MaritimeCompliance.com

The International Maritime Organization has produced a complete revision of the GMDSS Handbook, 3rd Edition (2001), which is now presented in book format.

Since its establishment in 1959, the International Maritime Organization and its Member Governments, in close co-operation with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and with other international organizations,notably the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) and the International Mobile Satellite Organization (Inmarsat), and with the COSPAS–SARSAT partners, have striven to improve maritime distress and safety radio communications. The culmination of this work was the entry into force and implementation of the global maritime distress and safety system (GMDSS) in February 1999. The intent of this Manual is to provide in a single comprehensive publication an explanation of the principles upon which the GMDSS is based, the radio communication requirements and recommendations for its implementation, the operational performance standards and technical specifications to be met by GMDSS equipment, and the procedures for and method of operation of the various radio services which form the GMDSS and the Master Plan for the GMDSS.

The Manual is intended for use by ship personnel, shore operators, trainers, administrations, regulators and anyone else concerned with ship communication. It includes:

• Description of the development and the concepts of the GMDSS
• Description of the components of the GMDSS, the carriage requirements and the operational procedures
• Excerpts from the relevant SOLAS regulations for the GMDSS
• Supporting resolutions and circulars relevant to the GMDSS
• The IMO performance standards and related ITU-R Recommendations giving the technical detail of the radio equipment
• The NAVTEX Manual, the International SafetyNet Manual and the Joint IMO/IHO/WMO Manual on Maritime Safety Information
• The current GMDSS Master Plan giving the details of the coastal infrastructure and services provided by member administrations
• Extracts from the ITU-R Ratio Regulations giving the radio regulatory background.