Chapter 11 Marine CommunicationPART 1 GMDSSPART 2 VHF

Global Maritime Distress Safety System (GMDSS)GMDSS consists of several systems, some of which are new, but many of which have been in operation for many years. The system is intended to perform the following functions: alerting (including position determination of the unit in distress), search and rescue coordination, locating (homing), maritime safety information broadcasts, general communications, and bridge-to-bridge communications.Chapter 11 Marine Communication.doc

Recreational vessels do not need to comply with GMDSS radio carriage requirements, but will increasingly use the Digital Selective Calling (DSC) VHF radios. Offshore vessels may elect to equip themselves further. Vessels under 300 Gross tonnage (GT) are not subject to GMDSS requirements.In November 1998 a decade of work reached a successful conclusion when a conference held at IMO headquarters adopted amendments to the SOLAS Convention and its 1978 Protocal. The amendments were intended to introduce the GMDSS into the Convention. The date chosen for entry into force, under the SOLAS tacit acceptance provisions, was 1 February 1991. The new system will be phased in between 1992 and 1999. It takes into account technological advances such as satellite communications and is designed to overcome the shortcoming of the existing system, which is a combination of radiotelephone and Morse radiotelegraphy. The range of the existing system is limited to around 150 nautical miles, and reception of messages can be affected by poor propagation condition and other factors. Ships still sometimes disappear without race because a message cannot be sent in time or is not received.

The GMDSS will be a ship-to-shore, shore-to-ship and ship-to-ship system. The equipment required on board ships will depend not on their tonnage, as in the existing system, but on the sea areas in which they operate. Coastal vessels, for example, will only have to carry minimal equipment if they do not operate beyond the range of shore-based VHF radio stations.The basic concept of the system 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 they can assist in a co-ordinated search and rescue operation with the minimum of delay.

The system will also provide for emergency and safety communications and the dissemination of maritime safety information(MSI), including navigational and meterorological warnings. In other words, every ship will be able, irrespective of the area in which it operates, to perform those communication functions considered essential for the safety of the ship itself and of other ships operating in the same area.Although satellite will play an important part in the GMDSS, they will not completely replace existing terrestrial radio. The GMDSS combines various subsystem-which all have different limitations with respect to coverage-into one overall system, and the oceans are divided into four areas:

Area A1: Within range of VHF coast stations(20-30 miles)Area A2: Beyond area A1, but within range of MF coastal stations(about 100 miles)Area A3: Beyond the first two areas, but within coverage of geostationary maritime communication satellites(in practice this means INMARSAT). This covers the area between roughly 70degrees North and 70 degree South.Area A4: The remaining sea areas. The most important of these is the sea around the North Pole. Geostationary satellites, which are positioned above the equator, cannot reach this far.

Vocabulary

protocol [5prEutEkCl] n. headquarter [7hed5kwC:tE] n. convention [kEn5venFEn] n. tacit [5tAsit] adj. combination [7kCmbi5neiFEn] n.propagation [7prCpE5^eiFEn] n. , (, )in vicinity of dissemination [di7semi5neiFEn] n. meteorological [7mi:tjErE5lCdVik] adj. () a meteorological observatory the M- Office a meteorological report a meteorological station ()irrespective [7iris5pektiv] adj. , , terrestrial [ti5restriEl] adj. , subsystem [5sQb7sistim] n. geostationary [7dVi(:)Eu5steiFEnEri] adj. geostationary satellites

NOTES1. GMDSS: Global Maritime Distress and Safety System 2. EPIRB: emergency position indicating radio beacon 3. INMARSAT: International Maritime Satellite 4. Geostationary satellites: 5. SART: Search and Rescue Transponder 6. The system will also provide for emergency and safety communications and the dissemination of maritime safety information(MSI), including navigational and meterorological warnings.

