Global Maritime Distress and Safety System

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The Global Maritime Distress and Safety System , or GMDSS for short , is a collection of technical facilities, offices and rules for worldwide help in distress at sea and for safety of shipping. GMDSS was set up within the framework of SOLAS , the international convention for the protection of human life at sea (see also International Maritime Organization (IMO) ).

Systems in the GMDSS

GMDSS consists of the following components:

Integration of COSPAS-SARSAT

requirements

To participate in the GMDSS, the ship must be equipped with approved radio and communication devices. Participation in the mobile marine radio service requires a radio license with which the callsign is also assigned. The crew member responsible for the radio equipment must also have a corresponding certificate of ability. The following certificates are available: First-class radio electronic certificate (GMDSS first class radio electronic certificate : like GOC but with the authorization to completely repair the GMDSS radio system), Second-class radio electronic certificate (GMDSS second class radio electronic certificate : like ROC, but with the authorization to completely repair the VHF GMDSS radio system), Restricted Operator's Certificate ROC (restricted operating certificate for radio operators in professional shipping) and Short Range Certificate , SRC (restricted operating certificate for recreational shipping) allow the use of VHF radios and EPIRBs and NAVTEX devices. General Operator's Certificate GOC (General Operating Certificate for Radio Operators ) and Long Range Certificate LRC (General Radio Operating Certificate for Sport Shipping) also allow the use of border and shortwave radio stations as well as GMDSS-certified INMARSAT services on seagoing vessels.

In Germany, the regulations for the implementation of the radio regulations (enforcement order for the radio service) of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) for the GMDSS radio electronics certificates have not been implemented by the legislature until today. Therefore it is not possible to obtain these certificates in Germany. However, these certificates are available at international level and can be obtained there by taking an appropriate examination.

EPIRBs must be registered and a corresponding contract with the operating company is required to use the Inmarsat satellite communication system.

Sea areas A1 to A4

The IMO divides the oceans for GMDSS into four so-called sea areas ( Sea Area A1 to A4 ). Ships that have to be equipped according to SOLAS regulations (in particular all larger commercial ships) must be equipped with the appropriate means of communication, depending on the sea area traveled. Equipment for recreational boating is internationally voluntary, although at least one VHF radio station is required in individual countries.

  • Sea area A1 : Area within the radio range of at least one VHF coast station that is continuously available for DSC alarms (channel 70 / 156.525 MHz). Typically the area has an extension of 30–40 nm (56–74 kilometers) to the coast.
  • Sea area A2 : Area outside of sea area A1, within the radio range of at least one boundary wave coastal radio station that is continuously available for DSC alarms (2187.5 kHz). For the design, one usually assumes an area of ​​180 nm (330 km) from the coastline during the day, minus all areas covered by A1. In practice, satisfactory coverage often goes beyond this. This covers a distance of up to 400 nm (740 km) from the coastline at night.
  • Sea area A3 : An area outside the sea areas A1 and A2, which is covered by a geostationary Inmarsat satellite and in which an uninterrupted alarm is available. (76 ° north to 76 ° south).
  • Sea area A4 : An area outside the sea areas A1, A2 and A3. This essentially consists of the polar regions, north and south of approximately the 76th parallel, excluding all possible areas A1 or A2. Here communication is only guaranteed via shortwave (as well as the sending of emergency reports with EPIRBs via COSPAS / SARSAT satellites). Shortwave communication can be massively disrupted by the sunshine . That is why communication via Iridium satellites is more reliable (since 2020).

Although according to the official definition each sea area does not include the previous one , this does not mean that the corresponding means of communication cannot or may not be used there. A shortwave radio station, which is required for sea area A4, can also be of good service in sea areas A2 and A3.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b IMO: Harmonization of the GMDSS requirements for radio systems on board SOLAS ships (COMSAR / Circ.32) ( Memento of the original from September 23, 2015 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , Guideline of August 16, 2004, accessed April 9, 2015, PDF 199 kB. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.bsh.de
  2. ↑ IMO International SafetyNET Manual (MSC.1 / Circ.1364) , Section 2.1.2 and Section 3.2 ; Instructions from May 24, 2010, accessed April 13, 2015, PDF 1.2 MB (English).
  3. ↑ https://www.boeing.com/commercial/aeromagazine/aero_16/polar_route_ops.pdf Boeing - Safety Polar Route Operations