GMDSS

GLOBAL MARITIMEDISTRESSAND SAFETYSYSTEM

MANUAL
2015 EDITTON

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GMDSS
GLOBALMARITIMEDISTRESSAND SAFETYSYSTEM

MANUAL
2015 EDITION

ThisManualis notto be consideredas a replacementor substitute

forthe ITU"ManualforUseby the Maritime Mobileand Maritime
Services"or anyotherpublication
Mobile-Satellite requiredto be
carriedon boarda shipby the RadioRegulationsor anyother
international
convention.

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London,2015
Contents

Page

Foreword

Abbreviations.

Part 1 Introduction. ... 1

l.l History 1
1.2 The old system and the need for improvement. . . . . 2
n
1.3 Early implementation of GMDSS provisions z

1.4 Implementation 7992-1999 . . . J

1.5 Developments since 1999 . . J

t.6 GMDSS review. -A

1.7 Developments in the ITU . 5

Part 2 Basic concept of the GMDSS 7

2.1 General 7
).) Communications functions in the GMDSS. 10
'l
2.3 Searchandrescue ....... 1
2.4 Radio personnel 12
2.5 Station identities 12

Part 3 Communications svstemsin the GMDSS 13

3.1 General 13
3.2 Inmarsat system. 14
3.3 Cospas-Sarsatsystem 19
3.4 Digital selectivecalling (DSC) system. 27
3.5 Search and rescue radar transponders (SARTs) 30
3.6 Equipmentperformancesiandards ....... 32
3-7 M a r i t i m e s a f e t y i n f o r m a t i o n( M S I ) s y s t e m ....... 32
3.8 Automatic identification system (AIS) . 33
3.9 Shipsecurityalertsystem(SsAs) ..: ... 34
3.10 Long-range identification and tracking (LRIT) 34

Part 4 GMDSSequipmentcarriagerequirements.... 35

Patt 5 Operational procedures for the GMDSS 37

Part 6 Shore-basedSAR communication network and ooeration. 41

Part 7 Master Plan for the GMDSS A 1

+)

Part 8 Maintenance of equipment in the GMDSS 45

Annex 1 Regulations of the 1974 SOLAS Convention, as amended,

relevant to the GMDSS. 47

G M D S SM a n u a l ilt