GMDSS L3

Small Craft Operator Program
Module 2 – Restricted Operator Certificate (Maritime)

Topics we will be covering in the course include …

• Section 1 - Maritime Mobile Service
• Section 2 – Procedures
• Section 3 – GMDSS
• Section 4 – Digital Selective Calling

Radios

• Section 5 – Routine

Communications

• Section 6 – Distress Communications
• Section 7 – Urgency Communications
• Section 8 – Safety Communications
• Section 9 – Other GMDSS Equipment
• Section 10 – Additional Information

Restricted Operator’s
Certificate (Maritime) Course

Section 3
GMDSS

In this lesson we will be looking at…

•Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS)
•Carriage Requirements
•Distress Frequency Monitoring
•Equipment Requirements
•Sea Areas
•Maritime Mobile Service Identity (MMSI) and
Maritime Identity (MI)

Global Maritime Distress Safety System (GMDSS)

•GMDSS is an International
system employing advanced
digitaland satellite
technology
•Development of GMDSS was
initiated in 1988 by the IMO

Global Maritime Distress Safety System (GMDSS)

Developed to save lives by modernizing and enhancing the current
radio communications system by:
•Increasing the probability that an alert will be sent when a vessel is in
distress
•Increasing the likelihood that the alert will be received
•Increasing the ability to locate survivors
•Improving rescue communications and coordination
•Providing the mariner with vital maritime safety information

Why the Need for GMDSS?

•Non-GMDSS system (eg. VHF radio) is often limited to being in radio
contact with shore station or other vessels. There could be gaps in
coverage.

•GMDSS is designed to enhance ship to shore communications, and
provide rapid, automated distress alerts.

Carriage Requirements

GMDSS equipment is mandatory for ships meeting the following
requirements:
•Large cargo ships on international voyages or in the open sea
•Passenger ships on international voyages or in the open sea
•Non-pleasure craft more than 8 metres in length
•Non-pleasure craft carrying more than 6 passengers
•Towing vessels

Carriage Requirements

GMDSS equipment is voluntary for recreational vessels

Distress Frequency Monitoring

•With transition to GMDSS, Coast Guard Radio Stations will continue to
monitor VHF Channel 16 and MF 2182 KHz for the foreseeable future
•DSC equipment at these locations will monitor VHF Channel 70 for digital
alerts
•CCG cannot monitor MF/HF-DSC alerts as that will not be implemented
in Canada
•Vessels travelling outside of Sea Area A1 will monitor for MF/HF-DSC
alerts

GMDSS Concept

Equipment Requirements

International Voyages

•Non-pleasure craft over 300 tons, and vessels carrying more then 12
passengers are required to carry GMDSS equipment in accordance
with the requirements of the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention.

Equipment Requirements

International voyages
Depending on the vessel length and areas of operation, such vessels
are required to carry as a minimum, one or more of the following
•Digital Selective Calling (DSC) radio
•Search and Rescue transponder (SART)
•NAVTEX receiver
•INMARSAT system
•Emergency position indicating radio beacons (EPIRB’s)

Equipment Requirements (cont.)

Domestic non-pleasure craft are required to carry VHF-DSC equipment
and include:
•Vessels over 300 tons
•Vessels 20 m or more in length carrying more than 12 passengers
•Vessels of a closed construction more than 8 metres in length
•Vessels carrying more than 6 passengers
•Towing vessels

Equipment requirements (cont.)

•Pleasure craft have NO mandatory GMDSS equipment carriage
requirements

GMDSS Sea Areas

•GMDSS divided the world’s oceans into four sea areas designated A1
to A4. These areas were established to dictate the GMDSS equipment
carriage requirements of compulsory equipped vessels.

GMDSS Sea Areas

Sea Area A1 – Falls within the
range of at least one shore based
VHF-DSC coast station. Range is
between 20–30 NM from shore.

Sea Area A2 - This area falls
within range of at least one
shore-based MF-DSC coast station
(100 NM from shore) and excludes
Sea Area A1.

