Radio Communication Equipment:

1. What is GMDSS Components-

2. INMARSAT
3. NAVTEX
4. Which Type of EPIRB do you know
5. EPIRB Battery requirements
6. EPIRB Test Procedure
7. EPIRB action if false alerting
8. EPIRB Testing procedure
9. Which Frequency use SART
10. SART Testing Procedure
11. Digital Selective Calling (DSC):.
12. SEA AREA according to GMDSS
13. Very High Frequencies (VHF).
14. Documents to be carried –
15. GMDSS Test Requirements -
16. PAN PAN / MAYDAY / SECURITE:-
17. ACTION WHEN RECEIVE DISTRESS MSG:-
18. What function is MRCC (Mission Rescue Co-Ordination Center)
19. What is LRIT

1. GMDSS - meaning and System components / Functional Requirements – The Global

Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) is an internationally agreed-upon set of
safety procedures, types of equipment, and communication protocols used to increase
safety and make it easier to rescue distressed ships, boats and aircraft. GMDSS consists
of several systems
2. INMARSAT: It is a Satellite operated system that includes ship earth station terminals –
Inmarsat B, C and F77. It provides telex, telephone and data transfer services between
ship-to-ship, ship to shore, and shore to ship along with a priority telex and telephone
service connected to shore rescue centres.
3. NAVTEX: NAVTEX is an internationally adopted automated system which is used to
distribute MSI-maritime safety information, and includes weather forecasts and warnings,
navigational warnings, search and rescue notices and other similar safety information.
4. Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB): EPIRB is an equipment to
help determine the position of survivors during a SAR operation. It is a secondary means
of distress alerting. Read about EPIRB here.
5. Search and Rescue Locating Equipment (SART): Primarily the Search and Rescue
Radar Transponder. This is used to home Search and Rescue units to the position of
distress which transmits upon interrogation.
6. Digital Selective Calling (DSC): This is a calling service between ship to ship, ship to
shore or vice versa for safety and distress information mainly on high or medium
frequency and VHF maritime radio.
7. SEA AREA according to GMDSS – Area A1, A2, A3, A4
In the GMDSS framework, there are different Sea Areas to allot the working equipment
in the respective area. They are as follows:
 To understand the above table further, following are the ranges with regard to the
frequencies in a specific band:

Medium Frequencies: 300 KHz to 3 MHz

High Frequencies: 3 MHz to 30 MHz
Very High Frequencies: 30 MHz to 300 MHz
8. Very High Frequencies (VHF) For the purposes of maritime communication, the range
of 156 MHz to 174 MHz is allocated. Channel 16, which is set at 156.800 MHz, is for
Distress, Urgency and Safety communication. Channel 70, set at 156.525 MHz, if for
routine VHF DSC (Digital Selective Calling) watch.
9. Documents to be carried –
 Ship’s Radio License
 Radio Operators Certificates
 Safety Radio Certificate
 GMDSS Radio Log Book
 Antenna Rigging Plan
 Valid Shore Based Maintenance Certificate

10. MMSI – Maritime Mobile Service Identity (MMSI) is a unique 9 digit number that is
assigned to a (Digital Selective Calling) DSC radio or an AIS unit. Similar to a cell phone
number, your MMSI number is your unique calling number for DSC radios or an AIS unit

11. GMDSS Test Requirements - The daily, weekly and monthly tests of all the GMDSS
equipment should be done by every navigating officer responsible for it without any
compromise. We must not forget that it is our only best friend in a distress situation at
sea.
Ships at sea must be capable of performing the nine functional GMDSS requirements.
They are:
 Ship-to-shore distress alerting
 Shore-to-ship distress alerting
 Ship-to-ship distress alerting
 SAR coordination
 On-scene communications
 Transmission and receipt of emergency locating signals
 Transmission and receipt of MSI
 General radio communications
 Bridge-to-bridge communications
12. PAN PAN / MAYDAY / SECURITE:-
PAN PAN means urgency msg,
MAYDAY MAYDAY means distress msg,
SECURITE means security msg

13. ACTION WHEN RECEIVE DISTRESS MSG:-

First of all never acknowledge a distress alert from another ship, because if we
acknowledge the alert than it will stop the distress alert transmission from the distress
ship. The distress alert is always acknowledged by the Search Rescue Center or by a
ship when instructed by the SRC.
All action should be taken considered own vessel location Area A1, A2, A3, A4
Area A1 AND A2– wait for SRC to acknowledge if no response than relay the alert to
shore
Area A3 AND A4- not to wait SRC and relay the alert to RCC by all available means
OOW should check the position of the distress and check in which sea area vessel is,
whether it is nearby or far away, if it is nearby than OOW will inform master and log
down the details IN GMDSS LOG and wait for SRC to acknowledge the DSC distress
alert. If no response than after taking master permission relay the distress alert to the
nearest SRC and wait for their acknowledgement. If there not nearby CRS, take
permission from master and relay the alert to the SRC by all means.

