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Change Notice 114 and the GMDSS

Marc Cohn, Trimble Navigation

The Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) was mandated by the International Maritime
Organization (IMO) as an amendment to the 1974 SOLAS convention to improve safety at sea. All
passenger vessels regardless of size along with cargo ships engaged in international voyages of 300 GRT
and greater, are subjected to the GMDSS requirements. Because of its global coverage, high-reliability,
and low cost, Inmarsat-C has been selected for the GMDSS. Satellite communications is especially
attractive, offering users private all-weather communications along with a rich set of messaging services.

In an attempt to further enhance the system's effectiveness, the IMO recently issued a series of
resolutions to upgrade the performance of Inmarsat-C GMDSS equipment. The new resolutions
ultimately resulted in a significant change to the Inmarsat-C System Defintion Manual (SDM), which
was documented in Inmarsat-C Change Notice 114 (CN114). This paper examines the implications of
CN114 on maritime safety and the GMDSS requirements for Inmarsat-C equipment.

GMDSS/Inmarsat-C Overview

The IMO specifies three primary functional requirements for the GMDSS:

• Distress Alert Generation

• Search and Rescue Coordination
• Dissemination of Maritime Safety Information

The IMO envisioned the GMDSS as providing a global safety shield for vessels at sea that was extremely
reliable, always available, simple to operate especially during an emergency, and provided additional
useful information while at sea.

The GMDSS regulations require several communications technologies to support these objectives. Four
Sea Areas have been defined in terms of communications coverage, as summarized in Table I below:

Table I
Communications Sea Areas for the GMDSS.

Sea Area Communications Technology Geographic Coverage

(approximate)
A1 VHF Coastal (< 30 nm)
A2 MF Extended Coastal (< 150 nm)
A3 Inmarsat-C/HF 70o N to 70o S
A4 EPIRB, HF Radio Telex Entire World

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Figure 1 - GMDSS Coverage Areas for the United Kingdom.

Each country is responsible for defining the GMDSS Sea Areas depending upon the radio coverage for
the approved systems. Figure 1 describes GMDSS coverages for the UK.

Sea Area A3 is defined as areas within Inmarsat coverage, exclusive of Sea Areas A1 and A2, as
illustrated in Figure 2. The Inmarsat space segment is comprised of four active geosynchronous satellites
with significant overlap, backed up by satellites on hot standby. On the ground, a network of Land Earth
Stations (LES) provide the linkage into the telecommunications infrastructure to enable Inmarsat-C users
access to a variety of services including Internet Email, Fax, Telex, PSDN, etc.

Today, over 40 LESs dispersed around the globe provide a range of services to Inmarsat-C users. In
addition, LESs are responsible for disseminating Maritime Safety Information using the Inmarsat-C
SafetyNET™ services.

GMDSS/Inmarsat-C Distress Requirements

Equipment manufacturers were confronted with a challenge to comply with the stringent GMDSS
requirements. GMDSS/Inmarsat-C hardware and software must be highly reliable, simple to install,
operate, and service, and be integrated into GMDSS equipment packages with ease.

Perhaps the most important GMDSS capability allows mariners to send Distress Alerts. A Distress Alert
is a special message transmitted to report an emergency at sea. Distress Alerts may only be initiated
through dedicated Distress Buttons; keyboard initiated Distress Alerts are explicitly not allowed. The
Distress Alert contains the ship's Inmarsat-C Ship Earth Station’s (SES) identity, the ship’s position, the
type of emergency (optional), and time and date when the Distress Alert was sent. No user data entry is
required.

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Figure 2 - Inmarsat Coverage Map Comprising GMDSS Sea Area A3.

The IMO specifies that a GMDSS installation should include Distress Buttons installed where the ship is
normally navigated and at least one alternative location. Distress Buttons are dedicated for Distress Alert
generation, require two actions for activation, and must be protected against inadvertent operation.
Inmarsat-C Ship Earth Stations typically offer a Distress Button on the front panel, and provide an
interface for a Remote Distress Button.

Once initiated, the Distress Alert is automatically routed through the Inmarsat-C network to a Rescue
Coordination Center (RCC). A RCC is one of a series of government authorities, dispersed throughout
the globe, that is chartered to respond to maritime emergencies. Upon receiving the Distress Alert, the
RCC will exhaust all means to communicate with the vessel and assess the situation. The RCC will then
coordinate a Search and Rescue operation, or other appropriate response.

