GMDSS

1. E X C E L L E N C E A N D C O M P E T E N C Y T R A I N I N G C E N T E R
G.O.C. for GMDSS
G.O.C. FOR GMDSS
Module 3
Day 15

2. E X C E L L E N C E A N D C O M P E T E N C Y T R A I N I N G C E N T E R
G.O.C. for GMDSS
FALSE ALERTS IN THE
GMDSS
GUIDELINES FOR AVOIDING FALSE
DISTRESS ALERTS

3. G.O.C. for GMDSS
E X C E L L E N C E A N D C O M P E T E N C Y T R A I N I N G C E N T E R
MASTER AND SEAFARERS
SHOULD, AS APPROPRIATE:
 Ensure that all GMDSS certified
personnel responsible for
sending a distress alert have
been instructed and are
competent to operate the
particular radio equipment of the
ship;

4. G.O.C. for GMDSS
E X C E L L E N C E A N D C O M P E T E N C Y T R A I N I N G C E N T E R
1. Ensure that the persons responsible
for communications during distress
incidents give necessary instructions
and all information to all crew
members who should know how to use
GMDSS equipment to send a distress
alert;
2. Ensure that during each abandon drill,
instruction is given on how emergency
equipment should be used provided
GMDSS functions;

5. G.O.C. for GMDSS
E X C E L L E N C E A N D C O M P E T E N C Y T R A I N I N G C E N T E R
3. Ensure that GMDSS equipment testing
is only undertaken under the
supervision of the person responsible
for communications during distress
incidents;
4. Ensure that GMDSS equipment testing
or drills are never allowed to cause
false distress alert;
5. Ensure that the EPIRBs are not
activated if assistance is already
immediately available;

6. G.O.C. for GMDSS
E X C E L L E N C E A N D C O M P E T E N C Y T R A I N I N G C E N T E R
6. Ensure that if a distress alert has been
accidentally transmitted, the ship
makes every reasonable attempt to
communicate with RCC by any means
to cancel the false distress alert using
the procedures;
7. Ensure that, if possible, after
emergency use, the EPIRB is retrieved
and deactivated;

7. E X C E L L E N C E A N D C O M P E T E N C Y T R A I N I N G C E N T E R
G.O.C. for GMDSS
INSTRUCTIONS FOR
MARINERS AND OTHERS FOR
CANCELLING A FALSE
DISTRESS ALERTS

8. G.O.C. for GMDSS
E X C E L L E N C E A N D C O M P E T E N C Y T R A I N I N G C E N T E R
PROCEDURE FOR CANCELLING FALSE
DISTRESS ALERTS

9. G.O.C. for GMDSS
E X C E L L E N C E A N D C O M P E T E N C Y T R A I N I N G C E N T E R
DSC
1. VHF
 Switch off transmitter immediately
 Switch equipment on and set to
Channel 16
 Make a broadcast to “All Stations”
giving name of vessels, call sign
and DSC number and cancel the
false distress alert.

10. G.O.C. for GMDSS
E X C E L L E N C E A N D C O M P E T E N C Y T R A I N I N G C E N T E R
Example:
 All Stations All Stations All Stations
 This is
 Name, call sign, DSC number, position
 Cancel my distress alert of
 Date, Time UTC
 Master
 Name of ships, call sign
 DSC number, Date, Time UTC

11. G.O.C. for GMDSS
E X C E L L E N C E A N D C O M P E T E N C Y T R A I N I N G C E N T E R
2. MF
 Switch off equipment immediately
 Switch equipment on and tune for
radiotelephony transmission on 2182 kHz;
 Make a broadcast to “All Stations” giving
the vessels name, call sign and DSC
number and cancel the false distress alert
(same as example on VHF).

12. G.O.C. for GMDSS
E X C E L L E N C E A N D C O M P E T E N C Y T R A I N I N G C E N T E R
3. HF
 Procedure as with MF, expect that
the alert must be cancelled on all
the frequency bands on which it
was transmitted. The transmitter
should be tuned consecutively to
the radiotelephony distress
frequencies
(4125/6215/8291/12290/16420) on
the bands as necessary.

13. G.O.C. for GMDSS
E X C E L L E N C E A N D C O M P E T E N C Y T R A I N I N G C E N T E R
4. INMARSAT-C
 Notify the appropriate RCC to cancel
the alert by sending a distress priority
message via the same CES through
which the false alert was sent.
Example:
 Name of ships, call sign, identity
number, position
 Cancel my Inmarsat-C distress signal
of Date, Time (UTC)
 Master

14. G.O.C. for GMDSS
E X C E L L E N C E A N D C O M P E T E N C Y T R A I N I N G C E N T E R
5. EPIRB
 If, for any reason, an EPIRB is
activated accidentally, the
ship should contact the
nearest coast station or RCC
and cancel the distress alert.

