GMDSS Flashcards
You receive a DSC distress alert - do you accept?
No, relay if possible but hope for shore side facilities to accept
Mayday
Mayday mayday mayday
This is Name Name Name, callsign, MMSI
Mayday this is Name, callsign, MMSI
Position
Nature of distress
Kind of assistance required
Any other information
What is the purpose of GMDSS
Global Maritime Distress and Safety System
A world wide safety system which uses both satellites and radio telephony to as a means for distress and search and rescue communications, routine shore to ship/ship to ship and maritime safety information.
Who must comply with GMDSS?
Commercially registered vessels >300GT
Sea Areas
A1: Within RT coverage of at least 1 VHF coast station
A2: Excludes A1 but is within MF range
A3: Excludes A1 and A2 but is within inmarast coverage
A4: Generally polar regions are outside A1, A2 and A3
Carriage requirements
Under SOLAS:
- VHF radio installation capable of transmitting DSC
- 2 SARTS if over 500GT
- 3 Portable VHFs if over 500GT
- NAVTEX and SAT C as per below
Per sea area:
A1 = NAVTEX and VHF
A2 = NAVTEX, VHF and MF
A3 = NAVTEX, VHF, MF and Inmarsat C or HF
A4 = NAVTEX, VHF, MF and HF
Listening watch requirements
VHF ch 16
VHF DSC ch 70
MF DSC 2187.5 kHz
HF DSC 8414.5 kHz
Daily, weekly, monthly checks
Daily:
- DSC internal test
- Batteries (27 V)
- Paper
Weekly:
- DSC test to another station
- Test reserve source of power
Monthly:
- EPIRBs
- SARTs
- Batteries - visual inspection, off/onload comparison
- Aerials and insulators
- Emergency VHFs
- SAT C link test
Receipt of a Distress Message, VHF in Area A1 (Solent)
Initial Actions:
- Defer for a short time. Listen to comms on VHF ch 16
- Acknowledge the distress
- Record all information
- Proceed to casualty at best speed
- Relay information to closest RCC along with estimated ETA
Preparations:
- Maintain VHF watch and communications with casualty, RCC and other responding units. Plot their position, course and speed
- Sound general alarm to muster all crew
- Post extra look outs
- Extra radar watch - X Band tuned for SART
- Risk assessment of situation - weather, number of survivors, dangers such as fuel in water, survivors in water etc
- Consults SMS for recovery of persons from water manual
- Prepare vessel for recovery of personnel
- Rescue boat
- Life jackets/immersion suits
- Life buoys
- Portable VHFs
- Line throwing apapratus
- Pilot ladders
- Food, water, shelter
- Medical equipment
- Binoculars
- Cameras
- International Code of Signals
- Crew is briefed prior to arrival
Receipt of a Distress Message, VHF/MF in Mid-AtlanticNAVTEX
Initial Actions:
- Immediately acknowledge the distress
- Record all information
- Proceed to casualty at best speed
- Relay information to closest RCC along with estimated ETA
Preparations:
- Maintain VHF watch and communications with casualty, RCC and other responding units. Plot their position, course and speed
- Sound general alarm to muster all crew
- Post extra look outs
- Extra radar watch - X Band tuned for SART
- Risk assessment of situation - weather, number of survivors, dangers such as fuel in water, survivors in water etc
- Re read ship specific recovery plan
- Prepare vessel for recovery of personnel
- Rescue boat
- Life jackets/immersion suits
- Life buoys
- Portable VHFs
- Line throwing apapratus
- Pilot ladders
- Food, water, shelter
- Medical equipment
- Binoculars
- Cameras
- International Code of Signals
- Crew is briefed prior to arrival
Receipt of a Distress Message, HF in Any Areas
- Tune to the appropriate station listen for coms.
- Do not acknowledge if no shore acknowledgement, relay ashore.
NAVTEX fundamentals
Broadcasts Maritime Safety Information on 518kHz for international, or 490kHz for local.
Can programme information wished to be received. The following are mandatory:
A = Navigational Warnings
B = Meteorlogical Warnings
D = Search and Rescue Information
L = Navigational Warnings - additional
NAVTEX stations can be found in ALRS volumes 3 & 5 and need to be programmed into the NAVTEX prior to sailing.
ALRS Volumes
Volume 1 - Maritime Radio Stations
- Global Maritime Communications
- Satellite Communication Services
- Coastguard Communications
- Maritime Telemedical Assistanec Service (TMAS)
- Radio Quarantine and Pollution reports
- Anti piracy Contact Table
Voulme 2 - Radio Aids to Navigation, Differential GPS, Legal Time, Radio Time Signals and Electronic Position Fixing System
- Listing of VHF Radio Direction-Finding Stations
- Radar Beacons
- Known Operational AIS
- Aids to Navigation
- Radio beacons transmitting DGPS corrections
- International Standard and Daylight Saving Times and Dates
- International Radio Time Signal Broadcast details
Volume 3: Maritime Safety Information
- Maritime Weather Services
- Radio Weather and Navigational Warnings
- NAVTEX and EGC Services with comprehensive broadcast information
- Submarine and Gunnery Warning details
- Radio Facsimile Stations, Frequencies and weather map areas
Volume 4 - Metorological Observation Stations
- All Met Observation Stations listed worldwide
Volume 5 - GMDSS
- World wide communication requirements for distress, search and rescue
- Extracts from SOLAS and ITU Regulations
- Distress and SAR including MRCC contacts
- NAVTEX and EGC service fundamentals including an overview of MSI broadcasts for each
- MSI fundamentals under the World Wide Navigational Warning Service
- Worldwide NAVAREA and National Coordinator contact details
Volume 6 - Pilot Services, VTS and Port Operations
- Detailed Pilot information, contact details and procedures
- Vessel Traffic Service information, contact details and procedures
- National and International Ship Reporting Systems
- Port information, contact details and procedures
Pan Pan
- Pan Pan x3
- All stations or specific station x3
- This is (name) x3, call sign, MMSI
- Position
- Nature of urgency
- Type of assistance required
- POB
- Any other info
Acknowledge Mayday
- Mayday (name/callsign of vessel) x3
- This is (own name, call sign) x3
- Mayday received
- Own position, speed and ETA
