Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) Overview

1. SCOP Module 2 Lesson EO 002.04 Global Maritime Distress and Safety System

2. In this lesson we will be looking at… • Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS); • Carriage Requirements; • Distress Frequency Monitoring; • Equipment Requirements; • Sea Areas; and • Maritime Mobile Service Identity (MMSI).

3. GMDSS • GMDSS is an International system employing advanced digital and satellite technology.

4. Why the need for GMDSS • Non-GMDSS system (VHF radio) is often limited to being in radio contact with shore station or other vessels. There could be gaps in coverage. • GMDSS is designed to enhance ship to shore communications, and provide rapid, automated distress alerts.

5. GMDSS Developed to save lives by modernizing and enhancing the current radio communications system by: • Increasing the probability that an alert will be sent when a vessel is in distress; • Increasing the likelihood that the alert will be received; • Increasing the ability to locate survivors; • Improving rescue communications and coordination; and • Providing the mariner with vital maritime safety information.

6. Carriage Requirements GMDSS equipment is mandatory for ships meeting the following requirements; • Large cargo ships on international voyages or in the open sea; • Passenger ships on international voyages or in the open sea; • Non-pleasure craft of closed construction more than 8 metres in length; • Non-pleasure craft carrying more than 6 passengers; and • Towing vessels.

7. Carriage requirements • GMDSS equipment is voluntary for recreational vessels.

8. Distress Frequency Monitoring • With transition to GMDSS, Coast Guard Radio Stations will continue to monitor VHF Channel 16 and MF 2182 KHz for the foreseeable future.

9. Equipment Requirements International Voyages • Non-pleasure craft over 300 tons, and vessels carrying more then 12 passengers are required to carry GMDSS equipment in accordance with the requirements of the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention.

10. Equipment Requirements International voyages Depending on the vessel length and areas of operation, such vessels are required to carry as a minimum, one or more of the following • Digital Selective Calling (DSC) radio; • Search and Rescue transponder (SART); • NAVTEX receiver; • INMARSAT system; and /or • Emergency position indicating radio beacons (EPIRB’s).

11. Equipment Requirements (cont.) Domestic non-pleasure craft are required to carry VHF DSC equipment and include: • Vessels over 300 tons; • Vessels 20 m or more in length carrying more than 12 passengers; • Vessels of a closed construction more than 8 metres in length; • Vessels carrying more than 6 passengers; and • Towing vessels.

12. Equipment requirements cont. • Pleasure craft have NO mandatory GMDSS equipment carriage requirements. • Coastal stations have been equipped with suitable equipment to meet the requirements of the vessels operating on the east and west coast as of 2007. • Great Lakes stations were to be operational by 2005 on Canadian side and 2007 on American side.

13. GMDSS Sea Areas • GMDSS divided the world’s oceans into four sea areas designated A1 to A4. These areas were established to dictate the GMDSS equipment carriage requirements of compulsory equipped vessels.

14. GMDSS Sea Areas Sea Area A1 – Falls within the range of at least one shore based VHF-DSC coast station. Sea Area A2 - This area falls within range of at least one shore-based MF-DSC coast station (100 NM from shore) and excludes Sea Area A1.

15. GMDSS Sea Areas Sea Area A3 – This is within INMARSAT satellite coverage, between 70°N and 70°S and excludes Sea Areas A1 and A2. Sea Area A4 – This includes the Polar Regions, excluding Sea Areas A1, A2, and A3.

16. GMDSS Sea Areas In Canada, as a result of consultations with the Canadian marine industry it has been decided to implement sea areas A1 on the east and west coast. Outside A1 will be an A3 sea area with A4 sea area in the Arctic.

17. Operations • Most recreational vessels operate in Sea Areas A1 and A2 and these areas are dependent on shore stations having the appropriate equipment and formally being declared operational. • In North America the shore stations have become operational however in other parts of the world including developing nations, this may not be the case.

18. Equipment requirements • Recreational vessels operating in Sea Area A1 and A2, who wish to participate on a voluntary basis using GMDSS, will become equipped with a Digital Selective Calling (DSC) capable radio and /or 406 MHz Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB). • When a Global Positioning System(GPS) or Loran system is interfaced with DSC radio, the vessels position information is automatically included in the transmission.

19. Maritime Mobile Service Identity (MMSI) DSC equipped vessels and shore stations are each assigned a unique identity number, known as a Maritime Mobile Service Identity (MMSI). This number is: • Exclusive to that specific vessel or station, and • Is not transferable.

20. Maritime Mobile Service Identity (MMSI) MMSI consists of nine digits, the first three digits identify the country of origin. Canadian vessels are assigned 316 while fleet vessels start with a zero and Coast Guard stations have two zero’s. Example: Typical Canadian vessel 316123456 Fleet Vessel 031612345 Coast Guard 003161234

21. DSC MMSI prerequisite • All vessels with DSC radios must obtain an MMSI number and have it programmed into the radio. • MMSI numbers are available from Industry Canada for free. • Fleet MMSI numbers are available upon application from Industry Canada.

22. Routine Calls • Routine calls may be made between individual DSC equipped vessels by entering the unique MMSI number. • A digital message is sent, sounding an alert on the vessel being called. • Message will advise receiving vessel to switch to a working frequency/channel for voice communications.

23. End of Lesson Confirmation

24. End of Lesson Confirmation A non-pleasure craft vessel MUST be fitted with DSC / GMDSS equipment if it is: • on an international voyage; • carrying more than 12 passengers; • on an international voyage carrying more than 12 passengers; and • on the open sea.

25. End of Lesson Confirmation The letters GMDSS stand for: • Global Maritime Distress and Safety System. • General Marine Digital Safety System. • Global Marine Digital Security System. • General Maritime Digital Safety System.

26. End of Lesson Confirmation Once GMDSS becomes available in an area, the Coast Guard will: • monitor Channel 16 and MF 2182 kHz for the foreseeable future. • cease to monitor Channel 16. • listen only for digital data on Channel 16 and Channel 70. • monitor Channel 16 for one year, then cease monitoring that channel.

27. End of Lesson Confirmation Which of the following is true? • The COSPAS-SARSAT system was established by Canada and France. • COSPAS-SARSAT was designed to provide cell phone communications. • COSPAS is maintained by Russia and SARSAT by the USA. • The COSPAS-SARSAT system belongs to England.

28. End of Lesson Confirmation The response time for an EPIRB is usually: • not more than 5 minutes. • not more than 20 minutes. • anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours. • not more than half an hour.

29. End of Lesson Confirmation A SART transponder: • sends out a constant locating signal. • sends out a signal in response to a RADAR signal from a search vessel. • emits a flashing yellow light until manually turned off. • sends out a Morse Code SOS.