MDK 454 GMDSS

Class #06
Satellite Systems in the
Maritime Services
GMDSS Concept Image
Some Satellite Service Providers
You May Encounter in Maritime Service:
• Inmarsat
• COSPAS-SARSAT
• IRIDIUM
• Globalstar
• SpeedCast (formerly CapRock)
• KVH
• Garmin
Currently, only these three are approved for
use in the GMDSS:

• Inmarsat

• COSPAS-SARSAT

• IRIDIUM
Examples of Satellite Orbits of
Different Systems or Objects
Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Geosynchronous Orbit
• International Space Station • Inmarsat
• COSPAS-SARSAT • COSPAS-SARSAT
Mid Earth Orbit (MEO) Polar Orbit
• Global Positioning System (GPS) • Iridium
• COSPAS-SARSAT • COSPAS-SARSAT
Inclinations of Different Orbits
• Equatorial/Geosynchronous Orbits - 0°
• Polar Orbits - 90° (may deviate 20° to 30°)
Satellite System Terms to Know

Inmarsat Terms: COSPAS-SARSAT Terms

• Mobile Earth Station (MES) • EPIRB
• Land Earth Station (LES) • Local User Terminal (LUT)
• Network Control Station (NCS) • Mission Control Center (MCC)
• Network Operation Center (NOC) • LEOSAR
• Single Network Access Code • GEOSAR
(SNAC)
• Ocean Region Access Codes
• Service Access Code (SAC)
First system we will discuss:
Inmarsat
A satellite based, GMDSS approved system implemented in 1991 for
Distress Alerting and also can provide voice, data, and messaging
services.

Went private in 1999 but retained intergovernmental oversight by the

IMO.

Composed of 3 segments:
• Ground Segment
• Space Segment
• Mobile Earth Stations (MES)
Inmarsat Ground Segment
 Ground Segment

Global network of Land Earth

Stations (LES) are linked to
Rescue Coordination Centers
(RCC) worldwide.

Network Coordination
Stations (NCS) and Network
Operations Centers (NOC) for
INMARSAT C, Fleet 77, and
Fleet Broadband
Inmarsat Space Segment
 Space Segment

Four primary satellites in geosynchronous orbit at an altitude of 35,700

km provide coverage worldwide between 76 N and 76 S latitude.

• Inmarsat Fleet Broadband and Fleet 77 use the I-4 Satellites:

• AMER (Americas)
• EMEA (Europe, Middle East, Africa)
• MEAS (Middle East, Asia)
• APAC (Asia Pacific)

• The Inmarsat C system retains the naming configuration of the older I-3
satellites:
• AOR-E (Atlantic Ocean Region-East)
• AOR-W (Atlantic Ocean Region-West)
• IOR (Indian Ocean Region)
• POR (Pacific Ocean Region)
Equatorial view of Inmarsat Fleet Broadband
and Fleet 77 Coverage Areas:
Equatorial view of Inmarsat C Ocean Region
Areas:
Inmarsat Mobile Earth Stations
(MES)
 Mobile Earth
Stations (MES)
MES are the systems that may be installed onboard your vessel. Also
known as Ship Earth Stations (SES):
• Inmarsat C and Mini-C Terminals
• Inmarsat Fleet 77 (F77)
• Inmarsat Fleet Broadband (FB)
• Inmarsat Fleet Safety

Two of these systems are required if you are operating in Sea Area A3
and using the Inmarsat Equipment Solution.
• Reference the chart in ALRS, Page 7, Operational Details
Inmarsat C
Mobile Earth Station
 Inmarsat C

Most common GMDSS

approved satellite system
currently in use

Operates similar to email

• Text/data only -- “store and forward”
system
• Speed of 600 bits/second
• Keyboard-only interface:
 Inmarsat C

• Above deck equipment consists of small omnidirectional antenna.

• Below deck equipment consists of transceiver, terminal, and printer
 Inmarsat Mini-C

Inmarsat C has an additional version: Inmarsat Mini-C

• Smaller equipment package
• Updated user interface
• Roughly same functionality as standard Inmarsat C
Inmarsat Mini-C
Inmarsat Fleet 77
Mobile Earth Station
 Inmarsat Fleet 77

GMDSS replacement for the older

Inmarsat B.
• Set for decommissioning Dec 1st, 2020.

• Uses high-gain, active, parabolic,

directional antenna allowing higher
speed and data.
Fleet 77 Parabolic
Antenna, Terminal, and
Handset
 Inmarsat Fleet 77
Capabilities
Supports voice, telex, fax, and data capabilities
• Distress Messaging by voice or data/text
• Prioritizes outgoing & incoming messages
• P3 = Distress
• P2 = Urgency
• P1 = Safety
• P0 = General/Routine
Inmarsat Fleet Broadband
(FB)
Mobile Earth Station
 Inmarsat Fleet
Broadband (FB)

Newest Inmarsat system in the

GMDSS
• Supports communications
for:
• Voice
• Standard IP
• Streaming IP
• ISDN
• Fax
• Text
 Inmarsat Fleet
Broadband (FB)

Uses a high-gain,
active, parabolic,
directional antenna
allowing higher speed
and data transfer.
 Inmarsat
Sending and Receiving Communications
 Inmarsat Mobile
Numbers
Inmarsat Mobile Number arrangement:
• 9 digits
• Issued to vessels by Inmarsat

Number format: TMIDXXXZZ

• T = type of terminal
• MID = Maritime Identification Digits
• XXX = digits 4 thru 6 of MMSI (provide the MMSI ends in three zeros
• ZZ = ship’s extension number
 Inmarsat Mobile
Numbers
The Type of Mobile Earth Station (MES) is indicated by the
first digit(s) on the mobile number:

