Marine communication

MSN 243

GMDSS equipment and operation

 6.2. VHF DSC
• 6.2.1. Basics
• LOS propagation
• Range depends on antenna height &
power (30nm)
• Coverage of DSC is higher than voice.
• Must have low/ hi power (0.5-1.0/6-25w)
• Adjust power to avoid interference.
• FQ : 156 TO 174 MHZ
• 28 CHANNELS/Spacing 50khz
• 60 channels / 25khz (60-88) The range of VHF transmissions

• Simplex and duplex

• Chan. 16 is simplex (156.8mhz)
• Chan 28 is duplex( 157.4 &
VHF channeling
162.0mhz)
The most important VHF channels and their
applications
6.2.2. The use and functions of the VHF radio station
installation

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjnZGa9yORQ
 6.2.4. Operational VHF DSC procedures in the GMDSS

• DSC provides an automated access to coast stations and ships.

• Four levels of priority
• Distress, Urgency, Safety and Routine
• Alarm sound
• DSC allows:
• Transmit and receive Distress alerts.
• Transmit and receive Distress alert acknowledgements.
• Relay Distress alerts.
• Announce Urgency and Safety calls.
• Initiate routine priority calls and set up working channels for
subsequent general communications on Radio Telephony (R/T) or telex.
• VHF DSC channel is channel 70 (156,525 MHz).
• DSC Includes phasing signals, error- checking signals and
identity (MMSI number)
 6.2.5. Alerting and
announcement
• Alerting
• An alert is a digital selective call (DSC) using a distress call format
• Announcement
• digital selective call using urgency, safety or routine call format
• Call
• initial voice or text procedure
• 6.2.5.1. Distress alert
• ship’s position
• The time
• the nature of distress
• transmitted as 5 consecutive calls on channel 70
• Maintaining a 24-hour watch on channel 70.
• If time permits:
• The nature of distress,
• The ship’s last known position (latitude and longitude),
• The time (in Universal Co-ordinated Time (UTC)) the position was valid,
• Type of subsequent distress communication (telephony).
• DSC Acknowledgements of distress alerts should be:
• initiated manually.
• by appropriate coast stations only.
• addressed to “all ships”
• include the identification of the ship
• If ship relay distress:
• should defer acknowledgement if needed.
• Set watch on channel 16 and acknowledge the call by radiotelephony
• May terminate DSC call only after consulting with MRCC.
Handling of a received VHF DSC distress alert
6.2.5.3. Announcements for all ships (distress,
urgency, safety)
• announcement is carried out on channel 70.
• The DSC urgency/safety announcement may be addressed to all stations at or to a
specific station.
• Key in or select on the DSC equipment keyboard:
• the appropriate calling format on the DSC equipment (all ships);
• the category of the call (urgency/safety),
• the channel on which the urgency/safety message will be transmitted,
• the type of communication in which the urgency/safety message will be given
(radiotelephony),
• shall monitor the frequency or channel indicated for the message for at least five
minutes.
• after the DSC announcement the urgency message shall be transmitted on a
working frequency
• in the case of a long message or a medical call; or
• in areas of heavy traffic when the message is being repeated
• In case that no other option is practicable, the safety message may be sent by
radiotelephony on VHF channel 16
6.2.5.4. Announcement to individual station (urgency,
safety, routine)
• The VHF DSC channel 70 is used for
• distress and safety purposes
• public correspondence
• Key in or select on the DSC equipment keyboard for ship calling:
• the appropriate calling format on the DSC equipment (individual);
• The individual or group MMSI
• the category of the call (urgency/safety/routine),
• the channel on which the urgency/safety/routine message will be transmitted,
• the type of communication in which the urgency/safety/routine message will
be given (radiotelephony),
• for an individual coast station is transmitted as follows:
• the appropriate calling format on the DSC equipment (individual);
• Individual coast station MMSI
• the category of the call (urgency/safety/routine),
• the type of the subsequent communication (normally radiotelephony),
6.3. MF/HF-DSC
• 6.3.1. Basics
Range of MF transmitter
• The range of MF transmitter
depends
• its output power
• optimal matching of the
transmitter to the antenna
• the time of day (during daylight
hours the ground wave is mostly used.)
• output power can be varied in
several steps
International MF DSC frequencies
6.3.2. The use and functions of the MF/HF radio station installation

