The Global Maritime Distress Safety
System (GMDSS) 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
distressed
ships,
boats and
aircraft.
GMDSS consists of several systems, some of which are new, but many of
which have been in operation for many years. 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, and bridge-to-bridge
communications. Specific radio carriage requirements depend upon the
ship's area of operation, rather than its
tonnage.
The system also provides redundant means of distress alerting, and
emergency sources of power.
Recreational vessels do not need to comply with GMDSS radio carriage
requirements, but will increasingly use the
Digital Selective Calling
(DSC) VHF radios and offshore vessels may elect to equip themselves
further. Vessels under 300
Gross tonnage (GT) are not subject to GMDSS requirements and vessels
from 300 to 500 GT have less restrictive carriage requirements than
vessels 500 GT and over.