• 4 = Inmarsat C and Mini-C

• 76 = Inmarsat F77 (voice)
• 60 = Inmarsat F77 (data)
• 77 = Inmarsat Fleet Safety

For Example JRCC (Joint Rescue Coordination Center) Norfolk’s

Inmarsat C Mobile number is: 430370670
 Inmarsat Mobile
Numbers
Entering an Inmarsat Mobile Number in the Inmarsat C addressbook:

Inmarsat C Mobile Number

 Ocean Region Access
Codes for sending Telex
messages on Inmarsat C

When sending messages to an Inmarsat C MES, these codes are

required to be entered in addition to the Inmarsat Mobile number for
the vessel depending on which Ocean Region the vessel is in.
• 581 Atlantic Ocean Region - East (AOR-E)
• 582 Pacific Ocean Region (POR)
• 583 Indian Ocean Region (IOR)
• 584 Atlantic Ocean Region - West (AOR-W)

For Example: 584430370670

• This would send a telex message to an Inmarsat C terminal in AOR-W
Equatorial view of Inmarsat C Ocean Region
Areas requiring Ocean Region Access Codes:
 Single Network
Access Code
(SNAC)
SNAC: +870
• This code is specifically for Fleet 77 and Fleet Broadband.

• SNAC enables you to successfully reach any active Inmarsat terminal,

regardless of its location by dialing 00, SNAC 870, and then the Inmarsat
Mobile Number:

Automatic Inmarsat
Completion Mobile Number
SNAC
 Receiving MSI on
Inmarsat C

Marine Safety Information (MSI) is distributed to vessels via

Inmarsat’s SafetyNET and SafetyNET II service:

SafetyNET enables the international broadcast and automatic

reception of MSI and Search and Rescue(SAR) related
information via the Inmarsat Enhanced Group Calling (EGC)
system.

SafetyNET II is a modernization of the existing SafetyNET

services.
 Receiving MSI on
Inmarsat C

Enhanced Group Calling (EGC) is a feature of Inmarsat

systems that allows selection of vessels by grouping to
distribute information selectively to:
• Individual vessels
• A particular fleet of vessels
• All vessels in a specific geographical area
• All vessel of a particular flag state
• All vessels with an Inmarsat terminal
Distribution of MSI via the Inmarsat
SafetyNET system and ECG:
 Receiving MSI on
Inmarsat C
MSI can be selected on or off in the Inmarsat C EGC
Configuration. This is similar to selecting message categories
on a Navtex receiver.
 Two-digit Service
Access Codes (SAC)

When sending messages to a Land Earth Station (LES) SACs are used to
direct Inmarsat C communications to appropriate users automatically.

• 32 – Medical Advice
• 38 – Medical Assistance
• 39 – Maritime Assistance
• 41 – Meteorological reports
• 42- Navigational Hazards and Warnings
• 43 – Ship Position Reports

These are also known as Short Access Codes or Special Access Codes.
 Sending a Distress on
Inmarsat C

A distress message is initiated by This will automatically send an

pressing and holding the undesignated distress message
DISTRESS button on the Inmarsat containing:
C distress panel for 5 seconds. • Your vessel’s Inmarsat Mobile
Number
• Time and Date
• Your Position
• And that you are in distress

This message (if not changed)

will be routed to the RCC
associated with the LES you
message was sent through.
Press and hold the DISTRESS button for 5 seconds
 Sending a Distress on
Inmarsat C

You may designate a distress before pressing the DISTRESS button to

select a preferred LES and what type of distress you are having.

Then: Press and hold the DISTRESS button for 5

First: Designate the type of distress in the seconds
Setting Distress Alert menu
Next system: COSPAS-SARSAT
 COSPAS-
SARSAT

• COSPAS:
• Cosmicheskaya Sistema Poiska Avariynyh Sudov
• (Space System for the Search of Vessels in Distress)

• SARSAT:
• Search and Rescue Satellite-Aided Tracking
 COSPAS-
SARSAT
• Joint international satellite-aided SAR system
• Non-profit treaty-based system operated cooperatively by 45
different nations or agencies
• Detects 406 MHz SAR beacons

• Does not use all it’s own Satellites and instead has instrument
Packages on other satellites.
Emergency Position Indicating Radio
Beacon
EPIRB
 COSPAS-
SARSAT
Made up of 3 satellite segments
• LEOSAR
• MEOSAR
• GEOSAR

• Covers air, land, and sea rescue distress notifications for 3 different
types of devices.
• ELT (Emergency Locator Transmitters)
• EPIRB
• Personal Locator Beacons
LEOSAR Local User
Terminals
(LEOLUTS)
Mission Control Centers (MCC)
 EPIRBs

•406 MHz beacons • Beacons require registration

with the COSPAS-SARSAT
transmit a 0.5 system.

second burst every • This can be accomplished at

50 seconds. cospas-sarsat.int
or
406registration.com
•Contains a unique
identity for that
beacon.
Next up: Iridium
 Iridium Satellite
Network
• Uses 66 low earth orbit and mid earth
orbit satellites in a Polar orbit
resembling the COSPAS-SARSAT
system.

• Allows voice and data

communications in Polar regions.
 Iridium
Capabilities
•System will have combined:
•Distress Alerting
•Voice Communications
•Reception of MSI via an EGC system
Iridium Satellite
Network
Iridium Maritime
Terminal
Lars and Thrane LT-3100
Iridium Maritime
Terminal
Intellian C700
 Iridium GMDSS
Implementation
•Received GMDSS approval in May 2018
with service scheduled implementation
in 2020.