• Selecting the RX (receive)

and TX (transmit)
frequency
• Selecting ITU channel
number MF/HF radio sation
• Using of clarifier or RX
(receiver) fine tuning
• Selecting the class of
emission (voice, NBDP
(telex) or data)
• Using 2182 kHz instant
selector
• Transmitter tuning (ATU)
• DSC possibilities
6.5. Radiotelex
• 6.5.1. Basics (NBDP )
• Two modes of operation
• ARQ : between two stations, GA+? (Go Ahead), “+?”
• FEC : broadcasting to all stations, to an individual station in one direction only (NAVTEX)
• 6.5.2. Numbering
• three different identification numbers
• Coast station telex number consist of four digits, e.g. 3220
• Ship station telex number consists of five digit, e.g. 32456
• MMSI consists of 9 digit, e.g. 211 234 500
• Answerbacks of a subscriber
• Telex number
• Chosen abbreviation
• Country code
• 6.5.3. Automatic and manual calling
• Manual:
• Telex number and then entering the receiving and transmitting
frequencies, or
• Appropriate ITU channel for HF telex operation
• Fully automatic
• Selects the already prepared message, the destination (land
subscriber), type of operation (dirtlx),
6.5.4. Radiotelex equipment
• Terminal Info: Shows the current Terminal function (ARQ, FEC or
distress mode)
• Date and Time: Shows Date and Time
• Hint bar: Gives some hints for using functions
• Text Field: Key in the text of telex
• Menu Bar: Shows the current available function menus
• Info Field: Gives information about the status of the terminal
6.5.5. Details of a telex message
6.5.6. Operational MF/HF radiotelex procedures in the GMDSS

• Notes
• comparable to the appropriate procedures in radio telephony
• “this is” replaced by “DE”
• “received” replaced by “RRR”
• “all stations” replaced by “CQ”
• ships name by call sign
• Any message preceded by a DSC alert or announcement.
• 6.5.6.1. Distress procedure
• Set watch on NBDP
• forward error correction
• ARQ mode
• ship-to-ship on-scene on 2174.5 kHz,
• Alert on 2187,5 kHz
• 6.5.6.2. Urgency procedure
• All messages shall be preceded by the urgency signal PAN
PAN.
• FEC broadcast mode
• ARQ mode if ship to coast station.
• 6.5.6.3. Safety procedure
• addressed to all stations
• FEC broadcast mode
• ARQ mode if ship to coast station.
• MSI
• 4210 kHz, 6314 kHz, 8416.5 kHz, 12579 kHz,
• 16806.5 kHz, 19680.5 kHz, 22376 kHz and 26100.5 kHz
• 6.5.6.4. Routine procedure
• Generally addressed to an individual station (Ship- or Coast station)
• ARQ mode.
• FEC selective mode
6.6. Inmarsat
• 6.6.1 Basics
• The space segment
• The ground segment
• The ship earth stations
• 6.6.1.1 Inmarsat space
segment
• geostationary orbit
(GSO), 35 700 km
(19270 nm)
• Satellite Control Centre
(SCC) in London
• Extent of global coverage
• LOS between 76 N / 76 S
• Ocean Regions
• Atlantic Ocean Region – East (AOR-E) orbital location at 15.5° W
• Pacific Ocean Region (POR) orbital location at 178° E
• Indian Ocean Region (IOR) orbital location at 64° E
• Atlantic Ocean Region – West (AOR-W) orbital location at 54° W
• Telex Telephone
• 580 870
• 6.6.1.2. Inmarsat ground segment
• global network of Coast Earth Stations (CESs) or
• Land Earth Station (LES),
• Network Co-ordination Stations (NCSs), and
• Network Operations Centre (NOC).
• 6.6.2. Inmarsat-B system
• digital technology, used 1994
• telephone, fax, telex, e-mail and data
• Antenna similar to Inmarsat-A
• Speed up to 64 Kbit
• 6.6.2.1. Use of the Inmarsat-B system
• digital facsimile and data services at a speed of 9600 bits/s
• Inmarsat-M terminals are intended for telephone and low- speed
(2400 bits/s) facsimile and voice-band services ( no GMDSS
standards as no direct printing, but supplement as has DSC)
• 6.6.2.2. Components of an Inmarsat-B ship earth station
• Acquiring a satellite connection
• mainly automatically
• should be connected to GNSS to ensures that the equipment will
direct the antenna automatically
• 6.6.2.3. Handling of an Inmarsat-B SES
• 6.6.3. Inmarsat-C system
• low cost, small terminal
• No voice communications, only text, data and e-mail
• Two EGC
• SafetyNET: MSI
• FleetNET: commercial information
• Meets A3 Area requirements
• Provides : ( telex, fax, Emails, PC messages)
• route distress calls to a specialized land-based center
• 6.6.3.1. The use of Inmarsat-C system
• "store-and-forward“ messaging technique
• CES acts as an interface (or gateway)
• SES / CES error check procedures
• Non-Delivery Codes Notification (NDN)
• 6.6.3.6. Navigational areas (Navarea) / Metrological areas (Metarea)
• An Enhanced Group Calling (EGC) receiver is able to receive Maritime Safety
Information (MSI) in the dedicated Navarea / Metarea automatically

