GMDSS equipment carriage requirement
As per SOLAS Ch. IV, Regulations 7,8,9,10,11, the following is the GMDSS equipment carriage requirement on vessels.
General
Every ship shall be provided with:
1) VHF radio capable of transmitting and receiving:
a) DSC on the frequency 156.525 MHz (channel 70) and maintain a continuous watch on the same.
b) Radiotelephony on the frequencies 156.300 MHz (channel 6), 156.650 MHz (channel 13) and 156.800 MHz (channel 16).
2) A search and rescue locating device (SART) capable of operating either in the 9 GHz band or on frequencies dedicated for AIS.
3) A receiver capable of receiving international NAVTEX service broadcasts if the ship is engaged on voyages in any area in which an international NAVTEX service is provided.
4) A radio facility for reception of maritime safety information (MSI) by the Inmarsat enhanced group calling system (EGC)
5) A satellite emergency position-indicating radio beacon (satellite EPIRB) which shall be:
a) Capable of transmitting a distress alert through the polar orbiting satellite service operating in the 406 MHz band.
b) Ready to be manually released and capable of being carried by one person into a survival craft.
c) Capable of floating free if the ship sinks and of being automatically activated when afloat.
d) Capable of being activated manually.
Also read: Ship Shore Safety Checklist (SSSCL) as per ISGOTT 6: A Comprehensive Guide
Note: Various vessels are made intended for different kinds of trades. The GMDSS equipment carriage requirement for various types of vessels may vary depending on their trade.
Sea area A1
In addition to the equipments described in General above, the GMDSS equipment carriage requirement is as follows. 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: if the ship is engaged on voyages within coverage of MF coast stations equipped with DSC, on MF using DSC; or on HF using DSC.
Sea areas A1 and A2
Every ship engaged on voyages beyond sea area A1, but remaining within sea area A2, shall be provided with the minimum equipment specified category General, and, in addition:
An MF radio installation capable of transmitting and receiving, for distress and safety purposes, on the frequencies: 2,187.5 kHz using DSC; and radiotelephony and maintain a continuous watch on it.
The ship shall, in addition, be capable of transmitting and receiving general radio communications using radiotelephony or direct-printing telegraphy by either:
– a radio installation operating on working frequencies in the bands between 1,605 kHz and 4,000 kHz or between 4,000 kHz and 27,500 kHz. This requirement may be fulfilled by an HF radio installation or an Inmarsat ship earth station.
Sea areas A1, A2 and A3
In addition to meeting the requirements of category General above, every ship engaged on voyages beyond sea areas A1 and A2, but remaining within sea area A3 shall be provided, additionally, with:
a) An Inmarsat C ship earth station
b) An MF radio installation and 2187.5 kHz DSC watchkeeping receiver (can be the same one as required for A2);
OR
a) An MF/HF radio installation capable of transmitting and receiving on all distress and safety frequencies in the (marine) bands between 1,605 kHz and 27,500 kHz using DSC, radiotelephony and NBDP.b) An MF/HF DSC watch keeping receiver capable of maintaining DSC watch on 2,187.5 kHz, 8,414.5 kHz and on at least one of the distress and safety DSC frequencies 4,207.5 kHz, 6,312 kHz, 12,577 kHz or 16,804.5 kHz; at any time, it shall be possible to select any of these DSC distress and safety frequencies
b) An MF/HF DSC watch keeping receiver capable of maintaining DSC watch on 2,187.5 kHz, 8,414.5 kHz and on at least one of the distress and safety DSC frequencies 4,207.5 kHz, 6,312 kHz, 12,577 kHz or 16,804.5 kHz; at any time, it shall be possible to select any of these DSC distress and safety frequencies.
Ships shall be capable of transmitting and receiving general radio communications using radiotelephony or direct-printing telegraphy by an MF/HF radio installation operating on working frequencies in the (marine) bands between 1,605 kHz and 27,500 kHz. This requirement is normally fulfilled by the addition of this capability in the MF/HF equipment referred to earlier – there is no MF only equipment made.
Sea areas A1, A2, A3 and A4
In addition to carrying the equipment listed in General above, every ship engaged on voyages in all sea areas shall be provided with an MF/HF radio installation and DSC watchkeeper as described earlier.
In addition, ships shall be capable of transmitting and receiving general radiocommunications using radiotelephony or direct-printing telegraphy by an MF/HF radio installation as described earlier.
Ref: SOLAS consolidated edition & Cult of sea website
These were the main GMDSS equipment carriage requirement listed by SOLAS which each vessel must comply. Although, some small coastal crafts may or may not be following these requirements and hence must be kept in mind while navigating in their vicinity.