Sea Area A3 – This is within
INMARSAT satellite coverage,
between 70°N and 70°S and
excludes Sea Areas A1 and A2.

Sea Area A4 – This includes the
Polar Regions, excluding Sea Areas
A1, A2, and A3.

GMDSS Sea Areas

•In Canada, as a result of consultations
with the Canadian marine industry it
has been decided to implement sea
areas A1 on the east and west coast.
•Outside A1 will be an A3 sea area
with A4 sea area in the Arctic.
•There is no MF-DSC shore capability.

Operations

•Most recreational vessels operate in Sea Areas A1 and A2 and these
areas are dependent on shore stations having the appropriate
equipment and formally being declared operational.

•In North America the shore stations have become operational
however in other parts of the world including developing nations, this
may not be the case.

Equipment requirements

•Recreational vessels operating in Sea Area A1 and A2, who wish to
participate on a voluntary basis using GMDSS, will become equipped
with a Digital Selective Calling (DSC) capable radio and /or 406 MHz
Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB).

•When a Global Positioning System(GPS) or Loran system is interfaced
with DSC radio, the vessels position information is automatically
included in the transmission.

Maritime Mobile Service Identity (MMSI)

DSC equipped vessels and shore stations are
each assigned a unique identity number, known
as a Maritime Mobile Service Identity (MMSI).
This number is:
•Exclusive to that specific vessel or station, and
•Is not transferable.

Maritime Mobile Service Identity (MMSI)

•MMSI consists of nine digits, the first
three digits identify the country of origin.

•Canadian vessels are assigned 316 while
fleet vessels start with a zero and Coast
Guard stations have two zero’s.

Example:
Typical Canadian vessel 316123456
Fleet Vessel 031612345
Coast Guard 003161234

DSC MMSI prerequisite

•All vessels with DSC radios must obtain an MMSI number and
have it programmed into the radio

•MMSI numbers are available from Innovation, Science and
Economic Development (ISED) for free

•Fleet MMSI numbers are available upon application from ISED

Maritime Identity (MI)

•Maritime Identity number is used to identify other maritime devices;
•Not vessel specific so it is perfect for handheld VHF-DSC radios;
•Nine digits with the number 8 preceding the country identifier;

•MI numbers are also available from ISED at no cost.

Example: 831612345

Routine Calls

•Routine calls may be made between individual DSC equipped vessels
by entering the unique MMSI number.

•A digital message is sent, sounding an alert on the vessel being called.

•Message will advise receiving vessel to switch to a working
frequency/channel for voice communications.

Quizizz Time

End of Lesson Confirmation

Q1. The first three numbers of an MMSI number denote?

Q2. Sea area A1 is?

Q3. After establishing contact with another vessel digitally by
using an MMSI number, what channel do you use for further voice
communications?

End of Lesson Confirmation

Q4. What is GMDSS?

Q5. MMSI is used to identify?

Q6. MMSI stands for?

Q7. MI stands for?

Q8. What is the first digit of a MI?

End of Lesson Confirmation

A non-pleasure craft vessel MUST be fitted with DSC / GMDSS equipment
if it is:
a.

on an international voyage

b.

carrying more than 12 passengers

c.

on an international voyage carrying more than 12 passengers

d.

on the open sea

End of Lesson Confirmation

The letters GMDSS stand for:
a. Global Maritime Distress and Safety System

b. General Marine Digital Safety System

c. Global Marine Digital Security System

d. General Maritime Digital Safety System

End of Lesson Confirmation

Once GMDSS becomes available in an area, the Coast Guard will:
a. monitor Channel 16 and MF 2182 kHz for the foreseeable future
b. cease to monitor Channel 16
c. listen only for digital data on Channel 16 and Channel 70
d. monitor Channel 16 for one year, then cease monitoring that channel

In this lesson we looked at…

•Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS)
•Carriage Requirements
•Distress Frequency Monitoring
•Equipment Requirements
•Sea Areas
•Maritime Mobile Service Identity (MMSI) and
Maritime Identity (MI)

Questions?

Restricted Operator’s
Certificate (Maritime) Course

Section 3
GMDSS