• WARNING:
• Switch off
• Log out
• No delivery notice
to the sender
• Routine operational tasks
• No more than every eight hours, check
• Logged in with suitable Region
• Inform potential correspondents of the new Ocean Region
• Signal strength is above the minimum level
• Inmarsat Fleet 77
• high-speed communications
• voice, fax and data at speeds of up to 64 kbit/s.
• satisfy and safety telephony requirements of the GMDSS only.
• video available for on board diagnostics and telemedicine.
 6.7. Cospas / Sarsat
• 6.7.1.Structure
• 6.7.1.1. Cospas/Sarsat
space segment
• 6.7.1.2. Cospas/Sarsat
ground segment
Cospas-Sarsat Mission and Vision

Mission Statement:
The International Cospas-Sarsat Programme provides accurate, timely and reliable distress alert and location
data to help search and rescue authorities assist persons in distress.

Objective:
• The objective of the Cospas-Sarsat System is to reduce as far as possible, delays in the provision of distress
alerts to SAR services, and the time required to locate a distress and provide assistance, which have a direct
impact on the probability of survival of the person in distress at sea or on land.
 Structure
• 6.7.1.1. Cospas/Sarsat space segment
• satellites in low-altitude Earth orbit (LEOSAR) and geostationary orbit (GEOSAR)
that process and / or relay signals transmitted by distress beacons;
• ground receiving stations called local user terminals (LUTs) which process the
satellite signals to locate the beacon; and
• (MCCs) that provide the distress alert information to SAR services.
• The 406 MHz GEOSAR system
• Each sat. cover 1/3 of the globe except for Polar Regions
• 3 sat, provide continuous coverage of all areas (70N-70S)
• GEOSAR and LEOSAR are complementary
• GEOSAR for immediate alerting
• LEOSAR
• coverage of the polar regions
• calculate the location of distress events using Doppler techniques
• less susceptible to obstructions which may block a beacon signal

• LEOSAR satellite constellation

• 406 MHz+ 121.5 MHz
• Strong Doppler effect
• two coverage modes
• global coverage mode
• 406 MHz SARP system provides global coverage by storing data
• continuously broadcast on the satellite downlink
• Each beacon can be located by all LEOLUTs
• Short alerting time
• Local coverage mode
 6.7.1.2. Cospas/Sarsat ground segment
• GEOLUTs
• is a ground receiving station
• Receives and processes 406 MHz distress beacon signals
• instantaneous alerting over extremely large areas
• not able to determine beacon locations using Doppler processing techniques
• LEOSAR coverage
• global coverage for 406 MHz beacons
• most land areas for 121.5 MHz beacons
• LEOLUTs
• configuration and capabilities vary to meet the specific requirements of the participating countries
• 4 channels
• 406 MHz Search and Rescue Processor (SARP)
• identification, transmit time, and received frequency
• global (yet not continuous) coverage for distress beacons
• 406 MHz Search and Rescue Repeater (SARR)
• No memory, so supports only local mode coverage
• all the processing is performed by the LEOLUT
• 121.5 MHz and 243 MHz Search and Rescue Repeater (SARR)
• similar to the 406 MHz SARR
• do not include identification information
Stations
Cospas / Sarsat LUTs GEOLUT stations
Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB)
• considered to be a distress alerting device.
• help determine the position of survivors during SAR operations.
• indicates that one or more persons are in distress
The basic operation of the
COSPAS-SARSAT satellite system
and signal routing/path

• A LUT receiving an EPIRB

transmission
• Distress alert relay , Distress
message , transmitted by a coast
station to ships in the area by
• Inmarsat (EGC), DSC, NAVTEX
• EPIRB LEOSAR
LUTMCCRCC
• 6.8.2. Essential parts of Cospas / Sarsat EPIRBs
• a buoy, antennas, necessary electronic equipment, power supplies, navigational
aids, a hydrostatic release, with a flashing light, GPS receiver
• 6.8.3.Basic characteristics of operation on 406 and 121,5 MHz EPIRB
• 406 MHz EPIRB complete distress relay process
• A 121.5 MHz serves primarily to provide a homing signal for SAR units
• 6.8.5. The information contents of a distress alert
• EPIRB position
• Doppler technique
• Direct if fed with GPS Rx
• Distress info
• MMSI
• Serial number
• 6.8.6. Operation
• manual activation
• float-free release and self-activation
• Remote activation from the navigating bridge,
• Should operate satisfactorily under the most extreme conditions
• require at least two independent actions
• 6.8.7. The float-free function
• hydrostatic release facility at water depth (approx. 1.5m)
• Interface to ship's radio and navigational systems
• conventional plugs
• cordless connection
• 6.8.8. The correct use of the lanyard
• secure the beacon to a life raft, boat or person in the water.
• Never be attached to the ship
• 6.8.9. Routine maintenance, testing requirements and test operation
• Press and release test button
• Red lamp should flash once.
• The indicator lamp should flash in accordance with the appropriate producer’s information
• After 60 seconds the EPIRB must switch off automatically
• 6.8.10 Additional EPIRB features
• VHF EPIRB  channel 70
• 6.8.11. Withdrawal of an unintended false distress transmission
• coast earth station or MRCC/RCC MUST be informed immediately
COSPAS-SARSAT -LUT
COSPAS-SARSAT - MCC
 6.9. Search and Rescue Transponder / Transmitter
(SART)