Once contact has been made with a RCC, operators onboard a vessel in distress may exchange Distress
Priority Messages to provide additional details about the emergency situation. Unlike Distress Alerts, a
Distress Priority Message contains user text. Both Distress Priority Messages and Distress Alerts are
automatically routed to the appropriate RCC via the designated LES

In addition to Distress Communications, the GMDSS supports the timely dissemination of Maritime
Safety Information (MSI). MSI consists of weather reports, government warnings, and other safety
related news, broadcast over the Inmarsat-C SafetyNET™ service.

SafetyNET, which resembles the NAVTEX system, consolidates MSI from government agencies and
other content providers, and broadcasts the information to specific Navigation Areas (NAVAREAs) using
Inmarsat-C Enhanced Group Call (EGC) messages. Figure 3 depicts the NAVAREA boundaries.
Inmarsat-C SESs can be configured to only receive the SafetyNET messages pertaining to their current
position. Messages received outside the ship's area of interest are not printed.

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Figure 3 - NAVAREA Boundaries for GMDSS SafetyNET Users.

GMDSS Requirements for Inmarsat-C Equipment

High-level requirements for Inmarsat-C GMDSS equipment are described in several IMO resolutions
adopted over the past seven years (see Figure 4 below). These include:
A.663(16) Performance Standards for Inmarsat-C Ship Earth Stations Capable of
Transmitting and Receiving Direct-Printing Communications
A.664(16) Performance Standards for Enhanced Group Call Equipment
A.694(17) General Requirements for Shipborne Radio Equipment Forming Part of the
Global Distress and Safety System and for Electronic Navigational Aids
A.807(19) Performance Standards for Inmarsat-C Ship Earth Stations Capable of
Transmitting and Receiving Direct Printing Communications
A.814(19) Guidelines for the Avoidance of False Distress Alerts

Two IEC standards are also referenced in the GMDSS/Inmarsat-C requirements baseline:
IEC 1097 Part 4 Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) - Part 4: Inmarsat-C
Ship Earth Station and Inmarsat Enhanced Group Call Equipment.
Operational and performance requirements, methods of testing, and required
test results.
IEC 945 Marine navigational equipment- General requirements - methods of testing
and required test results.

In addition, the GMDSS regulations mandate two of the three following maintenance approaches::
• Duplication of Equipment
• Shore-based Maintenance
• On-board maintenance

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Figure 4- GMDSS Requirements Chronology.

Because Inmarsat has been chartered as the Type Approval authority for Inmarsat-C/GMDSS equipment,
the IMO GMDSS requirements were ultimately incorporated into the System Definition Manual (SDM),
which specifies the Inmarsat-C communications network and shipboard equipment. The new
requirements were documented in a major revision to the SDM in October, 1995—Change Notice 114.

Why Change Notice 114?

Prior to CN114, typical Inmarsat-C/GMDSS installations consisted of an Inmarsat-C transceiver,

computer, and a printer as depicted in Figure 5. Now that the IMO has had a few years to reflect upon the
GMDSS based on thousands of operational users, a series of observations has motivated changes to the
original Inmarsat-C/GMDSS requirements. Some of these observations include:

• GMDSS equipment often includes commercial equipment that has not been specifically designed
for the maritime environment
• GMDSS equipment usually incorporates a General Purpose computer which is often used to run
non-GMDSS applications
• Many False Distress Alerts have been initiated due to inadvertent activation of the Distress
Button, and software-generated alerts (via the keyboard)
• Simplicity of installation and operation is critical for wide-scale deployment of the system

Consequently, the IMO sought to enhance the reliability and integrity of Inmarsat-C GMDSS
equuipment through a series of recommendations as described above. The goal of CN114 was to toughen
the requirements baseline to provide an additional safety and confidence margin for Inmarsat-C/GMDSS
equipment. No longer would commercial office automation equipment suffice; the IMO intended to
spawn the development of dedicated, highly reliable GMDSS hardware designed specifically for the
shipboard environment.

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Figure 5- First Generation GMDSS Inmarsat-C Equipment Package.

The major changes imposed on Inmarsat-C GMDSS installations are summarized in Table II below.
Stringent environmental requirements, as opposed to commercial specifications, are being levied on the
hardware. General purpose computers have been replaced by dedicated GMDSS messaging stations with
extremely high availability demands. System integrity will be ehnanced as Distress Alerts may only be
generated via highly reliable, dedicated Distress Buttons, and no longer through software. Additional
means to prevent inadvertent Distress Alert activation is also required.