EPIRB / Types / Battery / Position Findings / False Alert / Testing –

Types Of EPIRB
COSPAS-SARSAT– EPIRBS under the COSPAS-SARSAT system work on the 406.025
MHz and 121.5 MHz band and are applicable for all sea areas
INMARSAT E– 1.6 GHz band is the one which this EPIRB works on. These are
applicable for sea areas A1, A2 and A3
VHF CH 70– This works on the 156.525 MHz band and are applicable for sea area A1
only.
The device contains two radio transmitters, a 5-watt one, and a 0.25-watt one, each
operating at 406 MHz, the standard international frequency typically signalling distress,
406MHz. The 5-watt radio transmitter is synchronised with a GOES weather satellite
going around the earth in a geosynchronous orbit. An EPIRB transmits signals to the
satellite. The signal consists of an encrypted identification number (all in digital code)
which holds information such as the ship’s identification, date of the event, the nature of
distress and the position.

A UIN is a Unique Identifier Number that is programmed into each beacon at the factory.
The UIN number consists of 15 digit series of letters and numbers that make up the
unique identity of the beacon. The UIN is on a white label on the exterior of the beacon.
The UIN is also referred to as the Hex ID.

The Local User Terminal (satellite receiving units or ground stations) calculates the
position of the casualty using Doppler Shift (is the change in frequency or wavelength of
a wave (or other periodic events) for an observer moving relative to its source).
The LUT passes on the message to the MRCC (Mission Rescue Co-Ordination Centre).
Furthermore, the MRCC is responsible for the SAR ops and oversees the execution of
the rescue mission.
Battery
12 Volt battery
48 hours of transmitting capacity
Normally replaced every 2 to 5 years
False Alerting
It is possible that the EPIRB might get activated by mistake by an individual onboard. In
order to prevent a chain of SAR operations in motion it is imperative that the EPIRB false
transmission is cancelled. In case the EPIRB is falsely activated, the nearest coast
station or RCC (Rescue Co-Ordination Center) must be informed immediately of this
event and as mentioned, cancel it.
Testing EPIRB
The EPIRB should be tested once a month to ensure operational integrity. The
procedure to do so is as follows:
Press and release the test button on the EPIRB
The red lamp on the EPIRB should flash once
Within 30 seconds of pressing the button, the strobe, as well as the red light, should
flash several times
After 60 seconds of operation, the EPIRB will switch off
MRCC (Mission Rescue Co-Ordination Centre). the MRCC is responsible for the
SAR operation and oversees the execution of the rescue mission. The Maritime Rescue
and Coordination Centre (MRCC) is the first point of contact for incidents at sea, vessels
in distress, accidents and oil pollution. After an emergency call, the MRCC starts up the
dispatching of several tasks to the different coast guard partners.

NAVTEX :- is an international maritime automated medium frequency direct printing

service for delivery of navigational and meteorological warnings and forecasts as well
as urgent marine safety information to ships. navtex transmission are also called NBDP
narrow band direct printing. navtex broadcast are primarily made on medium frequencies
of 518khz and 490khz. The international navtex frequency is 518khz and these
broadcast are always in English. national transmission of navtex are broadcasted on
490khz specifically in local language.

LONG RANGE IDENTIFICATION AND TRACKING (LRIT)

LRIT is an international tracking and identification system incorporated by the IMO under
its SOLAS convention to ensure a thorough tracking system for ships of 300 gross tons
and above which are on international voyages across the world. This maritime
equipment is fitted to improve the maritime domain awareness. Usually there are two
types fitted, one is a dedicated LRIT unit and the other type is incorporated within the
existing Sat-C unit. To ensure that the LRIT transmits the necessary data at the
prescribed time interval, ship staff shall always keep the “SAT C” communication system
“On” or keep the dedicated LRIT unit powered on at all times, including in port.