GROUp 3

The
REPORTERS
Abellera, Manuel Jr M. Bayas, Matt Joshua P. Caracas, Brandon R.

Enero, Rovic Gomez, Remark G. Sagala, Dwi ght Henri c T.

Velado, Dan Judhiel M.

 Module 9
RADIO
COMMUNICATION
MGT- 312
TOPIC LEARNING OUTCOMES

The students shall be able to:

1. List the radio equipment to be carried by all ships

2. Describe the requirements regarding the installation and operation of the satellite EPIRB

3. List the additional equipment required by ships engaged on voyages exclusively within
sea area A1

4. List the additional equipment required by ships engaged on voyages within sea areas A1
and A2

5. List the additional equipment required by ships engaged on voyages within sea areas A1,
A2, and A3
TOPIC LEARNING OUTCOMES

6. State that equipment using the INMARSAT geostationary satellite service is not an
acceptable alternative for ships engaged on voyages which include sea area A4

7. State the requirements for maintaining watch on distress frequencies

8. State that every ship, while at sea, must maintain a watch for broadcasts of maritime
safety information

9. Describe how the availability of radio equipment required by the regulations is to be

ensured

10. State that every ship must carry personnel qualified for distress and safety radio
communications purposes who hold certificates specified in the Radio Regulations
TOPIC LEARNING OUTCOMES

11. State that one person is designated to have primary responsibility for radio
communications during distress incidents

12. State that a record must be kept of all incidents connected with the radio
communication service which appear to be of importance to the safety of life at sea
engage

The main purpose of GMDSS is to provide a comprehensive communication system for search
and rescue operations e.g. to enable vessels in distress to transmit alerting signals to indicate
that they require assistance. In your own opinion, how would the assistance can reach the
vessel in distress?
explore

GMDSS Equipment

In the image above of GMDSS equipment, how could we know what are the equipment
required for each vessel?
EXPLAIN AND ELABORATE

Radio Equipment-General
1. Every ship shall be provided with:
.1. a VHF radio installation capable of transmitting and receiving;
.1.1 DSC on the frequency 156.525 MHz (channel 70). It shall be possible to initiate the
transmission of distress alerts on channel 70 from the position from which the ship is
normally navigated; * and
.1.2 radiotelephony on the frequencies 156.300 MHz (channel 6), 156.650 MHz (channel 13)
and 156.800 MHz (channel 16);
.2 a radio installation capable of maintaining a continuous DSC watch on VHF channel 70
which may be separate from, or combined with, that required by subparagraph .1.1; *
EXPLAIN AND ELABORATE

.3 a search and rescue locating device capable of operating

either in the 9 GHz band or on frequencies dedicated for AIS,
which: (Added by Res.MSC.256(84))

.4 a receiver capable of receiving International NAVTEX service

broad-casts if the ship is engaged on voyages in any area in
which an International NAVTEX service is provided;
EXPLAIN AND ELABORATE

.5 a radio facility for reception of maritime safety information by a recognized mobile satellite
service enhanced group calling system if the ship is engaged in voyages in sea area A1, or A2 or
A3 but in which an international NAVTEX service is not provided. However, ships engaged
exclusively in voyages in areas where an HF direct-printing telegraphy maritime safety
information service is provided and fitted with equipment capable of receiving such service,
may be exempt from this requirement. *

.6 subject to the provisions of regulation 8.3, a

satellite emergency position-indicating radio
beacon (satellite EPIRB) * which shall be:
EXPLAIN AND ELABORATE

.6.1 capable of transmitting a distress alert

through the polar orbiting satellite service
operating in the 406 MHz band; (Replaced by
Res.MSC.201(81))

.6.2 installed in an easily accessible position;

.6.3 ready to be manually released and capable

of being carried by one person into a survival
craft;

.6.4 capable of floating free if the ship sinks and of being automatically activated when
afloat; and

.6.5 capable of being activated manually.

EXPLAIN AND ELABORATE

2. Every passenger ship shall be provided with means

for two-way on-scene radiocommunications for search
and rescue purposes using the aeronautical frequencies
121.5MHz and 123.1MHz from the position from which
the ship is normally navigated.