15. G.O.C. for GMDSS
E X C E L L E N C E A N D C O M P E T E N C Y T R A I N I N G C E N T E R
WORD AND PHRASES IN COMMON
USAGE
Word/Phrase Meaning
•ROMEO
•STANDBY
•SAY AGAIN
•WORD AGAIN
•WORD BEFORE
•ALL AFTER
•ALL BEFORE
RECEIVED
Wait a short time
Repeat
All of these phrases refer to a
request for information of to a
repeat of information e.g.
“Say again World After FUEL”
or “I repeat All Before PLOT”

16. G.O.C. for GMDSS
E X C E L L E N C E A N D C O M P E T E N C Y T R A I N I N G C E N T E R
Word/Phrase Meaning
•CORRECTION Used to correct oneself e.g. “ETA
CORRECTION-ETD”
•OVER Go ahead. Transmit now (must be
used on Simplex)
•OUT End of transmission
•SIMPLEX One-way speech (single frequency
used of transmit/receive)
•DUPLEX Normal conversation (separate
frequencies use for
transmit/receive)

17. G.O.C. for GMDSS
E X C E L L E N C E A N D C O M P E T E N C Y T R A I N I N G C E N T E R
Word/Phrase Meaning
•I SPELL I am about to give the phonetic
spelling of the word I have just read
•“HOW DO YOU
READ ME?”
“How well do you understand me?”

18. G.O.C. for GMDSS
E X C E L L E N C E A N D C O M P E T E N C Y T R A I N I N G C E N T E R
OBLIGATORY PROCEDURES AND
PRACTICES
 The ship radio stations fitted with
GMDSS radio equipment should have
the following documents in accordance
with Annex 11 of the Radio Regulations
 Ship’s Radio License
 Radio Operator’s Certificate
 Radio Safety Certificate
 GMDSS Radio Logbook

19. G.O.C. for GMDSS
E X C E L L E N C E A N D C O M P E T E N C Y T R A I N I N G C E N T E R
Readability Signal Strength
I READ YOU
1/Bad 1/Barely perceptible
2/Poor 2/Weak
3/Fair 3/Fairly good
4/Good 4/Good
5/Excellent 5/Very Good

20. G.O.C. for GMDSS
E X C E L L E N C E A N D C O M P E T E N C Y T R A I N I N G C E N T E R
 Radio Publications
 ITU Lists of Coast Stations
 ITU Lists of Ship Stations
 ITU Lists of Radiodeterminations and
Special Services
 ITU Lists of Call Sign and Numerical
Identities
 ITU Manual for use by the Maritime
Mobile and Maritime Mobile-Satellite
Services

21. G.O.C. for GMDSS
E X C E L L E N C E A N D C O M P E T E N C Y T R A I N I N G C E N T E R
 Radio Records – Regulations IV/17. A
record shall be kept, to the satisfaction
of the Administration and as required
by the Radio Regulations, of all
incidents connected with the
radiocommunication service which
appear to be importance to safety of life
at sea.
 Class of certificate(s)
 Name of person designated for
radiodetermination during emergencies

22. G.O.C. for GMDSS
E X C E L L E N C E A N D C O M P E T E N C Y T R A I N I N G C E N T E R
 Record of communications
 A summary of communications relating
to distress, urgency and safety traffic
 A record of important incidents
connected with the radio service
 The position of the ship at least once a
day
 Details of the daily, weekly and
monthly checks
 Radio publications

23. G.O.C. for GMDSS
E X C E L L E N C E A N D C O M P E T E N C Y T R A I N I N G C E N T E R
ITU LISTS OF COAST STATION
This list contains:
 Particulars of coast station and coast earth
stations providing public correspondence.
 Charges and accounting
 Maritime Mobile-satellite systems
 Particulars of coast stations and coast earth
stations participating in the GMDSS.
 Allotment plans for national channels in the
DSC system.

24. G.O.C. for GMDSS
E X C E L L E N C E A N D C O M P E T E N C Y T R A I N I N G C E N T E R
 The lists is republished each
year.
 Recapitulative Supplements
issued every 6 months .

25. G.O.C. for GMDSS
E X C E L L E N C E A N D C O M P E T E N C Y T R A I N I N G C E N T E R
ITU LISTS OF SHIP STATIONS
This list contains:
 Ships stations fitted with
Radiotelegraph and Radiotelephony
installations.
 Ship stations fitted with Mobile Earth
Stations
 Table and chart showing the zones and
hours of service of ships the second
and third categories

26. G.O.C. for GMDSS
E X C E L L E N C E A N D C O M P E T E N C Y T R A I N I N G C E N T E R
The list is republished each year.
 Recapitulative issued half year.
Supplement issued quarterly
 ITU List of Radiodetermination
and Special Service Stations

27. E X C E L L E N C E A N D C O M P E T E N C Y T R A I N I N G C E N T E R
G.O.C. for GMDSS
END