GMDSS

Question 1

What are the daily checks

Answer 1

Printers
Battery on load and off load
Internal dsc test function
Log

Question 2

Weekly test of Gmdss equipment

Answer 2

• DSC test with appropriate dsc coast station, if out of range for a long period then a dsc test with coast station must take place as soon as in range.
• Emergency source of power if not batteries must be run

Question 3

Monthly Gmdss tests

Answer 3

• Test functioning of Epirb (self test, check battery and hru exp date, security and condition of housing)
• Test SART(Test function with radar, exp date of battery)
• Test SCT (survivor craft transceiver) on any station except 16
• Check radio antenna, clean and not damaged
• Check batteries: security, conections, leaks.

Question 4

What is GMDSS

Answer 4

GMDSS Consists of Several Systems
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.
• Bridge-to-bridge communications.

Global maritime distress and SAFTEY system
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 ships, boats or aircraft in distress.

Question 5

What are the responsibilities of a Gmdss radio operator

Answer 5

1. Act as radio operator in cases of distress
2. Perform communications as outlined in INT radio regulations
3. Maintain radio watches on appropriate dsc and voice channels
4. Receive MSI information
5. Ensure ships position is continually imputed into equipment
6. Maintain Gmdss logs and record all events that pertain to SOLAS
7. Check functioning of equipment and record
8. Respond to and comprehend alarms
9. Notify master of any distress alerts
   10.

Question 6

What are the sea areas

Answer 6

A1: with in range of VHF dsc coast station +- 20-30 miles

A2: in range of MF DSC Coast station +- 100miles

A3: with in range of Inmarsat foot print

A4: in polar regions outside of Inmarsat and VHF and MF and therefore only HF dsc.

Question 7

What is the navtex frequency and what are the mandatory subject letters

Answer 7

518khz with range of 250-400miles
490khz local language messages

A- NAV warnings
B- Met warnings
D- SAR and piracy
L- additional NAV warnings

Question 8

What is the format for a voice distress call

Answer 8

Mayday x 3
This is (vessel name) x 3,
call sign x 1
MMSI x 1 (if initial alert sent via DSC

M - mayday
I - ID: vessel name(spell), call sign, mmsi
P - position
N -nature of distress
A - require immediate Assistance
N - Number of people
I - info extra
O - over

Question 9

What are the dsc frequencies for VHF MF and HF and the follow on channels

Answer 9

VHF dsc 70 , voice 16

MF dsc 2187.5, voice 2182

HF dsc 8414.5, voice 8291

Question 10

How to cancel a false distress message

Answer 10

Reset dsc controller
Broadcast cancelation message on appropriate follow on frequency. If sent on HF then cancellation message need to be sent on all the HF follow frequencies

Format for voice message:
All stations x 3
This is name x 1, call sign x 3

Vessel name(spell), call sign, MSI
Message, please cancel my distress alert sent at date and time indicating (nature of distress) in position..........

This is vessel name, call sign

Out

Question 11

Mayday relay format

Answer 11

Mayday relay x 3
All stations x 3
This is vessel name x 3 call sign x 1

Mayday 
Casualty info
Position
Proceeding 
Over

Question 12

What are the battery lasting requirements

Answer 12

Batteries must last at least

• 1 hour if there is an emergency generator
• 6 hours no emergency generator

Batteries must recharge with in 10 hours
Battery capacity must be checked every 12months

Question 13

Describe battery on load/offload test

Answer 13

Off load Turn battery charger off voltage should hold at 24V

On load press Ptt button voltage should not drop more than 1.5volts or 10%

Question 14

What details are entered daily in to the Gmdss log

Answer 14

Position once a day
Time in UTC
Details of Coms relating to Distress, urgency, safety
Name of operator on watch
Frequencies monitored
Results of tests
Statement of condition of equipment
Any failures of equipment

MASTER TO SIGN EACH DAY

Question 15

How long must the Gmdss log book be kept

Answer 15

2 Years

Question 16

Who is responsible for the log

Answer 16

Primary Gmdss operator and master

Question 17

Minimum required GMDSS equipment

Answer 17

A1:

• NAVTEX
• VHF (DSC) transmit on 16 13 6
• SART 1 < 500gt < 2
• EPIRB

A2:

• NAVTEX
• VHF (DSC)
• MF(DSC)
• EPIRB
• SART

A3:

• NAVTEX
• VHF(DSC)
• MF(DSC). Or. MF/HF(DSC) with NBDP
• INMARSAT C. No Inmarsat
• EPIRB
• SART

A4:

• NAVTEX
• VHF (DSC)
• MF/HF (DSC) with NBDP (narrow band direct printing)
• EPRIB
• SART

Question 18

Actions in response to Distress vhf message in mid Atlantic.

Answer 18

• Listen to 16 distress message
• Acknowledge by voice immediately
• Gather info
  Position
  Type of vessel
  Nature
  Call sign, mmsi
  POB
  Nature
  Assistance required
• Relay distress message ashore by all available means and to other vessels in teh vicinity
• Proceed at best speed
• Contact Coast radio station
• Prep For assistance, all crew on deck
• X-band radar on
• Lookouts on deck with binoculars
• Prep Rescue boat/life rafts
• Medical station

Question 19

What is LRIT and what vessels are required to carry.

Answer 19

• Long range identification and Tracking
• 300gt and over
• Auto transmit every 6hrs to LRIT data centre
• Capable of remote configuration
• ## Transmit automatically following receipt of a polling comand

Question 20

Who does GMDSS apply to?

Answer 20

All commercial passenger vessels and vessels over 300gt

Question 21

What is the purpose of GMDSS

Answer 21

Alerting
Search and rescue Co-ordination
Locating (Homing)
MSI
General communications
Bridge to Bridge 
Goals:

Question 22

Functional Requirements of GMDSS on every ship

Answer 22

Transmit and receive

• Ship to shore distress by at least two methods separate and independent of each other
• Ship to ship distress alerts
• SAR co-ordinating coms
• On scene Coms
• Locating signals (SART)
• MSI
• General communications to and from shore based
• Bridge to bridge

Question 23

How does a SART work?

Answer 23

A Search and Rescue Transponder (SART) is an electronic device that automatically reacts to the emission of a radar. This enhances the visibilty on a radar screen. SART transponders are used to ease the search of a ship in distress or a liferaft.

Commercial < 500 ton must carry at least one SART.
Commercial >500 ton must carry at least two SARTs.
Private vessels are strongly advised to carry at least one as well.

A SART has a receiver that detects the signals from X-band radars (9.2 - 9.5 GHz). If the SART detects a signal it immediately transmits twelve pulses on the same frequency. This signal is seen by the radar as “echoes” and will be displayed on the screen as a serie of twelve dots with a gap of 0.6 miles between them. The first dot is at the position of the SART and the others go in a straight line towards the edge of the screen.

If the rescue vessel approaches the SART, the twelve dots will become short arcs. These arcs increase in size if the vessel gets closer. If the rescue vessel is very close, the SART will be activated permanentely by the side lobes of the radar antenna. The signal of the SART will then be visible as twelve complete circles on the radar screen. This will tell the search-and-rescue team that they have more or less arrived.