GMDSS Equipment carriage requirements

for SOLAS ships

#GENERAL 12 min 68235 views

Introduction

Equipment requirements for GMDSS ships vary according to the area (or areas) in
which a ship operates. Coastal ships for example only have to carry minimal
equipment if they do not operate beyond the range of shore based VHF stations (Sea
Area A1). Ships which trade further from land are required to carry MF equipment in
addition to VHF (Sea Area A2). Ships which operate beyond MF range are required to
carry HF and/or Inmarsat equipment in addition to VHF and MF (Sea Areas A3 and
A4).

Minimum requirements

Every GMDSS ship is required to carry the following minimum equipment (as
defined by SOLAS Chapter IV, regulation 7):

 A VHF radio installation capable of transmitting DSC on channel 70, and

radiotelephony on channels 16, 13 and 6;
 A SART (Two on vessels over 500 GRT, one on vessels 300 - 500 GRT);
 A NAVTEX receiver, if the ship is engaged on voyages in any area where a
NAVTEX service is provided;
 An Inmarsat EGC receiver, if the ship is engaged on voyages in any area of
Inmarsat coverage where MSI services are not provided by NAVTEX or HF
NBDP; and
 A 406 MHz EPIRB. Vessels trading exclusively in sea area A1 may fit a VHF
DSC EPIRB in lieu of a 406 MHz EPIRB).

Passenger ships

Every passenger ship shall be provided with means of two way on scene
radiocommunications for search and rescue purposes using the aeronautical
frequencies 121.5 MHz and 123.1 MHz from the position from which the ship is
normally navigated.

Equipment carriage requirements for GMDSS Sea Areas

The carriage requirements for the various GMDSS Sea Areas are defined in the
following regulations taken from Chapter IV of SOLAS. Detailed guidelines when
implementing new GMDSS installations on board SOLAS ships should be referred to
IMO Circular COMSAR.1/Circ.32.