EXERCISES______ is an area within the radiotelephone coverage of at least one VHF coast station in which continuous Digital Selective Calling is availableASea Area A1BSea Area A2CSea Area A3DSea Area A4______ is not required by bridge-to-bridge communicationsAVHFBSARTCNAVTEXDLES______ operates at a transfer rate of up to 9600 bits per second and is telephonetelex and facsimilefaxcapableAINMARSAT ABINMARSAT CCSafetyNETDNAVTEX

At seaall required GMDSS equipmentother than survival craft equipmentmust be proven operational by ______Adaily testingBeither A or CCoperational use of the equipmentDtesting at least every 48 hoursEach satellite broadcasts ______ traffic on a designated channelALESBESACNCSDEGC.doc

For GMDSSwhen may a compulsory vessel not be allowed to leave port ________AWhen the vessel is in an overloaded conditionBWhen the vessel has arranged for both duplication of equipment AND shore-based maintenanceCWhen the vessel has replaced a required piece of GMDSS-related equipment but its performance has not been verified or loggedDWhen the vessel is carrying only two licensed GMDSS Radio Operators and is capable of performing all required functionsHow long must the GMDSS radio log be retained on board ________AAt least two years after the last entryBAt least one year after the last entryCAt least 90 days after the last entryDAt least 30 days after the last entry

If a GMDSS radio operator initiates a DSC distress transmission but does not insert a messagewhat happens ________AThe transmission is aborted and an alarm sounds to indicate this data must be provided by the operatorBThe transmission is not initiated andERRORis indicated on the display readoutCThe transmission will be made withdefaultinformation provided automaticallyDThe receiving station will poll the DSC unit of the vessel in distress to download the necessary informationReliable delivery of messages is ensured by ______ techniquesAforward error correctionBaftward error correctionCDGPSDerror-free and low error receptionThe ______ provides the link between the Space Segment and the land-based National/International fixed communications networksAVHF BSARTCNAVTEX DLES

The Consol navigation systemused in Russian and Northern European waterscan be used ______AFor precise navigation in coastal watersBBy measuring the phase difference of the dots and dashesCAs an aid to ocean navigationDIf the vessel is fitted with a special Consol receiverThe data travels from the ______ to the INMARSAT Network Coordination StationNCSand then down to the SES's on ships at seaAVHFBSARTCNAVTEXDLESWhat are the vessel equipment and personnel requirements for GMDSS ________ATwo licensed GMDSS radio operatorsBEquipment carriage requirementsCDistress alerting and responseDAll of the above

What is the action that a GMDSS Radio Operator should take when a DSC distress alert is received ________ANo action is necessaryas the DSC control unit will automatically switch to the NBDP follow-on communications frequencyBThe operator should immediately set continuous watch on the radiotelephone frequency that is associated with the frequency band on which the distress alert was receivedCThe Operator should immediately set continuous watch on VHF channel 70DThe Operator should immediately set continuous watch on the NBDP frequency that is associated with the frequency band on which the distress alert was receivedWhat is the most appropriate action for a GMDSS radio operator to take in a distress situation where immediate help is neededbut the vessel is not sinking nor needs to be abandoned ________ASwitch off EPIRB and SART manuallyBTransmit distress call by MF/HFVHF or INMARSATCNotify the RCCRescue Coordination Centerthrough VHF FM on channel 13DTransmit distress call by activating the radiotelegraph automatic alarm signal

What publications should a GMDSS Operator consult regarding the proper set-up and operation of vessel equipment ________AITU PublicationsBThe manufacturers instruction manualsCPart 90 of the FCC Rules and RegulationsDCode of Federal RegulationsTitle 47Part 80Subpart WWhen the GMDSS Radio Operator on watch hearsSECURITEspoken three times he can expect to receive a message concerning ______AThe safety of navigation or important meteorological warningsBThe safety of a vessel or a person is in jeopardyCA vessel in need of immediate assistanceDA coast station traffic listWhere should the GMDSS radio log be kept on board ship ________AIn the Captain's officeBIn the sea cabinCAt the GMDSS operating positionDAnywhere on board the vessel

Which action should be taken on receipt of a GMDSS distress alert ________ARead the display screen and/or printoutBSilence the alarmCListen for any follow up voice/telex transmission on the appropriate frequencyDAll of the aboveWhich categories of NAVTEX messages may not be selectively rejected through receiver programming ________ANavigational warningsBWeather warningsCSAR and distress alert informationDAll of the above

