GMDSS Handbook for Mariners

Preface

Author’s note

Modernisation of the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System

Lifesaving appliances

Towards SOLAS 2026

Use of terminology and abbreviations

Acknowledgements

Abbreviations and acronyms

1 Introduction to the GMDSS system

2 General principles and features of the maritime mobile service

3 Requirements of maritime mobile and satellite services

4 Inmarsat and maritime mobile satellite services

5 GMDSS digital selective calling equipment and systems

6 Narrow band direct printing equipment and systems

7 GMDSS Inmarsat equipment

8 Long–range idendification and tracking

9 GMDSS MF, HF and VHF equipment

10 Emergency position indicating radio beacon

11 Automatic identification system

12 Survival craft radio equipment

13 NAVTEX

14 Search and rescue radio operations

15 Ship reporting systems

16 GMDSS distress, urgency and safety communications and procedures

17 Routine testing

18 Battery maintenance

19 Equipment maintenance

20 Routine radio communications

ANNEXES

Core system frequencies, equipment, requirements, and guidelines

1 Frequencies for use by GMDSS Ship Earth Stations

3 Maritime identification digits (MIDS)

4 Harmonisation of GMDSS requirements for radio installations onboard vessels

5 Clarifications of requirements in IMO performance standards for GMDSS equipment

6 Guidance on the validity of radiocommunications equipment installed and used on ships

7 Guidance on procedures for updating shipborne navigation and communication equipment

8 Reserve sources of energy

9 Marine Order 25 (Equipment lifesaving) 2014

Distress, alerting, communications, and search and rescue procedures

10 Shore–to–ship communications during a distress

11 Distress priority communications for RCCs from shore–to–ship via GMDSS satellite service

12 Procedure for routeing distress alerts

13 Guidance on alerting of search and rescue authorities

14 Minimising delays in search and rescue response to distress alerts

15 Measures to reduce the number of false distress alerts

Maritime safety information and automatic identification system guidelines

16 Guidance for the reception of maritime safety information as required in GMDSS

17 Guidelines for the onboard operational use of shipborne automatic identification systems

18 Information on the display of AIS–SART, MOB and EPIRB devices

19 Guidance on the use of the UN/LOCODE in the destination field in AIS messages

20 Guidelines on annual testing of the automatic identification system

21 Information on the display of AIS–SART, AIS man overboard and EPIRB–AIS devices

Emergency position indicating radio beacons and testing

22 AMSA 6–beacon registration form

23 Operation of marine radar for SART detection

24 Guidelines for shore–based maintenance of emergency position indicating radio beacons

25 Guidelines on annual testing of emergency position indicating radio beacons

26 Guidance on the COSPAS–SARSAT International 406 MHz beacon registration database

27 Commercially available locating, tracking and emergency notification devices

Training, certification, and operator familiarisation

28 Guidance on the GMDSS COC model course

29 GMDSS Coast Station Operator’s Certificate (CSOC) syllabus

30 Participation of non–SOLAS ships in the GMDSS and guidance on the development of training

31 Promoting and verifying continued familiarisation of GMDSS operators onboard ships

Practical communications, phrases, and codes

32 Standard marine communication phrases

33 Phonetic alphabet and figure codes

34 AMSA GMDSS radio logbook

35 MCA GMDSS radio logbook

Test calls, applications, and miscellaneous guidance

36 Recommendations on MF/HF digital selective calling test calls to coast stations

37 Guidance on smartphone and other computer device search and rescue application

38 Medical assistance at sea

Glossary

References

Index

Fidaa Karkori is an established author and training specialist with a particular focus on the offshore industry.

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