Page 42: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (September 1993)

The Future Of Safety-At-Sea by James J. Fitzpatrick, III, MNI

The International Maritime Or- ganization (IMO) has hailed it as the greatest invention to communi- cations at sea since the invention of the radio. The U.S. has strongly advocated its worldwide use. Ship- owners and seafarers alike should welcome its introduction. "It" is the

Global Maritime Distress and Safety

System, or GMDSS as it is com- monly called. GMDSS is among the latest electronic advancements in radio communications. Designed to aid in the identification and coordi- nation of search and rescue efforts of all vessels on the high seas, cor- rect operation of the system could eliminate the possibility of ships disappearing without a trace.

The system enables a ship to com- municate ship-to-shore, shore-to- ship and ship-to-ship, within four areas of the world's oceans - far more effective than the current com- bination of radiotelephony and

Morse code.

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Two corner followers keep the welding guns aligned in the joint. This machine will weld straight stiffeners, bulb angles and can even be adapted for welding manways and openings in ships.

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The GMDSS concept revolv< around the premise that search ar rescue operations ashore as well i at sea close to the vessel in distrei can rapidly deploy to the area of distress incident using a coordinat* effort to minimize loss of life.

Using advanced communicatioi equipment as the nerve center f implementing such a system requir a technology which embraces sat< lites and transistor-based electro ics. Geostationary as well as pol orbiting satellites make up the ne global coverage of GMDSS. Wh not the only part of the system, si ellites play an important role in t

GMDSS capability. Digital Sell tive Calling (DSC) is another k technology used in GMDSS. A Di call contains information about t vessel transmitting the call, for < ample: an identification number the ship that initiated the call, t nature of the distress and the coor nates and time of the distress. T information is broadcast to all sh on a variety of frequencies in ms bands to increase the possibility tl the message will be heard.

Over the next several years, least 250,000 ships' officers will ni training. The IMO amended Saf of Life at Sea in 1988 to implem

GMDSS worldwide. According parameters set by IMO, 97 perc of the world's merchant fleet wil required to operate GMDSS by IS

Eventually, fishing, recreational i small passenger ships may also n to comply. While it was first sumed that the equipment woul( easy to operate, this is not the c;

There is more involved in the opi tion of GMDSS than pushing 1 tons. Knowing what equipment which frequencies and bands to in a specific situation requires s

The IMO has strict recommei tions for the training of officer the use of GMDSS equipment.

The Center for Maritime Ed tion is currently raising funds t< up a GMDSS regional command tion at its training center in lc

Manhattan. Spurred by a grant i the Life Saving Benevolent Ass( tion and other contributors, the < ter will begin offering a GM training course later this fall.

The course, which has aln received approval from the Parn nian registry, will include classi theory explaining the system's sign, as well as practical trainii sending and receiving message ing actual equipment. Training take place in the classroom and s lator as well as at sea.

Long at the forefront of mari education and training progr the Center for Maritime Educ has often designed courses and t ing programs to assist the ind when new rules and regulatior velop regarding the introducti new maritime equipment and p dures, thus enhancingthe indiv seafarer's professional compe and promoting safety of life at

The deadline for the traini ships' officers is rapidly appr ing. This is an important asp safety-at-sea that should be braced by the whole industry information about courses call 233-2242.

Maritime Reporter/Engineering News