***RADIO COMMUNICATIONS(GMDSS)***

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GMDSS RULES WILL APPLY TO ALL VESSELS OVER 300 GRT
MALAYSIAN COASTAL WATERS HAVE BEEN DECLARED AS ………….
ALL VESSELS MUST COMPLY WITH THE GMDSS BY 01 FEBUARY 1999
Functional requirements:
SOLAS 1974 Chapter IV Regulation 4 –: Every ship, while at sea, shall be capable:
1.Of transmitting ship-to-shore distress alerts by at least two separate and independent means, each using a
different radio communication service.
2.Of receiving shore-to-ship distress alerts;
3.Of transmitting and receiving ship-to-ship distress alerts;
4.Of transmitting and receiving search and rescue coordinating communications;
5.Of transmitting and receiving on-scene communications;
6.Of transmitting and, as required by regulation V/19.2.3.2 receiving signal for locating; (Radar operating in
the frequency band 9300-9500 (MHz)
7.Of transmitting and receiving maritime safety information;
8.Of transmitting and receiving general radio communication to and from shore-based radio systems or
networks subject to regulation 15.8; and
9.Of transmitting and receiving bridge-to-bridge communications.
GMDSS Concept:
The basic concept of the GMDSS system is that search and rescue (SAR) authorities ashore as well as
shipping in the vicinity of a vessel in distress will be rapidly altered to a distress situation.
GMDSS Carriage requirements (Sea Area 3):
1.VHF with DSC
2.SART (2)
3.NAVTEX
4.EGC Receiver
5.EPIRB (2)
6.VHF Portable (2-3)
7.MF R/T + DSC
8.INMARSAT-C
9.H/F, R/T with DSC and Telex
Radio installations:
Every ship shall be provided with radio installations capable of complying with the functional requirements
prescribed by regulation 4 throughout its intended voyage and, unless exempted under regulation 3,
complying with the requirements of regulations 7 and, as appropriate for the sea area or area through which
I will pass during its intended voyage, the requirements of either regulation 8,9,10 or 11.
Every radio installation shall:
1.be so located that no harmful interference of mechanical, electrical or other origin affects its proper use
and so as to ensure electromagnetic compatibility and avoidance of harmful interaction with other
equipment and systems;
2.be so located as to ensure the greatest possible degree of safety and operational availability;
3.be protected against harmful effects of water, extremes of temperature and other adverse environmental
conditions;
4.be provided with reliable, permanently arranged electrical lighting, independent of the main and
emergency sources of electrical power, for the adequate illumination of the radio controls for operating the
radio installation; and
5.be clearly marked with the call sign, the ship station identity and other codes as applicable for the use of
the radio installation.
Control of the VHF radiotelephone channels, required for navigational safety, shall be immediately available
on the navigation bridge convenient the conning position and, where necessary, facilities should be available
to permit radio communications for the wings of the navigation bridge. Portable VHF equipment may be
used to meet the latter provision
In passenger ships, a distress panel shall be installed at the conning position. This panel shall contain either
on single button which, when pressed, initiates a distress alert using all radio communication installations
required on board for that purpose or one button for each individual installation.
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Radio personnel: -
1.Every ship shall carry personnel qualified for distress and safety radio communication purposes to the
satisfaction of the Administration. The personnel shall be holders of certificates specified in the Radio
Regulations as appropriate, any one of whom shall be designated to have primary responsibility for radio
communications during incidents.
2.In passenger ships, at least one person qualified in accordance with paragraph 1 shall be assigned to
perform only radio communication duties during incidents.
Radio records:
A record shall be kept, to the satisfaction of the Administration and as required by the Radio Regulations, of
