001 Acronyms & Definitions Flashcards
ARQ
ARQ = Automated Retransmission reQuest.
- A NBDP (“Narrow Band Direct Printing” f.k.a. telex) technique for detecting and correcting transmitted errors, requiring an automatic transmitted response from the receiving station.
- Communications are limited to a single transmitting and a single receiving station.
NBDP
NBDP = Narrow-Band Direct Printing (formerly known as “telex over radio”) 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.
COSPAS-SARSAT
COSPAS = (КОСПАС) is an acronym for the Russian words “Cosmicheskaya Sistema Poiska Avariynyh Sudov” (Космическая Система Поиска Аварийных Судов), which translates to “Space System for the Search of Vessels in Distress”. SARSAT = Search and Rescue Satellite Aided Tracking A satellite-aided search and rescue system based on low-altitude, near polar-orbiting satellites. Designed to locate emergency radio beacons transmitting on the frequencies of 406.025. 406.028 and 406.037 MHz, with 121.5 MHz for homing. The International COSPAS-SARSAT Programme is a treaty-based, nonprofit, intergovernmental, humanitarian cooperative of 43 nations and agencies dedicated to detecting and locating radio beacons activated by persons, aircraft or vessels in distress, and forwarding this alert information to authorities that can take action for rescue. The system utilizes a network of satellites that provide coverage anywhere on Earth. Distress alerts are detected, located and forwarded to over 200 countries and territories at no cost to beacon owners or the receiving government agencies. COSPAS-SARSAT was conceived and initiated by Canada, France, the United States, and the former Soviet Union in 1979. The first rescue using the technology of Cospas-Sarsat occurred in September 1982. The definitive agreement of the organization was signed on 1 July 1988
NAVTEX
NAVTEX Achieve maximum transmitting range in the middle of the night. Typically 200-400 nautical miles (360-720 km) Unwanted broadcasts can be rejected by programming the receiver. Navtex transmissions are also called narrow-band direct printing (NBDP). Navtex broadcasts are primarily made on the medium frequencies of 518 kHz and 490 kHz. The international navtex frequency is 518 kHz, and these broadcasts should always be in English. National transmission of navtex uses 490 kHz specifically for broadcasts in local languages. It is not used in the U.S.
VTS
VTS = Vessel Traffic Services 1-7B1 > Vessel Traffic Services is operated by the U.S. Coast Guard in certain designated water areas to prevent ship collisions, groundings and environmental harm.
SOLAS
SOLAS = Safety Of Life At Sea The International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) is an international maritime treaty which requires signatory flag states to ensure that ships flagged by them comply with minimum safety standards in construction, equipment and operation. The current version of the SOLAS Convention is the 1974 version, known as SOLAS 1974, which came into force on 25 May 1980. As of March 2016, SOLAS 1974 has 162 contracting States, which flag about 99% of merchant ships around the world in terms of gross tonnage
GMDSS
GMDSS > Under GMDSS, a compulsory VHF-DSC radiotelephone installation must be tested at what minimum intervals at sea?
SART
SART Search And Rescue Radar Transponder. Also known as a survival craft radar transponder or radar transponder. > It will begin transmitting when it is placed in the on position and it is interrogated by a 9 GHz radar signal > This is a 9 GHz transponder capable of being received by vessel’s X-band navigational RADAR system. > The purpose of the SART’s audible tone alarm is to inform survivors that assistance may be nearby.
VTS
VTS = Vessel Traffic Services > Vessel Traffic Services is operated by the U.S. Coast Guard in certain designated water areas to prevent ship collisions, groundings and environmental harm. > VHF Distress, Urgency and Safety communications (as well as VTS traffic calls) are performed in Simplex operating mode To ensure that vessels not directly participating in the communications can hear both sides of the radio A vessel traffic service (VTS) is a marine traffic monitoring system established by harbour or port authorities, similar to air traffic control for aircraft. Typical VTS systems use radar, closed-circuit television (CCTV), VHF radiotelephony and automatic identification system to keep track of vessel movements and provide navigational safety in a limited geographical area.
DSC
DSC = Digital Selective Calling
- The mandatory DSC watchkeeping bands/channels are 8 MHz HF DSC, 1 other HF DSC, 2 MHz MF DSC and VHF Ch-70.
- VHF Channel 70 (156.525 MHz).
- Digital codes trigger specially-designed circuits on modern receivers.
- Can be used to call a specific ship, or in the case of a distress communication, all DCS-equipped radios will receive a distress text.
SCT
SCT = Survival Craft Transceiver VHF survival craft transceivers (SCTs) are lightweight, portable, two-way, handheld VHF transceivers capable of radiotelephone on-scene communication between rescue units and the survival craft. Essentially these are hand-held VHF radios that are used in any survival craft, such as a life boat or life raft. SCTs with re-chargeable type batteries may also be used for on-board communications. > Power Minimum of 1 watt. NOTE: This is the correct answer on the test, but the regulation specifies 0.1 watt
MSI
MSI The Maritime Safety Information (MSI) service is an internationally co-ordinated network of broadcasts of Maritime Safety Information. This information contains: Navigational warnings; Meterological information (forecasts and warnings); Distress alerts. MSI is part of the Global Maritme Distress and Safety System (GMDSS). Every ship, while at sea, has to be capable of transmitting and receiving maritime safety information. Reception of MSI is free of charge to all ships. > Can be obtained from NAVTEXT, SafetyNET, and HF NBDP
AIS
AIS Automatic Identification Systems
TDM = Time Division Multiplex
TDM = Time Division Multiplex
Used for GSM (i.e. Global System for Mobile communications).
AMBE CODEC
AMBE = Advanced Multi-Band Excitation - this is the CODEC used for P25 (Project 25) wiite of standards for digital mobile radio communications designed for use by publiv safety organizations in North America. P25 radios are a direct replacement for analog UHF (example FM) radios but add the ability to trnasfer data as well as voice, allowing for a more natural implementation of encryption or messaging.
