz
CospasCospas-Sarsat

as above

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Global Maritime distress and Safety System

Distress alerting ~ ship-to-shore
Distress alerting ~ shore-to-ship
Distress alerting ~ ship-to-ship
SAR co-ordination communications
Locating signals
Bridge to Bridge communications

Transmitting & Receiving Maritime Safety Information

General radiocommunications

INMARSAT
Geostationary satellite transmission system
(global coverage between 70N and 70S)

Coast
earth
station
(CES)

COSPAS-SARSAT
Polar orbiting satellite system
operating globally the distress alert
from 406 MHz EPIRB.

area within RT coverage of at least one VHF coast radio

station (~20-30 miles) providing continuous availability
of digital selective calling (DSC) alerting
area, excluding area A1, within the RT coverage of at
least one MF DSC coast radio station providing
Rescue
continuous availability of alerting
Area 1
co-ordination
area, excluding areas A1 and A2, within
centre
the coverage of INMARSAT
Area 2
(RCC)
geostationary satellites providing for
continuous availability of alerting
Coast radio
Area 3
area, excluding areas A1,
station
al
(HF, MF, VHF DSC)
A2 and A3. Basically, in
n
g
si
very high latitudes, e.g. the Area 4
B
IR
polar regions. Possibly on
EP
coverage of one HF DSC

Local user terminal mission

control centre
(LUT/MCC)

Terrestrial
communication
network

station

Distress alert is normally

initiated manually
Manual acknowledgement

General
radiocommunications
- medical advice
- vessel traffic services
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ship reporting
- public correspondence

Ship in
distress

Maritime Safety Information

- Navigational warnings
- Meteorological warnings
- SAR information
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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)

International Maritime Organization (IMO)

Commission on the Promulgation of Radio

Navigational Warnings

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 13630E
NNNN
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Global Maritime Distress and Safety System

Distress alerting ~ ship-to-shore
Distress alerting ~ shore-to-ship
Distress alerting ~ ship-to-ship
SAR co-ordination communications
Locating signals
Bridge to Bridge communications

Transmitting & Receiving Maritime Safety Information

General radiocommunications

INMARSAT
Geostationary satellite transmission system
(global coverage between 70N and 70S)

Coast
earth
station
(CES)

COSPAS-SARSAT
Polar orbiting satellite system
operating globally the distress alert
from 406 Mhz EPIRB.

area within RT coverage of at least one VHF coast radio

station (~20-30 miles) providing continuous availability
of digital selective calling (DSC) alerting
area, excluding area A1, within the RT coverage of at
least one MF DSC coast radio station providing
Rescue
continuous availability of alerting
Area 1
co-ordination
area, excluding areas A1 and A2, within
centre
the coverage of INMARSAT
Area 2
(RCC)
geostationary satellites providing for
continuous availability of alerting
Coast radio
Area 3
area, excluding areas A1,
station
al
(HF, MF, VHF DSC)
A2 and A3. Basically, in
n
g
si
very high latitudes, e.g. the Area 4
B
IR
polar regions. Possibly on
EP
coverage of one HF DSC

Local user terminal mission

control centre
(LUT/MCC)

Terrestrial
communication
network

station

Distress alert is normally

initiated manually
Manual acknowledgement

General
radiocommunications
- medical advice
- vessel traffic services
The United Kingdom- Hydrographic
Office
ship reporting
- public correspondence

Ship in
distress

Maritime Safety Information

- Navigational warnings
- Meteorological warnings
- SAR information
WWNWS

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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