all incidents connected with the radio communication service which appear to be of importance to safety of
life at sea.
Documents to be carried
1.Ships Radio License
2.Radio Operators Certificates
3.GMDSS Radio Logbook
4.ITU list of call signs and numerical identities
5.ITU list of Coast Stations, and the charges applied
6.ITU List of Ships Stations
7.ITU List of Radio determination and Special services
8.ITU Manual for use by the Maritime Mobile and Maritime Mobile-Satellite Services
9.Admiralty List of Radio Signals (A.L.R.S) Volume I – VIII
Q. WHAT CHECK WOULD YOU CARRY OUT ON GMDSS EQUIPMENT?
Daily-
●Printer,
●Paper,
●Power on/off, Battery power supply,
●DSC internal,
●VHF, MF/HF without radiation.
Weekly-
●DSC external- 2187.5 khz
●MF/HF - routine - Channel assign on ALRS Vol-1
●Log-entry.
●VHF- Hand Held Rx/Tx channel other than ch-16.
●Two-way Radio internal
●Emergency Generator.
Monthly-
●EPIRB- Physical test, HRU, Battery date (max cont. opp. hour-48), Lanyard, readily excisable to life
boat/survival craft.
●SART- Physical test in conjunction with 3cm radar, 9 GHz., Battery date (96 hrs stby mode, 8 hrs Tx
mode.)
●Emergence battery power supply. - s. gravity, E/lite level, terminal clean. Aerials.
Q. AVOIDANCE OF FALSE DISTRESS ALERTS:
1. Switch off equipment immediately.
2. Switch on equipment and set VHF DSC Ch 16 and MF/HF RT 2182 KHz, MF/HF RT. consecutively on
4,6,8,12 & 16 Mhz.
3. Make broadcast to “All Stations” this is vessel name, C/S & MMSI NO. Cancel the false distress Alert.
Example:
All stations x 3, this is M.V. Amba/VVWG
MMSI No. 419298000 x 3
Posn 20 21 N 089 33 E
Cancel my Distress alert of date xyz.
Time/UTC
Master
False distress alerts
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False alert sent on VHF DSC:
●Reset the VHF DSC immediately
●Cancel the alert on VHF DSC Channel 70
●Transmit a broadcast message to ALL STATIONS on VHF Channel 16 giving the ship's name, call sign and
MMSI and cancel the false distress alert
●Record details of the false alert and actions to cancel the alert
False alert sent on MF DSC:
●Reset the MF DSC immediately
●Cancel the alert on MF DSC 2187.5 kHz
●Transmit a broadcast message to ALL STATIONS on 2182 kHz giving the ship's name, call sign and MMSI and
cancel the false distress alert
●Record details of the false alert and actions to cancel the alert
False alert sent on HF DSC:
●Reset the HF DSC immediately
●Cancel the alert on the HF DSC distress frequencies on which it was sent:
4207.5 kHz
6312 kHz
8414.5 kHz
12577 kHz
16804.5 kHz
●Transmit a broadcast message to ALL STATIONS giving the ship's name, call sign and MMSI, and cancel the
false alert on each of the radio-telephony distress frequencies in the bands on which the HF DSC was sent:
4125 kHz
6215 kHz
8291 kHz
12290 kHz
16420 kHz
●Record details of the false alert and actions to cancel the alert
False alert sent via SES:
●Send a distress priority message cancelling the distress alert to the appropriate RCC via CES through which
the false distress alert was sent
●Record details of the false alert and actions to cancel the alert
False alert sent on EPIRB:
●Reset the EPIRB immediately
●The ship should contact the nearest coast station or an appropriate coast earth station or RCC and cancel
the distress alert using same LES/Ocean Region.
●Record details of the false alert and actions to cancel the alert
Q. A) IN WHAT CIRCUMSTANCES MUST YOU SEND A NAVIGATING WARNING? B) WHO MUST YOU TO ADDRESS
TO? C) BY WHAT MEANS MUST YOU TRANSMIT IT?
A) 1.Dangerous Ice
2.Dangerous derelict or other direct danger to navigation.
3.Tropical storm.
4.Subfreezing air temperature plus gale force winds causing severe ice accretion.
5.Wind > force 10 for which have no warning.
B) To ships in the vicinity and nearest CRS.
C) By every means of ship communication system.
*Q. DISTRESS ALART RECEIVED, ACTION?
Received a distress 50nm off – state actions and plans, State defence if Cannot go
Upon receiving a distress alert 50 miles off-
1.Check distress position and own ship’s position.
2.If able to provide assistance without endangering own ship and crew:
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3.On receipt of distress alert
