GMDSS - Functional and Carriage Requirements for Sea Area - A1 - As per SOLAS and IMO

Shipaxis Technical Services - GMDSS

Let us continue to explore a little bit deep into the carriage requirements and functional requirements for Sea Area A1 - VHF Coverage - This is as per IMO and SOLAS Chapter IV:

As we know that VHF aka Very High Frequency - The characteristic of VHF radio waves is that it uses LOS - or Line of sight propagation. In short, this means, that as long as the receiving antenna is capable of seeing the Transmitting antenna, the reception will be good. This is one reason why the VHF antennas are placed very high. The wave propagation characteristic of VHF can be seen from the below diagram:


Having understood the above principle, let us now look into the different equipment that are required to be carried by ships operating in general:

Minimum requirements
Every GMDSS ship is required to carry the following minimum equipment (as de ned by SOLAS Chapter IV, regulation 7):
  • A VHF radio installation capable of transmitting DSC on channel 70, and radiotelephony on channels 16, 13 and 6; 

  • A SART (Two on vessels over 500 GRT, one on vessels 300 - 500 GRT); 

  • A NAVTEX receiver, if the ship is engaged on voyages in any area where a NAVTEX service is provided; 

  • An Inmarsat EGC receiver, if the ship is engaged on voyages in any area of Inmarsat coverage where MSI services are not provided by NAVTEX or HF NBDP; and 

  • A 406 MHz EPIRB. Vessels trading exclusively in sea area A1 may t a VHF DSC EPIRB in lieu of a 406 MHz EPIRB)

Radio equipment – sea area A1

In addition to carrying the equipment listed in Minimum requirements every ship engaged on voyages exclusively in sea area A1 shall be provided with either of the following installations for the transmission of ship- shore Distress Alerts:
  • A 406 MHz EPIRB, (which may be the one specified in Minimum requirements) installed close to, or capable of remote activation from the position from which the ship is normally navigated;
OR
  • A VHF DSC EPIRB, installed close to, or capable of remote activation from the position from which the ship is normally navigated;
OR
  • A MF DSC System, if the ship is engaged on voyages within coverage of MF coast stations equipped with DSC;
OR     A HF DSC System;

OR     An Inmarsat ship earth station.*



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