What is Global Maritime Distress and Safety System or GMDSS and its details?

Maintenance requirements of GMDSS Equipments  (Or Commanly known As “Back UP” maintenance )

Three options :-

1. Duplications of equipments
2. Shore – based maintenance. (SBM)
3. At – Sea election maintenance.

In Sea Area (1) and A (2)
Vessel must use one option.

In Sea area (3) and A (4)
Vessel must use any two options.

NOTE:

• Duplication of equipments mean availability of spare equipments on board.
• A shore based maintenance contract must be acceptable to vessel’s flag state administration.

ADVANTAGES RESPECT OF THE PREVIOUS SYSTEM

1. It provides a worldwide warning system ship-shore, which does not depend on vessels in the vicinity.
2. Simplifies the radio operations; alerts can be transmitted by “pressing a button”
3. Assures the redundancy of communications; requires two separate systems to alert function.
4. Strengthens the search and rescue; operations are coordinated by land centres.

What does “DISTRESS” signal mean:

Distress signal :-

The distress signal mayday indicates that a ship, aircraft or other vehicle is threatened by grave or imminent danger and require immediate assistance.