4.Listen on VHF CH-16 for 5 minutes.
5.If RCC does not acknowledge, acknowledge alert by radiotelephony (CH16).
6.Inform CS and/or RCC.
7.Enter details in log.
8.Reset system.
9.Establish plain language communication as soon as possible and obtain Details of distressed vessel such as:
●Identity
●Position
●Course
●Speed
●Nature of distress
●Type of assistance required.
10.Provide the distressed vessel my following information:
●Identity
●Position
●Course
●Speed
●ETA at the scene
●Distressed vessel’s bearing and distance.
11.I will contact RCC / SMC via coast radio station.
12.I will take required onboard preparation for search and rescue.
13.If I cannot find any survivor after going to the scene, I will report to RCC and conduct a search.
When master is not obliged to assist
1.When vessel is unable to rescue, e.g., vessel does not have enough bunker.
2.When it is unreasonable e.g., the distance is so far the vessel will rake 4/5 Days to rescue, but that place is
a traffic dense place and survivors may be Easily picked by other vessels.
3.When it is unnecessary, e.g., a man overboard in ice/cold region and Distance is so far that vessel will take
long time to go there. So, it is Impossible for a man to survive in this situation.
4.If the vessel has not been requisitioned by the master of distress vessel, but more other ships have been
requisitioned and they are complying with the requisition.
5.The master of a requisitioned vessel will be released from the obligation if He is informed by the distressed
vessel or by the search and rescue service or by the master of another vessel which has reached the
distressed Position that assistance is no longer required
*Q. DESCRIBE- DISTRESS, URGENCY, SAFETY MSG
DISTRESS
Distress alerting
The transmission of a distress alert indicates that a ship, aircraft or other mobile unit or person is in
grave and imminent danger and requires immediate assistance.
The distress alert is sent on the authority of master/person responsible for the station. It shall have
absolute priority over all other transmission.
The distress alert is usually sent using either DSC, INMARSAT or EPIRB. When the alert is received an
alarm is activated to draw the attention of the officer of the watch. He then has to go to the
equipment and investigate the reason.
FORMAT
PRIORITY: DISTRESS
SIGNAL: MAY DAY
CALL: MAY DAY X 3
THIS IS
MV STAR X 3
CALL SIGN/ MMSI
ON R/T OR VOICE ON TELEX ON SAT- C
MAY DAY X 3 MAYDAY MAY DAY
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THIS IS DE MV STAR/ CALL SIGN/
MV STAR X 3/ CALL SIGN/MMSI MV STAR/ CALL SIGN/ MMSI NO INMARSAT-C NO
NO POSITION
MAYDAY NATURE OF DISTRESS
MAYDAY MV STAR/CALL SIGN/MMSI NO OTHER INFORMATION
MV STAR/CALL SIGN/MMSI NO POSITION REQUIRE IMMEDIATE
POSITION NATURE OF DISTRESS ASSISTANCE
NATURE OF DISTRESS OTHER INFORMATION
OTHER INFORMATION REQUIRE IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE
REQUIRE IMMEDIATE OVER
ASSISTANCE
OVER
IMPOSING RESTRICTION FALSE DISTRESS ALETR FALSE DISTRESS ALETR
CANCELLATION (VHF/MF/HF) CANCELLATION (INMARSAT – C)
MAYDAY ALL STATIONS X 3 NOTIFY THE APPRORIATE RCC TO
ALL STATIONS X 3 THIS IS CANCEL THE ALERT BY SENDING
THIS IS MV STAR X 3/ CALL SIGN/ MMSI A DISTRESS PRIORITY MESSAGE
MRCC ID X 3 (IF INITIAL ALERT SENT BY DSC) VIA THE SAME LES THROUGH
TIME (UTC) PLZ CANCEL MY DISTRESS ALERT WHICH THE FALSE DISTRESS
MV STAR (VSL IN DISTRESS)/CALL OF TIME (UTC) ON ALERT WAS SENT.
SIGN/MMSI NO DATE(DD/MM/YYYY)
SEELONCEE FEENEE MASTER E.G
OVER MV STAR/CALL SIGN/ DATE /TIME MV STAR/CALL SIGN/INM
(UTC) POSITION
CANCEL MY INMARSAT C
DISTRESS ALERT OF DATE, TIME
MASTER
MV STAR.
FALSE DISTRESS ALERT BY EPIRB
IF, FOR ANY REASON, AN EPIRB IS
ACTIVATED ACCIDENTLY, SWITCH
OFF IMMEDIATELY. CONTACT
THE NEAREST COAST STATION
OR APPROPRIATE LES OR RCC
AND CANCEL THE DISTRESS
ALERT.
E.G (SAT-C)
MV STAR/CALL SIGN/ INM
POSITION
EPIRB ID
PLZ CANCEL MY EPIRB DISTRESS
ALERT ON DATE TIME
MASTER
MV STAR
DISTRESS RELAY
PRIORITY: DISTRESS RELAY
SIGNAL: MAY DAY RELAY
CALL: MAY DAY RELAY X 3
ALL STATIONS X 3
THIS IS
MV STAR X 3/ CALL SIGN /MMSI
ON R/T ON TELEX ON SAT-C
MAY DAY RELAY X 3 MAY DAY RELAY MAY DAY RELAY

