Safety at sea was increased after the introduction of radio communication equipment on board ships. But initially, neither the use of radio communication on a vessel, nor the way a distress call was routed to the search and rescue organizations was particularly well-organized. It was mainly based on making ship-to-ship alerts on the assigned distress frequencies. Often there was no reception or simply no action after the transmission of the distress calls. Thus, GMDSS (Global Maritime Distress and Safety System) was introduced to solve this problem.
GMDSS is an important part of the IMO (International Maritime Organisation) SOLAS (Safety Of Life At Sea) convention. It 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.
GMDSS provides methods and procedures of alerting by radio communication to shore-based MRCCs (Maritime Rescue and Coordination Centres), CRSs (Coast Radio Stations), air assets (fixed wing SAR aircrafts and SAR helicopters) and vessels in the vicinity that assistance is required. This Ship-to-Shore distress alerting system will guarantee quick and efficient SAR (Search And Rescue) operations. All SAR activities are organized by MRCCs and MRSCs (Maritime Rescue Sub Centres) within specified navigational sea areas normally bordering their coastlines.
GMDSS also provides the automatic broadcast of MSI (Maritime Safety Information) to vessels at sea from CRSs.
GMDSS defines the radio equipment carriage requirements for all SOLAS vessels at sea, dependent on the GMDSS Sea Area in which they operate.
SOLAS vessels are all cargo ships of 300 GT and upwards and all passenger ships (with a few exceptions). Detailed SOLAS vessel definitions may be found in ALRS Volume 5.
Non-SOLAS vessels do not need to comply with GMDSS radio equipment carriage requirements, but will increasingly use it, because it leads to an important increase of safety at sea.
Some countries have incorporated GMDSS radio equipment carriage requirements into their domestic marine legislation that is valid for non- SOLAS vessels under their flag. For example, in many countries, charter yachts under their flag must carry VHF radio.
GMDSS is an important part of the IMO (International Maritime Organisation) SOLAS (Safety Of Life At Sea) convention. It 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.
GMDSS provides methods and procedures of alerting by radio communication to shore-based MRCCs (Maritime Rescue and Coordination Centres), CRSs (Coast Radio Stations), air assets (fixed wing SAR aircrafts and SAR helicopters) and vessels in the vicinity that assistance is required. This Ship-to-Shore distress alerting system will guarantee quick and efficient SAR (Search And Rescue) operations. All SAR activities are organized by MRCCs and MRSCs (Maritime Rescue Sub Centres) within specified navigational sea areas normally bordering their coastlines.
GMDSS also provides the automatic broadcast of MSI (Maritime Safety Information) to vessels at sea from CRSs.
GMDSS defines the radio equipment carriage requirements for all SOLAS vessels at sea, dependent on the GMDSS Sea Area in which they operate.
SOLAS vessels are all cargo ships of 300 GT and upwards and all passenger ships (with a few exceptions). Detailed SOLAS vessel definitions may be found in ALRS Volume 5.
Non-SOLAS vessels do not need to comply with GMDSS radio equipment carriage requirements, but will increasingly use it, because it leads to an important increase of safety at sea.
Some countries have incorporated GMDSS radio equipment carriage requirements into their domestic marine legislation that is valid for non- SOLAS vessels under their flag. For example, in many countries, charter yachts under their flag must carry VHF radio.
Last modified: Saturday, 25 April 2020, 7:50 PM