GMDSS Flashcards
What would your daily equipment tests be? (4 factors)
- Internal Self-test of DSC controller a VHF DSC Test Call
- Diagnostic Test of SAT-C
- All printers have paper
- Main radio batteries (Isolate them properly if you need to test/change a fuse)
What would your weekly equipment tests be? (2 factors) GMDSS
- DSC equipment using a live call to an MRCC or Shore Station
- Reserve energy supply (generator) (if it is not another battery)
What would your monthly equipment tests be? (5 factors)
- HH VHF Test (on Ch15 or Ch17)
- EPIRBS & SARTS (visual, battery, test button, terminals)
- Performance Verification (PV) Test on SAT-C
- All other batteries (including the HH VHF radio)
- Antennae / Aerials (Clean, check all wires & fittings for signs of damage and tear).
What is A1?
An area with guaranteed VHF DSC communications with MRCCs
What is A2?
Excluding A1, an area with MF range with MRCCs
What is A3?
Excluding A1 & A2, an area with INMARSAT satellite coverage with MRCCs (up to approx 76°N and 76°S)
What is A4?
Excluding A1, A2, A3, an area within HF DSC range of MRCCs (Polar regions, above 76°N and 76°S)
What are the Documentations requirements for A1? (5 factors)
- Ship’s radio license
- Shore based maintenance agreement
- GMDSS Log book
- GOC’s (personal licenses)
- Cargo Ship Safety Radio Certificate Form R
Where would you send a distress alert in A1?
Use VHF Ch 70 and/or an EPIRB
Where would you send a distress alert in A2?
Same as A1 plus MF 2187.5KHz
Where would you send a distress alert in A3?
Same as A1 & A2 plus HF 8414.5KHz / Satellite
Where would you send a distress alert in A4?
Same as A1, A2, A3 plus Paired 12/16 MHz
What are the Equipment requirements for A1? (5 factors)
- VHF DSC Radio
- Handheld VHF
- EPIRB
- SART
- NAVTEX
What are the Equipment requirements for A2?
Same as A1, plus MF with R/T & DSC
What are the Equipment requirements for A3?
Same as A1 & A2, plus SAT-C with EGC receiver, 2nd VHF DSC
What are the Equipment requirements for A4?
Same as A1,A2,A3, plus HF with R/T & DSC & Telex, 2nd HF
Which channel is for distress & urgency?
Ch 16
Which channels is for onboard communications?
Ch 15, 17
Which channel is for bridge to bridge for safe navigation?
Ch 13
Which channel is for Direct selective calling?
Ch 70
Which channel is for Small ship’s safety?
Ch 67
Which channels is for UK Marinas?
Ch 80
Where do you find the right channel for port operations / pilots?
Admiralty List of Radio Signals Vol.6
Which channels are for ship to ship? (Inter-ship)
Ch 6, 8, 72, 77
What VHF channel and which MF frequency for DSC? (Distress)
Ch 70
2187.5 kHz - MF
What VHF channel and which MF frequency for R/T? (Distress)
Ch 16
2182 kHz - MF
Which publications would I find GMDSS frequencies?
Bridge procedures guide
What is the first three digits for SAR aircraft? MMSI
111
What is the first three digits for AIS SART? MMSI
970
What is the first digits for a Coast station / MRCC? MMSI
00
What is the frequency for NAVTEX (English broadcasts)?
518 KHz
What are the first digits for UK? MMSI
232
What number does your Sat-C Id start with?
4
How do you end a NAVTEX/Sat-C message?
nnnn
What is Dual Watch?
Monitoring working channel and Ch 16 simultaneously. Ch 16 takes priority if VHF can not handle Dual watch.
What is a Simplex channel?
One aerial, one frequency. Found in nearly all leisure and small workboats. Transmission is one way at a time, i.e TALK or LISTEN not both
What is a Duplex channel?
Two aerials and two frequencies needed. Transmissions and reception take place simultaneously Used for shore-shore or ship- shore (never ship-ship)
What is the range of VHF?