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ALL STATION X 3 CQ MV STAR/ CALL SIGN/ INM
THIS IS DE
MV STAR/ CALL SIGN / MMSI NO MV STAR/ CALL SIGN/ MMSI NO SIGHTED UNKNOWN VESSEL
POSITION
MAY DAY MAY DAY NATURE OF DISTRESS
SIGHTED UNKNOWN VESSEL SIGHTED UNKNOWN VESSEL MV STAR IS GOING TO
POSITION POSOTION INVESTIGATE/ STBY
NATURE OF DISTRESS NATURE OF DISTRESS REQUIRED IMMEDIATE
MV STAR IS GOING TO MV STAR IS GOING TO ASSISTANCE
INVESTIGATE/ STBY INVESTIGATE/ STBY
REQUIRED IMMEDIATE REQUIRED IMMEDIATE
ASSISTANCE ASSISTANCE
OVER OVER

(FOR EPIRB)
UNKNOWN VESSEL’S EPIRB
SIGHTED
POSITION
ALL VSL ARE REQUESTED TO KEEP
SHARP LOOK OUT FOR
SURVIVORS
OVER
DISTRESS ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
BY R/T BY TELEX
MAY DAY MAY DAY
MV MOON (VSL IN MV MOON (VSL IN
DISTRESS)/CALL SIGN/ MMSI NO DISTRESS)/CALL SIGN/ MMSI NO
THIS IS DE
MV STAR (OWN SHIP)/CALL SIGN/ MV STAR (OWN SHIP)/CALL SIGN/
MMSI NO MMSI NO
RECEIVED MAY DAY RRR
OVER MAY DAY

DISTRESS RELAY ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

BY R/T BY TELEX
MAY DAY RELAY MAY DAY RELAY
BANGLADESH COAST GURD/CRS BANGLADESH COAST GURD/CRS
MMSI (CALLING STATION ID) MMSI (CALLING STATION ID)
THIS IS DE
MV STAR (OWN SHIP) /CALL SIGN MV STAR (OWN SHIP) /CALL SIGN
/MMSI NO /MMSI NO
RECEIVED MAY DAY RELAY RRR
OVER MAY DAY RELAY

URGENCY
Urgency message concern the safety of a ship, aircraft or person. The urgency signal indicates that
calling station has a very urgent message to transmit concerning the safety of a ship aircraft or
other vehicle or the safety of a person.
FORMAT
PRIORITY: URGENCY
SIGNAL: PAN PAN
CALL: PAN PAN X 3

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ALL STATIONS X 3
THIS IS
MV STAR X 3 /CALL SIGN/ MMSI NO
ON R/T OR VOICE ON TELEX ON SAT- C
PAN PAN X 3 PAN PAN PAN PAN
ALL STATIONS X 3 CQ MV STAR /CALL SIGN/
THIS IS DE INMARSAT-C NO
MV STAR X 3/CALL SIGN/ MMSI MV STAR /CALL SIGN/ MMSI NO
NO POSITION
POSITION NATURE OF URGENCY
POSITION NATURE OF URGENCY REQUIRE IMMEDIATE ……
NATURE OF URGENCY REQUIRE IMMEDIATE …… ASSISTANCE
REQUIRE IMMEDIATE …… ASSISTANCE
ASSISTANCE OVER
OVER

MEDICAL MESSAGE CANCELLING URGENCY MESSAGE

PAN PAN X 3 PAN PAN X 3
NEAREST COAST STATION ID X 3 ALL STATION X 3
THIS IS THIS IS
MV STAR X 3 /CALL SIGN/ MMSI MV STAR X 3/ CALL SIGN /MMSI
NO (WHEN MADE ON DSC)
PLZ CANCEL THE URGENCY
POSITION: MESSAGE OF FOLLOWED BY
REQUIRE MEDICAL ASSISTANCE/ DATE AND TIME(UTC)
ADVICE
OVER
SAFETY
The safety signal indicates, that the station is about to transmit an important meteorological or
navigational warning.
The message which follows is sent on CH-16 or 2182 KHz.
FORMAT
PRIORITY: SAFETY
SIGNAL: SECURITE
CALL: SECURITE X 3
ALL STATIONS X 3
THIS IS
MV STAR X 3 / CALL SIGN/ MMSI NO
ON R/T ON TELEX ON SAT- C
SECURITE X3 SECURITE SECURITE
ALL STATIONS X 3 CQ MV STAR/ CALL SIGN /
THIS IS DE INMARSAT-C ID
MV STAR X3 /CALL SIGN / MMSI MV STAR/ CALL SIGN / MMSI NO
NO NATURE OF SAFETY MESSAGE AT
SAFETY NAVIGATION WARNING NATURE OF SAFETY MESSAGE AT TIME, DATE
ON TIME, DATE ON CH -13 TIME, DATE IN POSITION
(OTHER WORKING CH FOR OTHER IN POSITION VESSEL KEEP SHARP LOOK OUT
TYPE OF MESSAGE) VESSEL KEEP SHARP LOOK OUT AND REPORT
AND REPORT
SHIFT TO CH- 13 AND OUT
BROADCAST-
SECURITE X3
ALL STATIONS X 3

