The Old System

The old system for distress and safety as specified by the 1974 SOLAS convention relies on:

1) Manual operation of: a) Morse telegraphs on 500 kHz (MF range). b) Radiotelephone on 2182 kHz (MF range). c) Radiotelephone on 156.8 MHz (CH.16 on VHF range).

2) Audible reception of distress signals on the above frequencies.

Drawbacks of the Old System

Distress signals are audible and need a well qualified operator. Rescue operations are possible within a range of 200 Nautical Miles only. Ship in distress does not receive any acknowledgment in reply to its distress signals.

The New GMDSS

The objective of the New Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) is to provide an effective search and rescue system on a global basis using advanced technology of satellite and terrestrial communications. Communication Functions of New GMDSS. Alerting. SAR coordinating communications. On-scene communications. Locating. Promulgation of MSI. General radio communications. Bridge- to- Bridge communications.

GMDSS Sub-systems Digital Selective Calling (DSC) {MF,HF,VHF}. INMARSAT. COSPAS-SARSAT. Search and Rescue Radar Transponder (SART) NAVTEX. Enhanced Group Call (EGC). MF/HF Radiotelephony (R/T). VHF Radiotelephony. HF Narrow Band Direct Printing (NBDP).

Equipments in Terrestrial and Satellite Communications:

1. Digital Selective Calling (DSC): is a standard for sending pre-defined digital messages via the medium frequency (MF), high frequency (HF) and very high frequency (VHF) maritime radio systems.

2. INMARSAT (International Marine/Maritime Satellite)

Inmarsat's key role in the GMDSS can be summarised as follows: 1. Inmarsat provides the space segment necessary for instant and reliable distress and safety satellite communications for the maritime community.

2. Inmarsat offers three satellite communications systems designed to provide most of the GMDSS medium- and long-range functions: Inmarsat B, Inmarsat C and Inmarsat Fleet 77. All of these systems make use of 2-digit codes for easy access to various types of assistance. DISTRESS ALERTING: SHIP-TO-SHORE (Inmarsat C) DISTRESS ALERTING: SHORE-TO-SHIP SEARCH AND RESCUE COORDINATION COMMUNICATIONS DISSEMINATION OF MARITIME SAFETY INFORMATION GENERAL RADIOCOMMUNICATIONS

Coast Earth Station (CES) o Establish communication between the terrestrial network and the SES. o It is the gateway between two SESs. o Operates on the C-band (6/4 GHz) Ship Earth Stations (SESs) There are three types of ship earth stations: INMARSAT A. INMARSAT B. INMARSAT C.

Ship Earth stations operate in the L-band (1.6/1.5 GHz)

INMARSAT B 3. COSPAS SARSAT

INMARSAT C

is a satellite system designed to provide distress alert and location data to assist search and rescue (SAR) operations, using spacecraft and ground facilities to detect and locate the signals of distress beacons operating on 406 Megahertz (MHz) or 121.5 MHz. The position of the distress and other related information is forwarded by the responsible Cospas-Sarsat Mission Control Centre (MCC) to the appropriate SAR authorities. Its objective is to support all organizations in the world with responsibility for SAR operations, whether at sea, in the air or on land

Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRB) These devices transmit a continuous signal on which rescue units can home. The signal can be activated manually but the EPIRB must also be able to float free and being signaling automatically in the event of a sudden accident (such as the ship capsizing before any other form of signal can be given)

4. Search And Rescue Radar Transponder (SART)

A Search and Rescue Transponder (SART) is a self contained, waterproof radar transponder intended for emergency use at sea. The radar-SART is used to locate a survival craft or distressed vessel by creating a series of dots on a rescuing ship's radar display. A SART will only respond to a 9 GHz Xband (3 cm wavelength) radar. It will not be seen on S-band (10 cm) or other radar. Shipboard Global Maritime Distress Safety System (GMDSS) include one or more search and rescue locating devices. These devices may be either a radar-SART (Search and Rescue Transponder), or a GPS-based AIS-SART (Automatic Identification System Search and Rescue Transmitter).

5. NAVTEX (Navigational Telex)

is an international, automated system for instantly distributing maritime navigational warnings, weather forecasts and warnings, search and rescue notices and similar information to ships.

6. Enhanced Group Call (EGC)

The Inmarsat C system has a special capability known as Enhanced Group Call (EGC), which enables authorised information providers to broadcast messages to selected groups of ships. Reception by ships that are fitted with Inmarsat C or Mini C terminals is automatic. A special header is added by the system to the EGC message to indicate the group of mobiles or the geographical area to which the message is to be sent
EGC SafetyNET - the international safety service, which allows authorised maritime safety information (MSI) providers, such as meteorological offices, hydrographic officers and MRCCs to broadcast messages to all ships in certain geographical areas. MSI includes navigational and meteorological warnings, meteorological forecasts and other urgent safety-related information, which is addressed to all ships in NAVAREA / METAREA, user-defined circular or rectangular area or coastal area. Reception of SafetyNET messages is a mandatory function of the GMDSS equipment that isrequired to be carried in certain ships under the provision of the International Maritime Organisation's Safety Of Life At Sea (Solas) convention.

EGC FleetNET - the international commercial service, which allows authorised information providers, such as commercial subscription services, shipping companies or governments to broadcast messages to selected groups of vessels, each of which has registered with the information provider and been added to a FleetNET closed group / network.

7. MF/HF Radiotelephony
is for general communications and GMDSS applications. Provided in addition to radiotelephony operation are DSC (Digital Selective Call) on general communications and DSC Watch Receiver on all distress and safety frequencies in MF and HF bands. DSC channels can beindividually set or al l selectedchannels can beautomatically scanned. When a DSC message is received, the radiotelephone gives audible and visual alarms.

8. VHF Radiotelephony
A marine VHF set is a combined transmitter and receiver and only operates on standard, international frequencies known as channels. Channel 16(156.8 MHz) is the international calling and distress channel. Channel 9 can also be used in some places as a secondary call and distress channel. Transmission power ranges between 1 and 25 watts, giving a maximum range of up to about 60 nautical miles (111 km) between aerials mounted on tall ships and hills, and 5 nautical miles (9 km) between aerials mounted on small boats at sealevel.[1] Frequency modulation is used, with vertical polarization, meaning that antennas have to be vertical in order to have good reception.

9. Narrow Band Direct Printing (NBDP)

is the printing of all messages which will give us a printed record of the communications. If the ship is involved in a distress situation it would be nice to have a printed record of all communications that took place during the operation. Narrow Band Direct Printing (NBDP) is a term we use to describe a method of sending information over the radio and having it printed. In some publications it is called TELEX, a system used on land line communications between offices