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GMDSS - The new system
The
GMDSS provides a reliable ship-to-shore communications path
in addition to ship-to-ship alerting communications. It is
essentially a worldwide network of automated emergency communications
for ships at sea that uses ship-to-shore alerting by means
of terrestrial radio and satellite radio paths for alerting
and subsequent communications. The GMDSS applies to all cargo
ship of 300 gross tons and above, and to all passenger ships,
regardless of size, on international voyages.
Basic Concept of the GMDSS
The basis concept is that search and rescue authorities ashore,
as well as shipping in the immediate vicinity of the ship
in distress, will be rapidly alerted through satellite and
terrestrial communications techniques to a distress incident
so that they can assist in a coordinated SAR operation with
the minimum of delay.
The shore-based rescue authorities have the primary role of coordinating
assistance and rescue operation following a distress alert.
Therefore, the initial acknowledgement of a distress alert
should be by the shore-based authorities. Subsequent actions
and communications should be controlled by the assigned Rescue
Coordination Centre (RCC). In normal circumstances it should
not be necessary for a ship to relay a distress alert.
Communication
Functions
IMO has defined 9 principal communications functions which need to
be performed by all ships and then specified the equipment
that would meet these functional requirements in the specific
sea areas in which they trade. In other words, every ship
will be provided, irrespective of the area in which it operates,
with radio installations capable of performing these 9 communications
functions throughout its intended voyage:
- Distress alerting - ship-to-shore
- Distress alerting - shore-to-ship
- Distress alerting - ship-to-ship
- Search and rescue coordination communications
- On-scene communications
- Locating signals
- Transmitting and receiving maritime safety information
- General radiocommunications
- Bridge-to-bridge communications
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