• used to lead SAR units to the

position of a vessel or persons in
distress.
• should only be activated in case
of distress
• to maximise the range, to be
mounted as high as possible
• In any case, at least 1 meter
above sea level
Different types of SARTs and their operation
• Search and rescue radar transponder
• operate in the 9 GHz band
• triggered by another radar pulse
• Range
• depends on antenna height (1m),
• Ships, approximately 5 nautical miles
• Aircrafts, up to 30 nautical miles
• about 12 blips on the display, change to concentric circles at 1NM
SART battery life
The SART complies with IMO SOLAS regulations, and has a superior
lithium battery that provides over 96 hours of operating life in standby
mode, and 12 hours of active operating life.
• Standby: wait for signals from a radar then it starts transmitting.
• Active: continues transmission of signal.
• AIS radar transmitter
• self-contained radio device
• Operates on channel AIS1 and AIS2
• Build in GNSS receiver
• 8 position reports / min
• generates a special symbol on electronic sea charts (circle
with cross).
 Routine maintenance, testing requirements and test
operation

• by authorised persons with special test equipment

• Switch SART to test mode
• Hold SART in view of radar antenna. Check that visual indicator light operates
• Check that audible beeper operates
• Observe radar display — concentric circles should be displayed
6.10. Maritime Safety Information
MSI
• navigational and meteorological warnings
• meteorological forecasts,
• shore-to-ship distress alerts,
• SAR information and other
• urgent safety-related messages of vital importance broadcast to ships
• electronic chart correction data.
• MSI providers
• National hydrographic offices, for navigational warnings and electronic chart correction
data
• National meteorological offices, for weather warning and forecasts
• Maritime rescue co-ordination centres for shore-to-ship distress alerts, and other urgent
information
• The International Ice Patrol, for North Atlantic ice hazards

Broadcasts is free of charge

 6.10.1. Basics

• Different systems for broadcasting MSI

• NAVTEX, limited by the range of the MF propagation
• SafetyNET, through Inmarsat-C Land Earth Station (LES),
• MSI information can also be broadcasted by coast radio stations on
• VHF and HF, using Radiotelephony
• Radiotelex on HF
6.11 The use and functions of portable VHF radio

• used for two purposes:

• For distress communications between the mother vessel
and lifesaving appliances and between lifesaving
appliances.
• For on board communications between the controlling
station and slave stations and between slave stations

Primary emergency batteries are to

be stored and sealed for emergency
situations
and a secondary rechargeable
battery must be used only for daily
on board
communication in the portable VHF
transceiver
6.12 Portable VHF aeronautical radio for 121,5 and
123,1 MHz
• battery operated 200mW
• VHF air band (118-137MHz)
• emergency two way transceiver for communication with aircrafts
• part of carriage requirements for passenger vessels.
Hypothermia and survival time
AMVER
The Automated Mutual Assistance Vessel Rescue System (AMVER) is a
unique technological system developed by the USCG in the year 1958.
Originated by the USCG, it is a maritime mutual assistance organisation
which provides important aid to the development and coordination of
Search and Rescue (SAR) efforts in many areas of the world.
Merchant vessels all over the world making offshore voyages are
encouraged to send movement reports and periodic position reports to
the AMVER centre. All the information that is fed helps in keeping
track of vessels across the world and thereby helps dispatch the best
possible resources to a vessel in distress in a designated area.
AMVER reports:

Sailing Plan (AMVER/SP//) The Sailing Plan contains complete

routing information and should be sent within a few
hours before, upon, or within a few hours after departure.
Position Report (AMVER/PR//) The Position Report should be
sent within 24 hours of departure and subsequently at least
every 48 hours until arrival. The destination should be
included.
Deviation Report (AMVER/DR//) The Deviation Report should be
sent as soon as any voyage information changes, which
could affect AMVER’s ability to accurately predict the vessel’s
position.
Changes in course or speed due to weather, ice, change in
destination, or any other deviations from the original
Sailing Plan should be reported as soon as possible.
Arrival Report (AMVER/FR//) The Arrival report should be sent
upon arrival at the sea buoy or port of destination.
 Reporting Format:
• 15 types of lines
• Sending AMVER report via
email
• begins with the word
“AMVER” followed by a
slash (/),
• end with an end-of-report
(Z) line