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THIS IS
MV STAR X3 /CALL SIGN / MMSI
NO
NATURE SAFETY MSG AT TIME,
DATE
IN POSITION
VESSEL KEEP SHARP LOOKOUT
AND REPORT
OUT

ON RECEIPT OF A DISTRESS ALERT THE FOLLOWING PROCEDURE SHOULD BE FOLLOWED.

IN RANGE
DSC distress alert received on vhf ch 70 from a DSC distress alert received on MF 2187.5 from a
vessel in area A1 vessel in area A2

1.Stop alarm, review message, inform master and
log entry.
2. set watch on Ch. 16
3.Wait 3 min for a coast radio station (CRS) to
acknowledge.
4.Acknowledge by voice procedure
5. If no voice contacts and no acknowledgement
from CRS, relay alert ashore by any means.
1.Stop alarm, review message, inform master and
log entry.
2. set watch on Ch. 2182
3.Wait 3 min for a coast radio station (CRS) to
acknowledge.
4.Acknowledge by voice procedure
5. If no voice contacts and no acknowledgement
from CRS, relay alert ashore by any means.

OUT OF RANGE
DSC distress alert received on vhf Ch. 70 Distress
vessel in area other than A1
1.Stop alarm, review message, inform master and
log entry.
2. set watch on Ch. 16
3. acknowledge immediately by voice procedure.
4. If no reply to your voice acknowledgement, and
no distress traffic heard, relay alert ashore by any
means.
5. acknowledge by DSC if alert repeats.
DSC distress alert received on 2187.5 khz Distress
vessel in area other than A2
1.Stop alarm, review message, inform master and
log entry.
2. set watch on 2182 khz
3. acknowledge immediately by voice procedure.
4. If no reply to your voice acknowledgement, and
no distress traffic heard, relay alert ashore by any
means.
5. acknowledge by DSC if alert repeats.

HF
DSC distress alert received on HF.
1.Stop alarm, review message, inform master and
log entry.
2. set watch on the corresponding voice or telex
distress frequency (in the same HF band)
3.Wait 3 min for a coast radio station (CRS) to
acknowledge.
4. If no voice acknowledgement from CRS either by
voice or DSC, relay alert ashore by any means.
Safety and urgency message required no acknowledgement
*WHAT IS CALL SIGN? PURPOSE? DETAILS UNDERSTANDING?
Call Sign
Call Sign is a unique alphanumeric identity that belongs to the vessel and acts in the same way as the
registration number of a car. The Call Sign enables two vessels with the same vessel name to be identified
separately. The Call Sign is also useful when the actual vessel name is difficult to understand. It can be used

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in an identification procedure via all means of communication .
These Call Signs are issued by the appropriate authorities in the country of registration of the vessel and can
be referenced back to a database of information about the vessel and its owners etc.
If a vessel does not have its own Call Sign, the vessel owner must apply for a Call Sign at the appropriate
authorities before any new communication equipment can be used on a vessel.
Each Call Sign begins with the Call Sign alphanumeric prefix that indicates nationality, e.g. prefixes allocated
to the United Kingdom are 2, G, M, VP-VQ, VS, ZB-ZJ, ZN-ZO and ZQ. The prefix is usually followed by 2 or 3
alphanumeric characters.
For example, Cunard Lines Queen Mary 2 has the Call Sign W6RO.
Also, CRSs (Coast Radio Stations) using terrestrial communications, have their own Call Signs and can be
contacted from any vessel's radio station.
For example, the Niton CRS in the United Kingdom has the Call Sign GNI.
All Call Sign prefixes can be found in the appendix.
All kinds of ships and CRS identifications are available on the ITU web site (www.itu.int/ITU-R/go/mars/en) in
the MARS (Maritime mobile Access and Retrieval System) database. Details for each ship with a registered
radio station can be found here. The database includes data about a ship’s call sign, MMSI, Inmarsat
numbers and much more.
Q. CRS?
A Coast Radio Station is a maritime radio station situated on shore which monitors radio distress
frequencies, co-ordinates the radio traffic and relays ship-to-ship and ship-to-land communications. Some of
CRSs are categorised as MRCCs or MRSCs or NAVTEX CRSs.

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