Tag: GMDSS

Hong Kong Merchant Shipping, has released an information note on the revised GMDSS Operating Guidance for Ships in Distress Situations.

The Liberia Maritime Authority has issued a Notice to highlight that a record of all incidents connected with the radio communication service shall be kept onboard. This applies to all vessels equipped with ship radio stations including GMDSS ship radio stations. 

False distress alerts activated from VHF DSC, MF/HF DSC, recognized ship earth station (SES) and EPIRBs may impose a considerable and unnecessary burden on Rescue Coordination Centers.

Inmarsat and SeaFocus will examine data from Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) calls made to Inmarsat in order to provide insights into safety trends and reveal patterns at a local and global level.

Shipping has traditionally been slow in integrating technological developments, but maritime communications are certainly not a representative case. From flag semaphores, as a primary means of ships’ communication, to the GMDSS, the evolution of maritime communications has been long.

Following a comprehensive review of the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS), the IMO MSC 105 adopted a set of amendments to complete the work on modernization of the GMDSS and to enable the future use of modern communication systems in the GMDSS whilst removing obsolete requirements.

The IMO Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) 105th session was held virtually from April 20 to 29, 2022. Requirements reflecting modern systems for maritime distress and safety communication were adopted and interim guidelines for the safety of ships using fuel cell power installations were approved.

GTMaritime has issued a new guide entitled 'The Maritime Communications – A look over the horizon guide' that examines the different types of satellite systems and network configurations, regulatory requirements, commercial communications and crew connectivity, highlighting key considerations for future communications planning.

Inmarsat published a new report based on an exclusive analysis of Global Maritime Distress and Safety Services alerts from ships.

The 8th session of the IMO’s Sub-Committee on Navigation, Communications and Search and Rescue (NCSR) took place virtually on 19-23 April 2021. Among others, the meeting finalized work on the modernization of the requirements for the GMDSS.