Depends on height of aerial, approximately 35NM
What does ITU stand for?
International Telecommunications Union
What SOLAS chapter is Radio Communications?
SOLAS IV (4) - Radio communications
Which ships need to comply with SOLAS requirements for GMDSS? (2 factors)
- Vessels over 300 GT on international voyages or in the open sea
- Passenger vessels carrying more than 12 passengers on international voyages or in the open sea
What should GMDSS ships be capable of? (9)
- Transmit ship to shore distress alerts by at least 2 independent means
- Receive shore to ship distress alerts
- Transmit and receive ship to ship distress alerts
- Transmit and receive SAR co-ordinating communications
- Transmit and receive on-scene communications
- Transmit and receive (homing) signals for location finding
- Receiving maritime safety information
- Transmitting and receiving general radio-communications relating to the management of the vessel
- Transmitting and receiving bridge to bridge communications
Which NAVTEX information can we not de-select?
ABDL
A - Nav Warnings
B - Met Warnings
D - SAR Information
L - Additional Nav information
What is a NAVTEX?
NAVTEX is an international automated direct-printing service for announcing of maritime safety information (MSI), navigational and meteorological warnings, meteorological forecasts and other urgent safety-related messages to ships.
Means of signalling for distress? 15p (Annex 4 msn 1781)
- Gun or other explosive signal fired at intervals of about a minute;
- Continuous sounding with any fog-signalling apparatus
- Any SOS in morse code
- DSC
- R/T - Mayday
- November - Charlie
- Square flag with a ball above or below
- Flames on the vessel
- Red light from a flare
- Orange smoke
- Slowly and repeatedly raising and lowering arms outstretched to each side;
- EPIRB
- SART
- SAT-C
LIST?
L - Commence a log
I - Inform the master
S - Set watch on channel appropriate
T - Transcribe the message
STOW?
S - Send a DSC
T - To a geo area, all stations or ship station
O - on (channel to follow - VHF70, 2187.5kHz)
W - Working channel (VHF16, 2182Khz)
What information would you enter into a fresh GMDSS Log book?
Vessel particulars
Masters name
Name and GOCs
Person dedicated for testing
Person dedicated for distress communications
When do you need two SARTs?
Over 500GT
How would you set up your SAT-C for your voyage?
- Pick out correct NAVAREA - ALRS Vol 5 -
- Look at satellites coverage - ALRS Vol 5
- Look at schedule table and pick correct satellite for both nav & met warning - ARLS Vol 5
- Put it in your system
- Initiate log in & wait until logged in
Receive distress alert, procedure?
1.LIST
After received R/T distress
2. Acknowledge immediately by R/T OR wait 5 min (Depending on sea area & frequency)
3. Relay ashore by all available means
Assuming the master would like to go:
4. Post additional lookouts
5. Prepare rescue team
6. Prepare medical team
7. Consult IAMSAR vol 3 to take on the role as on-scene commander
8. Establish search pattern and datums with vessels involved
9. Reporting to MRCC
10. Log all events
HF frequencies?
DSC 4207.5 kHz & R/T 4125 kHz
DSC 8414.5 kHz & R/T 8291 kHz
You sight a distress alert (flare), action?
- Take a bearing of the flare
- Inform the master
- Commence a log
- Relay ashore by all available means (VHF, MF, HF, SAT-C, Sat phone - ALRS Vol 5)
- Sound the alarm & muster the crew
- Proceed at best speed possible
- Post additional lookouts
- Prepare medical team
- Prepare rescue team with HH VHF
What is Iridium?
MCA has approved it
Iridium uses SafetyNET & SAT-C uses SafetyCAST for their EGC
Full worldwide distress coverage due to polar orbiting satellites
Not everywhere has FOC (full operational control), you can’t get full weather and nav warnings just now
If you go to areas where there is no FOC you need a backup such a NAVTEX or SAT-C
Where can I find distress signals?
COLREGS Annex 4
SOLAS poster 1
