A vessel equipped with GMDSS equipment that will remain in Sea Area A1 at all times <b>

The vessel must be provided with a radio installation capable of initiating the transmission of ship-to-shore Distress alerting from the position from which the ship is normally navigated.

NAVTEX receiver with automatic reception of MSI, or Maritime Safety Information

VHF radio for DSC, digital selective calling to transmit automatically a predefined distress signal to notify the US Coast Guard or other search and rescue organization.

VHF radio with RT, radio telephony, sends and receives communications on the same frequency, usually between 156 MHz to 174 MHz.

For table listing frequencies and requirements, please see GMDSS Sea Areas Table

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The additional equipment carriage requirement imposed for the survival craft of vessels over 500 gross tons

Second radar transponder is required.

Ships that are over 500 gross tons are required to have SART device on port and starboard sides. These two devices have to be located where they can be removed and placed in a emergency vessel quickly.

Also, ships with 12 passengers must carry at a minimum of 2 SART devices.

For more information, see Marine Insights article on What is Search and Rescue Transponder

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Vessels operating in which sea area(s) are required to carry either Inmarsat or HF equipment or a combination thereof under GMDSS?

A3

Vessels operating in which sea area(s) are required to carry either Inmarsat or HF equipment or a combination thereof under GMDSS.

In area A3, vessels must carry equipment same as in area A1 and A2.

Specifically for area A3, either INMARSAT Satellite Communication or HF radio with Telex, DSC, RT and Telex, or both.

For table listing frequencies and requirements, please see [GMDSS Sea Areas Table]1

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Within a single sea area, what is the primary reason GMDSS imposes carriage requirements for different radio subsystems?

The combined capabilities of redundant subsystems mitigate the risk of a single point of failure.

The Federal requirements state that ships must have various communication capabilities, and so to comply redundant systems are needed.

The Federal regulations are outlined in Title 47 Chapter I Subchapter D Part 80 Subpart C Operating Requirements and Procedures. It is of benefit to read this section to some extent, as there are many exam questions that stem from this Subpart C. (A word to the wise)

Code of Federal Regulations Part 80 Subpart C Operating Requirements and Procedures

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Operating within Ocean Area A1, and outside of NAVTEX coverage, a GMDSS-equipped vessel must carry:

Equipment capable of reception of Maritime Safety Information by the Inmarsat enhanced group call system, or HF SITOR (NBDP).

This is covered by § 80.1087 Ship radio equipment - Sea area A1.
Please see Code of Federal Regulations, Part 80 Subpart W - Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS)

Also, GMDSS-equipped vessel must carry:

• At minimum two radar transponders have to be onboard of every cargo ship with the weight of 300 to 500 gross tons.

• Two radar transponders, with one on port and one on starboard on every passenger ship no matter what tonnage.

For table listing frequencies and requirements, please see GMDSS Sea Areas Table

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Equipment carriage requirement for survival craft under GMDSS?

At least three SCT units and two SARTs on every passenger ship and cargo ships of 500 gross tons and upwards.

SCT is a survival craft transreceiver, working in VHF band

§ 80.1095 Survival craft equipment.

(a) At least three two-way VHF radiotelephone apparatus must be provided on every passenger ship and on every cargo ship of 500 tons gross tonnage and upwards.

At least two two-way VHF radiotelephone apparatus must be provided on every cargo ship of between 300-500 tons gross tonnage.

(b) At least one radar transponder or AIS-SART (collectively, “search and rescue locating devices”) must be carried on each side of every passenger ship and every cargo ship of 500 tons gross tonnage and upwards.

At least one search and rescue locating device must be carried on every cargo ship of 300 tons gross tonnage and upwards but less than 500 tons gross tonnage.

For more info, see Cornell Law School's article, 47 CFR § 80.1095 - Survival craft equipment.

For table listing frequencies and requirements, please see GMDSS Sea Areas Table

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