AN EPIRB is a SECONDARY means of DISTRESS alerting which is to say that it comes later in
the hierarchy of alerting SAR authorities in case of distress. It is mandatory to carry one EPIRB
on every ship and two EPIRBS for all Registeredships (and other types of vessels).
EXPLAIN AND ELABORATE

Types of EPIRB

COSPAS-SARSAT – EPIRBS under the COSPAS-SARSAT system work on the 406.025

MHz and 121.5 MHz band and are applicable for all sea areas

INMARSAT E – 1.6 GHz band is the one which this EPIRB works on. These are
applicable for sea areas A1, A2 and A3

VHF CH 70 – This works on the 156.525 MHz band and are applicable for sea area A1
only
EXPLAIN AND ELABORATE

How Does an EPIRB Work?

The device contains two radio transmitters, a 5-watt one, and a0.25-watt one, each
operating at 406 MHz, the standard international frequency typically signaling distress,
406MHz. The 5-watt radio transmitter is synchronized with a GOES (Geostationary
Operational Environmental Satellite) weather satellite going around the earth in a
geosynchronous orbit.

An EPIRB transmits signals to the satellite. The signal consists of an encrypted

identification number (all in digital code) which holds information such as the ship’s
identification, date of the event, the nature of distress and chiefly, the position.
EXPLAIN AND ELABORATE

The Local User Terminal (satellite receiving units or ground stations) calculates the position
of the casualty using Doppler Shift (is the change in frequency or wavelength of a wave (or
other periodic events) for an observer moving relative to its source).

In case the EPIRB is not compatible with a GPS receiver, the geosynchronous satellite orbiting
the earth can pick only the radio signals emitted by the radio. The location of the transmitter
or the dentity of the owner cannot be deduced in this case.

These satellites can only pick up trace elements of such signals and they can only give a
rough idea of the location of the EPIRB. A signal of 406MHz is treated as an emergency signal
as per international standards.
EXPLAIN AND ELABORATE

Using an EPIRB

The EPIRB needs to be activated to emit signals. This could be done by pushing a button
on the unit, or it could happen automatically if and when it comes in contact with water.
The latter variety is known as hydrostatic EPIRB; the quality makes hydrostatic EPIRBs
the best choice for sailors because they could be automatically activated in case the
ship or vessel meets an accident and finds itself in deep waters.

Battery

12 Volt battery

48 hours of transmitting capacity

Normally replaced every 2 to 5 years

EXPLAIN AND ELABORATE

False Alerting

It is possible that the EPIRB might get activated by mistake by an individual onboard.
In order to prevent a chain of SAR operations in motion it is imperative that the
EPIRB false transmission is cancelled. In case the EPIRB is falsely activated, the
nearest coast station or RCC (Rescue Co-Ordination Center) must be informed
immediately of this event and as mentioned, cancel it.

The cancellation intimation must also be sent to the appropriaten authority (for
example, DG Shipping for Indian Registered Ships or for ships plying in India waters
when the false alert is transmitted). The ship owner and/or the agent must also be
informed.
EXPLAIN AND ELABORATE

Radio equipment - Sea Area A1

1. In addition to meeting the requirements of regulation 7, every ship engaged on

voyages exclusively in sea area A1 shall be provided with a radio installation capable of
initiating the transmission of ship-to-shore distress alerts from the position from which
the ship is normally navigated, operating either:

.1 on VHF using DSC; this requirement may be fulfilled by the EPIRB prescribed by
paragraph 3, either by installing the EPIRB close to, or by remote activation from, the
position from which the ship is normally navigated; or

.2 through the polar orbiting satellite service on 406MHz; this requirement may be
fulfilled by the satellite EPIRB, required by regulation 7.1.6, either by installing the
satellite EPIRB close to, or by remote activation from, the position from which the ship is
normally navigated; or
EXPLAIN AND ELABORATE

.3 if the ship is engaged on voyages within coverage of MF coast stations equipped with
DSC, on MF using DSC; or

.4 on HF using DSC; or

.5 through a recognized mobile satellite service; this requirement may be fulfilled by:(
Amended by Res.MSC.436(99))

.5.1 a ship earth station; * or

.5.2 the satellite EPIRB, required by regulation 7.1.6, either by installing the satellite EPIRB
close to, or by remote activation from, the position from which the ship is normally
navigated.
explain and elaborate

