The Sub-system of GMDSS are as follows

INMARSAT: It is a Satellite operated system that includes ship earth station terminals. 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.

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.

Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB): EPIRB is equipment to help determine the position
of survivors during a SAR operation. It is a secondary means of distress alerting. Read about EPIRB here.

Search and Rescue Locating Equipment: 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. Read
about Search and Rescue equipment here.

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.

NAVTEX — which uses MF radio to provide coastal warnings

SafetyNET — which uses Inmarsat satellites to provide coverage from about 76 degrees north to 76
degrees south latitude.

Inmarsat-C — This system is currently the only satellite system required by the SOLAS Convention as a
carriage requirement to receive MSI. Communications via the Inmarsat-C system are data or message-
based

Enhanced Group Calling (EGC) service

The Inmarsat system has a capability known as enhanced group calling (EGC) which allows land based
organisations, known as information providers, to broadcast messages to selected ships located
anywhere within an ocean region. Kung baga pili or kung sin o lang Ang rapit amo lang rah Ang maka
baton ka distress signal.

TYPES OF STATIONS IN THE MARITIME MOBILE-SATELLITE SERVICE

Land Earth Stations (LES)

Each Inmarsat ocean region has a number of LESs, which provide the interface between ships at sea and
shore-based telecommunications networks. This function is fully automated, and the LES is effectively
transparent as far as the system user is concerned.

Network Coordination Stations (NCS)

Each Inmarsat ocean region has a network coordination station (NCS) which is responsible for the overall
frequency, signaling and traffic management of its respective region. This NCS function is incorporated in
one of the LESs.
Ship Earth Station (SES)

The Inmarsat installation aboard a vessel is referred to as a ship earth station (SES), or sometimes as a
mobile earth station (MES).

INMARSAT-C EQUIPMENT

Each Inmarsat-C system must be tested at least once by a GMDSS operator during the passage of the
ship between each port at which the ship calls, by communicating with a coast earth station.

Digital Selective Calling ( DSC )

DSC or Digital Selective Calling is a standard method of transmitting messages via VHF (Also via MF and
VF). It’s primary use is for sending distress calls to both other vessels and shore systems. DSC allows you
to directly ‘call’ or receive a call directly, rather than having to listen to a speaker.

MF/HF DSC2 187.5 kHz

Narrow Band Direct Printing Equipment and Systems ( Radiotelex )

NBDP (or radio telex) is a method of sending telex information over a radio channel.

Long Range Identification and Tracking System ( LRIT )

The LRIT system provides for global identification and tracking of ships.

LRIT is not part of the GMDSS, but GMDSS equipment can be used for LRIT if the equipment is LRIT
compliant.

Channel 16- radiotelephone distress and safety channel

Channel 70- the DSC distress and safety channel

MF only — monitors the 2 MHz DSC distress and safety channel of 2 187.5 kHz only

MF/HF — monitors all 6 MF/HF DSC distress and safety channels from 2 – 16 MHz.

Navtex System- The system provides maritime safety information, including weather warnings and
forecasts relevant to ships within specified coastal areas.

The range is generally 300 — 400 nautical miles.

Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon ( EPIRB )

EPIRBs are small, portable, battery powered radio transmitters that are both watertight and buoyant and
transmit in the 406.0 – 406.1 MHz channel.