Which device provides the main means in the GMDSS for locating ships in distress or their survival craft ________ARadio direction finderBSatellite EPIRBsCMF/HF DSCDVHF homing deviceWhich frequencies and modes are allocated for distress alerting in GMDSS ________A406 MHz via EPIRBB1626.5-1645.5 via INMARSATCChannel 70 DSC plus six6MF/HF DSC frequenciesDAll of the aboveWhich maintenance functions can a GMDSS Radio Operator perform ________AThe Operator can make fine internal adjustments to the transmitter as long as the output power does not change by more than one percentBThe Operator is responsible for ensuring that INMARSAT antennas are free of built-up soot and clear of obstaclesCAll levels of maintenance must be performed by a licensed GMDSS Radio MaintainerDThe Operator may install an EPROM in order to ensure that the equipment continues to operate within legal constraints

Which message categories cannot be disabled by the GMDSS radio operator ________ANavigational WarningsBMeteorological WarningsCSearch and Rescue InformationDAll of the aboveWhich statement concerning GMDSS Radio Operator requirements is FALSE ________AEach compulsory vessel must carry at least two licensed GMDSS Radio Operators at all times while at seaBEach compulsory vessel must carry at least two licensed Radio Operators at all times while at sea and may elect to carry a GMDSS Radio Maintainer as wellCCommunications involving safety of life at sea do not have to be logged as long as the compulsory vessel was not involved in such communicationsDWhile at seaadjustments toand the maintaining ofGMDSS equipment may be performed by the GMDSS Radio operator as long as the work is supervised by an onboard licensed GMDSS Radio Maintainer

Which statement concerning reserve sources of energy for GMDSS is FALSE ________AWhile the ship is at seathere must be available at all times a supply of electrical energy sufficient to operate the radio installations and to charge any batteries used as part of a reserve source of energyBBoth the VHF and MF/HF installations must be simultaneously suppliedCA means of ensuring a continuous supply of electrical power must be provided to all GMDSS equipment that could be affected by an interruption in powerDIf a UPS or equivalent is used to supply power to the ship's GPS receiver or other source of positional informationa means must be provided to ensure the continuous supply of the information in the event of a failure to the ship's main or emergency source of powerWhich statement concerning satellite EPIRBs is TRUE ________AOnce activatedthese EPIRBs continuously send up a signal for use in identifying the vessel and for determining the position of the beaconBThe coded signal identifies the nature of the distress situationCThe coded signal only identifies the vessel's name and port of registryDIf the GMDSS Radio Operator does not program the EPIRBit will transmit default information such as the follow-on communications frequency and modeWhich statement is generally correct regarding the maintenance requirements for ships under GMDSS ________ARedundancy of functions of certain equipment will partially meet this requirementBOn-board maintenance provided by a person holding a GMDSS maintainer's license will partially meet the requirementsCShoreside maintenance and scheduled tests and inspections will partially meet this requirementDAll of the above

Which statement is TRUE ________AGMDSS radio logs are required to contain entries pertaining to all incidents connected to radio communication service which appear to be of importance to the safety of life at seaBAll distress communications must be entered in the GMDSS radio logCBoth of the aboveDNone of the aboveWhich statement is TRUE ________AKey letters or abbreviations may not be used in GMDSS radio logbooks under any circumstanceBUrgent communications do not need to be entered in the GMDSS radio logCBoth of the aboveDNone of the aboveYou are signing on a deck officerwho will be designated as one of the GMDSS operatorsbefore sailing foreignWhich statement is TRUE ________AHe/she must have an STCW certificate endorsed asValid for Service on Vessels Operating in the GMDSS SystemBHe/she must present either an FCC-issued license or a Coast Guard-issued licenseCYou must consult theList of Qualificationson the reverse of his/her FCC-issued licenseDHis/her Merchant Mariners Document must have an added endorsement as Radio Electronics Officer.doc

Thank You!