2 The VHF radio installation, required by regulation 7.1.1, shall also be capable of
transmitting and receiving general radio communications using radiotelephony.
3 Ships engaged on voyages exclusively in sea area A1 may carry, in lieu of the satellite
EPIRB required by regulation 7.1.6, an EPIRB which shall be:
.1 capable of transmitting a distress alert using DSC on VHF channel 70 and providing for
locating by means of a radar transponder operating in the 9GHz band;
.2 installed in an easily accessible position;
.3 ready to be manually released and capable of being carried by one person into a
survival craft;
.4 capable of floating free if the ship sinks and being automatically activated when afloat;
and
.5 capable of being activated manually.
explain and elaborate

Regulation 9

Radio equipment - Sea Areas A1 and A2

1 In addition to meeting the requirements of regulation 7, every ship engaged on voyages

beyond sea area A1, but remaining within sea area A2, shall be provided with:
.1 an MF radio installation capable of transmitting and receiving, for distress and safety
purposes, on the frequencies:

.1.1 2,187.5kHz using DSC; and

.1.2 2,182kHz using radiotelephony;

explain and elaborate

.2 a radio installation capable of maintaining a continuous DSC watch on the frequency

2,187.5kHz which may be separate from, or combined with, that required by subparagraph .1.1;
and

.3 means of initiating the transmission of ship-to-shore distress alerts by a radio service other
than MF operating either:

.3.1 through the polar orbiting satellite service on 406 MHz; this requirement may be fulfilled
by the satellite EPIRB, equired by regulation 7.1.6, either by installing the satellite EPIRB close
to, or by remote activation from, the position from which the ship is normally navigated; or

.3.2 on HF using DSC; or

.3.3 through a recognized mobile satellite service by a ship earth station. (Amended by
Res.MSC.436(99))
explain and elaborate

2 It shall be possible to initiate transmission of distress alerts by the radio installations

specified in paragraphs 1.1 and 1.3 from the position from which the ship is normally
navigated.

3 The ship shall, in addition, be capable of transmitting and receiving general radio
communications using radiotelephony or direct-printing telegraphy by either:

.1 a radio installation operating on working frequencies in the bands between 1,605kHz and
4,000kHz or between 4,000kHz and 27,500kHz. This requirement may be fulfilled by the
addition of this capability in the equipment required by paragraph 1.1; or

.2 a recognized mobile satellite service ship earth station. (Amended by Res.MSC.436(99))

4 The Administration may exempt ships constructed before 1 February 1997, which are
engaged exclusively on voyages within sea area A2, from the requirements of regulations
7.1.1.1 and 7.1.2 provided such ships maintain, when practicable, a continuous listening watch
on VHF channel 16. This watch shall be kept at the position from which the ship is normally
navigated.
explain and elaborate

Regulation 10

1 In addition to meeting the requirements of regulation 7, every ship engaged on voyages

beyond sea areas A1 and A2, but remaining within sea area A3, shall, if it does not comply
with the requirements of paragraph 2, be provided with:

.1 a recognized mobile satellite service ship earth station

capable of:( Amended by Res.MSC.436(99))

.1.1 transmitting and receiving distress and safety

communications using direct-printing telegraphy;

.1.2 initiating and receiving distress priority calls;

.1.3 maintaining watch for shore-to-ship distress alerts, including those directed to
specifically defined geographical areas;
explain and elaborate

Functional Requirements
The GMDSS therefore provides that every ship, while at sea, shall be able to perform the
following nine basic communication functions:
transmitting ship-to-shore distress alerts (by at least two separate and independent
methods);
receiving shore-to-ship distress alerts;
transmitting and receiving ship-to-ship distress alerts;
transmitting and receiving search and rescue coordinating communications;
transmitting and receiving on-scene communications;
transmitting and receiving signals for locating;
explain and elaborate

transmitting and receiving maritime safety information;

transmitting and receiving general communications; and

transmitting and receiving bridge-to-bridge communications

Ship Requirements

Area of Operations Concept

The SOLAS Convention provides that “... every ship shall be provided with radio installations
capable of complying with the functional requirements ... throughout the intended voyage ...”.
Thus every ship has to carry a core installation of basic equipment that is applicable to all
waters, supplemented by additional equipment that extends the ships communications
capabilities according to the specific waters in which she will sail. These supplementary
requirements are defined by the distance offshore the ship will travel:
explain and elaborate

