The Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS)
Handbook, produced by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) defines
GMDSS as follows:-
The basic concept of (GMDSS) is that search and rescue
authorities ashore, as well as shipping in the immediate vicinity of the ship
in distress, will be rapidly alerted to a distress incident so that they can
assist in a co-ordinated SAR operation with the minimum delay.
The
system also provides for agency and safety communications and the promulgation
of Maritime Safety Information (MSI) - navigational and meteorological warnings
and forecasts and other urgent safety information to ships. In other words,
every ship is able, irrespective of the area in which it operates, to perform
those communication functions which are essential for the safety of the ship
itself and of other ships operating in the same area.
Benefits of GMDSS
All Distress and Safety
communication will be automated and watchkeeping on traditional voice and Morse
code frequencies become history.
At the press of a button, a ship can send
its identity, position and nature of distress by either satellite or
terrestrial communication.
It will then be up to a shore based Rescue
Co-ordination Centre (RCC) to alert vessels in the area to go to the aid of the
casualty.
This co-ordinating role of the RCC is a new one.
Under
the SOLAS 1974 system, ships in the area were required to monitor for distress
alerts and then respond directly. The GMDSS now makes this the responsibility
of the RCC.
GMDSS also changes the nature of Routine and Safety Radio
operation. These become fully automatic, enabling ship’s to deal with all
incoming and outgoing ship’s radio communication. It is no longer be
necessary to sail with a specialist radio officer onboard.
Components of GMDSS
GMDSS consists of
several different safety systems based around different communications
technologies. These include:-
- Digital Selective Calling (DSC)
- NAVTEX
- INMARSAT,
- EPIRBs
- SARTs
- VHF , MF and HF Communication.
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