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General Introduction to GMDSS
GMDSS Sea Areas
Equipment Requirements
Applicable Equipment
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General Introduction to GMDSS

Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) has been developed by the maritime nations in the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and is the result of their adoption of amendments made in 1988 to the 1974 International Convention on the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS).
Based on recent developments in maritime communications, such as satellites and digital technology, GMDSS is designed to ensure maximum availability of safety-related communication for all passenger ships as well as for cargo vessels of 300 GT and upwards engaged in international voyages.*
The goal of GMDSS is to virtually guarantee that complying vessels will be able to communicate with an onshore station at any time, from any location, in case of distress or to exchange safety-related information.

Ships below 300 gross tonnage as well as those that are not engaged in international voyages are subject to the requirements of the administrations of their flag states.

GMDSS Sea Areas

GMDSS defines four sea areas based upon the location and capability of onshore-based communication facilities. The definition of the Sea Areas for GMDSS is outlined below.

Sea Area A1

Means an area within the adiotelephone coverage of at least one VHF coast station in which continuous DSC alerting is available, as may be defined by a Contracting Government.

Sea Area A2

Means an area, excluding sea area A1, within the radiotelephone coverage of at least one MF coast station in which continuous DSC alerting is available, as may be defined by a Contracting Government.

Sea Area A3

Means an area, excluding sea areas A1 and A2, within the coverage of a recognized mobile satellite service supported by the ship earth station carried on board in which continuous alerting is available.

Sea Area A4

Means an area outside of sea areas A1, A2 and A3.

Equipment Requirements GMDSS

General requirement for equipment and functions for all ships irrespective of the operating sea area

Equipment	A1	A2	A3	A4	Applicable Model
VHF telephony installation with DSC capable of: DSC watch on channel 70 Radiotelephony watch on channel 16 Watch on other appropriate frequency or frequencies for urgency and safety communications for the area in which the ship is navigating	○	○	○	○	FM-8900S
MF telephony*6 installation with MF DSC capable of: DSC watch on 2 187.5 kHz Watch on other appropriate frequency or frequencies for urgency and safety communications for the area in which the ship is navigating		○	○		FS-1575/2575
SES providing RMSS			○		FS-1575/2575
MF/HF telephony*6 installation with DSC capable of: DSC watch on 2 187.5 kHz and 8 414.5 kHz Depending on time of day and geographical position, DSC watch on at least one of the frequencies 4 207.5 kHz, 6 312 kHz, 12 577 kHz or 16 804.5 kHz Watch on other appropriate frequency or frequencies for urgency and safety communications for the area in which the ship is navigating				○	FS-1575/2575
Duplicated VHF with DSC	○^*7	○^*7	○	○	FM-8900S
Duplicated MF*6 with DSC		○^*7			FS-1575/2575
Duplicated SES providing RMSS			○^45	○
Duplicated MF/HF telephony*6 with DSC			○^*4		FS-1575/2575
Receiver(s) for MSI and SAR-related information*3	○	○	○	○	FELCOM18/20 ,NX-700A/B、NX-900,IB-585
Float-free EPIRB	○	○	○	○	Tron 60AIS
Radar SART or AIS SART	○^*1	○^*1	○^*1	○^*1	TBR-610,Tron AIS-SART
Portable GMDSS VHF transceivers	○^*2	○^*2	○^*2	○^*2	HT-649
Automatic updating of position to all relevant radiocommunication equipment	○	○	○	○
"Distress panel" and "distress alarm panel" (Only passenger ships)	○	○	○	○
Two-way-on-scene radiocommunication on 121.5 MHz and 123.1 MHz from the navigating bridge. (Only passenger ships)	○	○	○	○

Cargo ships between 300 and 500 gt.: 1 set. Cargo ships of 500 gt. and upwards and passenger ships: 2 sets.
Cargo ships between 300 and 500 gt.: 2 sets. Cargo ships of 500 gt. and upwards and passenger ships: 3 sets.
This may be either a combined ship earth station and EGC receiver or separate pieces of equipment.
Ships in sea area A3 may choose between duplication with either complete MF/HF transceiver or SES providing an RMSS with coverage equal to or broader than the primary RMSS (See section 1.6.3).
See section 1.6.3.2.
A single MF/HF radio installation may be accepted both as a primary MF radio installation and a duplicated MF/HF radio installation, as provided in this circular.
See section 1.6.3.1.