Table II- Pre-CN114 vs. CN114 GMDSS Requirements

Requirement Pre-CN114 GMDSS Rqmt. CN114 GMDSS Rqmt.

Computer General Purpose Dedicated
Program Storage Read/Write Memory (e.g., Non-Volatile Read Only
Hard Disk) allowed Memory required
Temperature (IME) -0oC to +40oC -15oC to +55oC
General Marine None enforced In accordance with IEC 945
Requirements
Distress Alert Software activated (via the Only through dedicated
Generation Keyboard) allowed Distress Button
Distress Button Two actions required • Clearly marked
Requirements • Protected with a door
• Two actions required
• Button Test facility

Automatic Position Optional Recommended

Updating for Distress
Alerts

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Antenna

Communications Parallel Printer

Remote Alarm Panel Unit
(optional)

Serial Printer
Keyboard (optional)

AC/DC Power
Supply (optional)

SENTBLOK.PPT From Ship From Ship

AC Main DC Battery

Figure 6- Change Notice 114 GMDSS Inmarsat-C Equipment Package.

The Next Generation of GMDSS/Imarsat-C Equipment

Change Notice 114 represents a significant departure for Inmarsat-C/GMDSS equipment. As a result,
CN114 GMDSS/Inmarsat-C packages are highly integrated, reliable, and simple to install, operate, and
maintain. The equipment will be dedicated to GMDSS functionality, with the exception that shipboard
personnel may exploit the broad range of Inmarsat-C message services for non-GMDSS communications.

The Trimble Galaxy Sentinel realizes these objectives by offering the most compact GMDSS package
available (see Figure 6). At the core of the Sentinel is the Communications Unit, which is comprised of
an integrated Inmarsat-C transceiver, computer, display, and GPS receiver (standard).

In addition to the Communications Unit, the Galaxy Sentinel package includes type approved serial and
parallel printers, a Remote Alarm Panel modelled after the Communications Front Panel, and an AC/DC
power supply that automatically switches over to battery backup power when the AC mains connection is
lost in accordance with the GMDSS requirements.

GMDSS manufacturers may easily integrate two of the very compact Inmarsat-C units into their
consoles, eliminating the need for HF Radio Telex. The two-C approach enables operators to use one of
the Inmarsat-C units with confidence that the other unit is on standby for Distress communications.
Hardware redundancy also simplifies installation, spares, training, and related logistical considerations.

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Figure 7- QuickSend User Interface Screen.

To address the needs of users and regulators, the Communications Unit is shipped pre-loaded with the
Galaxy Software. Upon powering up the Communications Unit, the Galaxy application is initiated,
without a DOS prompt. The software provides access to the full range of Inmarsat-C messaging services,
including Internet Email, Telex, Fax, PSDN, etc. The Galaxy software also offers an extensive setup
facility to enable the equipment to be configured to the specific needs of each installation.

Galaxy Sentinel operators are presented with the QuickSend user interface, which provides a single
screen for both sending and receiving messages. QuickSend relies upon simple commands to peform
most operations, and allows for backup of messages to the 3-1/2” floppy disk drive. A dedicated Distress
menu item provides all required functions for designating Distress Alerts and manually entering position
parameters in the unlikely event that GPS is not available.

Summary

CN114 will influence the future of GMDSS by raising the bar for Inmarsat-C GMDSS equipment to
achieve a higher degree of safety and integrity. As a result, a new generation of GMDSS hardware is
necessary, that complies with the letter and spirit of these important new requirements. CN114-compliant
Inmarsat-C GMDSS equipment such as the Galaxy Sentinel are highly integrated to be easy to install,
operate, and maintain. User-friendly software will facilitate training and rapid deployment into the fleet.
In addition, users may benefit from extensive messaging capabilities offered by Inmarsat-C, which may
also be used to support non-Distress ship communications. Ultimately, the over-riding goal of improved
maritime safety will be achieved.

Note:
Trimble Galaxy and Trimble Galaxy Sentinel are trademarks owned by Trimble Navigation Limited.
SafetyNET is a trademark owned by Inmarsat.

CN114 and the GMDSS 8 March 31, 1997