Sea Area A1: the area within the radiotelephone coverage of at least one VHF coast station in
which continuous DSC (Digital Selective Calling) alerting is available;

Sea Area A2: the area, excluding Sea Area A1, within the radiotelephone coverage of at least
one MF coast station in which continuous DSC (Digital Selective Calling) alerting is available;

Sea Area A3: the area, excluding Sea Areas A1 and A2, within the coverage of an Inmarsat
geostationary satellite in which continuous alerting is available; and

Sea Area A4: an area outside sea areas A1, A2 and A3.
explain and elaborate

Requirements for maintaining watch on distress frequencies

Regulation 12

Watches

1 Every ship, while at sea, shall maintain a continuous watch:

.1 on VHF DSC channel 70, if the ship, in accordance with the requirements of
regulation 7.1.2, is fitted with a VHF radio installation;

.2 on the distress and safety DSC frequency 2,187.5 kHz, if the ship, in accordance with
the requirements of regulation 9.1.2 or 10.1.3, is fitted with an MF radio installation;
explain and elaborate

.4 for satellite shore-to-ship distress alerts, if the ship, in accordance with the
requirements of regulation 10.1.1, is fitted with a recognized mobile satellite service ship
earth station. (Amended byRes.MSC.436(99))

2 Every ship, while at sea, shall maintain a radio watch for broadcasts of maritime safety
information on the appropriate frequency or frequencies on which such information is
broadcast for the area in which the ship is navigating.

3 Until 1 February 1999 or until such other date as may be determined by the Maritime
Safety Committee*, every ship while at sea shall maintain, when practicable, a continuous
listening watch on VHF channel 16. This watch shall be kept at the position from which the
ship is normally navigated.
explain and elaborate

Regulation 15
Maintenance requirements

1 Equipment shall be so designed that the main units can be replaced readily, without
elaborate recalibration or readjustment.

2 Where applicable, equipment shall be so constructed and installed that it is readily

accessible for inspection and on-board maintenance purposes.

3 Adequate information shall be provided to enable the equipment to be properly

operated and maintained, taking into account the recommendations of the
Organization.
explain and elaborate

4 Adequate tools and spare shall be provided to enable the equipment to be maintained.

5 The Administration shall ensure that radio equipment required by this chapter is
maintained to provide the availability of the functional requirements specified in regulation
4 and to meet the recommended performance standards of such equipment.

6 On ships engaged on voyages in sea areas A1 and A2, the availability shall be ensured by
using such methods asduplication of equipment, shore-based maintenance or at-sea
electronic maintenance capability, or a combination of these, as may be approved by the
Administration.
7 On ships engaged on voyages in sea areas A3 and A4, the availability shall be ensured by
using a combination of at least two methods such as duplication of equipment, shore-
based maintenance or at-sea electronic maintenance capability, as may be approved by the
Administration, taking into account the recommendations of the Organization.
explain and elaborate

Regulation 16
Radio personnel

1 Every ship shall carry personnel qualified for distress and safety radiocommunication
purposes to the satisfaction of the Administration. * The personnel shall be holders of
certificates specified in the Radio Regulations as appropriate, any one of whom shall be
designated to have primary responsibility for radiocommunications during distress
incidents.

2 In passenger ships, at least one person qualified in accordance with paragraph 1 shall be
assigned to perform only radiocommunication duties during distress incidents.

One person is designated to have primary responsibility for radio communications during
distress incidents.
explain AND ELABORATE

80.1073 Radio operator requirements for ship stations.

(a) Ships must carry at least two persons holding GMDSS Radio Operator's Licenses as
specified in § 13.7 of this chapter for distress and safety radiocommunications purposes.
The GMDSS Radio Operator's License qualifies personnel as a GMDSS radio operator for
the purposes of operating a GMDSS radio installation, including basic equipment
adjustments as denoted in the knowledge requirements specified in § 13.203 of this
chapter.

