GMDSS (Global Maritime Distress And Safety System) development for the maritime industry has progressed significantly. The GMDSS system was created with the goal of improving radio communications and procedures for distress and safety at sea.

The most significant advantage of GMDSS equipment is that it greatly minimizes the likelihood of ships going missing without a trace and allows SAR operations to be initiated quickly and guided to the exact location of a maritime disaster.

The days of requiring ships to have specialist radio officers to operate radio equipment are long gone. Holding the implementation of GMDSS, any deck officer with a General Operator Certificate (GOC) and a license is now authorized to utilize GMDSS equipment and make radio conversations when necessary.

It is vital that seafarers understand the purpose of GMDSS equipment and perform the necessary maintenance on board the vessel in order to keep it in working order and make the greatest use of GMDSS equipment in the case of an emergency.

Every navigating officer responsible for it should conduct daily, weekly, and monthly tests on all GMDSS equipment without fail. We must remember that in a distress situation at sea, it is our only best buddy.

Ships at sea must be able to meet all nine GMDSS functional standards. They are as follows:

1. Ship-to-shore distress alerting
2. Shore-to-ship distress alerting
3. Ship-to-ship distress alerting
4. SAR coordination
5. On-scene communications
6. Transmission and receipt of emergency locating signals
7. Transmission and receipt of MSI
8. General radio communications
9. Bridge-to-bridge communications

This can be ensured by testing the GMDSS equipment at regular intervals.

The GMDSS equipment and systems include the VHF DSC/RT, MF/HF DSC/RT, INMARSAT, SART, EPIRB, NAVTEX, and SURVIVAL CRAFT TWO WAY VHF.

For more information about GMDSS Equipment and testing, please contact us or visit our navigation consoles page.