(1) A qualified GMDSS radio operator must be designated to have primary

responsibility for radiocommunications during distress incidents, except if the vessel
operates exclusively within twenty nautical miles of shore, in which case a qualified
restricted radio operator may be so designated.
explain AND ELABORATE

(2) A second qualified GMDSS radio operator must be designated as backup for
distress and safety radiocommunications, except if the vessel operates exclusively
within twenty nautical miles of shore, in which case a qualified restricted GMDSS radio
operator may be so designated.

(b) A qualified GMDSS radio operator, and a qualified backup, as specified in paragraph (a) of
this section must be:
(1) Available to act as the dedicated radio operator in cases of distress as described in
§ 80.1109(a);

(2) Designated to perform as part of normal routine each of the applicable

communications described in § 80.1109(b);

(3) Responsible for selecting HF DSC guard channels and receiving scheduled maritime
safety information broadcasts;
explain AND ELABORATE

(4) Designated to perform communications described in § 80.1109(c);

(5) Responsible for ensuring that the watches required by § 80.1123 are properly
maintained; and

(6) Responsible for ensuring that the ship's navigation position is entered into all
installed DSC equipment, either automatically through a connected or integral
navigation receiver, or manually at least every four hours when the ship is underway.

Regulation 17

Radio records
A record shall be kept, to the satisfaction of the Administration and as required by the
Radio Regulations, of all incidents connected with the radio communication service
which appear to be of importance to safety of life at sea.
explain AND ELABORATE

Radio log books

Every ship which is compulsorily fitted with a radio installation must carry a radio log
book. The radio log book must be retained onboard for a period of at least two years from
the last entry. The log must be available for inspection by an officer appointed under the
Navigation Act 2012, or an authorized official in a country other than Australia who is
carrying out an inspection in accordance with Article X of the STCW Convention.

The radio services of ship station are under the authority of the Master or of the person
responsible for the ship, and shall require that each operator complies with the ITU Radio
Regulations.
explain AND ELABORATE

Completion of radio log book

Section A — Particulars of ship, which must also include method used to ensure
availability of service.

Section B — Qualified personnel, complete with full details of type(s) of certification and
date(s) of issue.
Section C — GMDSS radio log. This part of the log forms a record of the operation of the
ship’s radio station and must be completed in duplicate. The following entries must be
made in chronological order:
summary of distress, urgency or safety traffic received either by radio telephone or
DSC
records for distress, urgency or safety traffic received by Inmarsat satellite systems,
NAVTEX and/or NBDP. These should be noted in, and kept with, the log
explain AND ELABORATE

electronic records of communications relating to distress, urgency, safety and

receipts of weather reports, and navigation warnings, form part of the log, and must
be retained and not overwritten
any incident connected with the radio service which appears to be of importance to
the safety of life at sea
tests of the GMDSS equipment (as carried to comply with Marine Order 27 (Safety of
navigation and radio equipment) 2016) as detailed in the GMDSS Radio Log Book
if the ship’s rules permit, the position of the ship at least once a day.

In addition, the Master must inspect and sign each day’s entries in the GMDSS Radio Log.
explain AND ELABORATE

Section D — Details the radio equipment and battery tests to be carried out by operators.
Section D also contains Annexes 1 and 2.

Annex 1 — Particulars of batteries on board and their purpose.

Annex 2 — Monthly report on batteries (and records the specific gravity readings of each
individual cell before and after full charge along with comments, if applicable).

Both sections C and D are to be completed in duplicate. The duplicates of sections C and D
Annex 1 and Annex 2 must be detached and kept in correct order to form a record of the
operation of the radio installation, and be retained in board for a minimum of two years. These
records are to be available for the information of surveyors and shore maintenance staff and
should be filed in the radio room or with the radio equipment.
explain AND ELABORATE

Retention of logs

Once completed, the original Log(s) must be retained onboard for a period of not less than two
years from the date of the last entry in section C. Details of commercial communications
passed via maritime mobile-satellite systems may be maintained, as described for section C
above, sufficient for the settlement of accounts. If not recorded in section C other means shall
be provided by the ship’s operator to record details of commercial traffic for a period
sufficient for the settlement of accounts. An example of a GMDSS Radio Log book format is
shown in Figure 34 on page 118 and includes an example of a completed page. A copy of the
AMSA Radio Log book can be found in Appendix 9 of this handbook.
 thank
you
GROUP 3