SOLAS Genl. Prov. SOLAS Sub. Division SOLAS Fire Safety SOLAS LSA SOLAS GMDSS
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Legislative Requirements

 

SOLAS – GMDSS

 

Chapter IV     Radio communications

Regulation 1

This chapter applies to all ships to which the present regulations apply and to cargo ships of 300 gross tonnage and upwards.

Regulation 2

Bridge -to-bridge communications means safety communications between ships from the position from which the ships a normally navigated.

Continuous watch means that the radio watch concerned not be interrupted other than for brief intervals when the s receiving capability is impaired or blocked by its communications or when the facilities are under periodical maintenance or checks.

Digital selective calling (DSC) means a technique using, digital codes which enables a radio station to establish contact with, transfer information to, another station or group of stations, and complying with the relevant recommendations of the ITU Radio communication Sector ITU-R

Direct-printing telegraphy means automated telegraphy techniques which comply with the relevant recommendations of ITU Radio communication Sector ITU-R.

General radio communications means operational and public correspondence traffic, other than distress, urgency and safety messages, conducted by radio.

INMARSAT means the Organization established by the Convention on the International Mobile Satellite Organization.

International NAVTEX service means the coordinated broadcast and automatic reception on 518 kHz of maritime safety information by means of narrow-band direct-printing telegraphy using the English languages

Locating means the finding of ships, aircraft, units or persons in distress.

Maritime safety information means navigational and meteorological warnings, meteorological forecasts and other urgent safety related messages broadcast to ships.

Polar orbiting satellite service means a service which is based on polar orbiting satellites which receive and relay distress alerts from satellite EPIRBs and which provides their position.

Radio Regulations means the Radio Regulations annexed to, or regarded as being annexed to, the most recent International Telecommunication Convention which is in force at any time.

Sea area A1 means an area within the radiotelephone coverage of at least one VHF coast station in which continuous DSC alerting is available, as may be defined by a Contracting Government.’

Sea area A2 means an area, excluding sea area Al, within the radiotelephone coverage of at least one MF coast station in which continuous DSC alerting is available, as may be defined by a Contracting Government.

Sea area A3 means an area, excluding sea areas Al and A2, within the coverage of an INMARSAT geo-stationary satellite in which continuous alerting is available.

Sea area A4 means an area outside sea areas Al, A2 and A3.

 

 

Regulation 4

Every ship, while at sea, shall be capable:

  1. transmitting ship-to-shore distress alerts by at least two and independent means, each using a different radiolocation service;
  2. of receiving shore-to-ship distress alerts;
  3. of transmitting and receiving ship-to-ship distress alerts;
  4. of transmitting and receiving search and rescue coordinating communications;
  5. of transmitting and receiving on-scene communications;
  6. of transmitting and receiving signals for locating;
  7. of transmitting and receiving maritime safety information;
  8. of transmitting and receiving general radiocommunication to and from shore-based radio systems or networks; and
  9. of transmitting and receiving Bridge-to-Bridge communications.

 

Regulation 5

Provision of radio communication services

These services are:

  1. a radio communication service utilizing geo-stationary satellites in the Maritime Mobile-Satellite Service;
  2. a radio communication service utilizing polar orbiting satellites in the mobile-satellite service;
  3. the maritime mobile service in the bands between 156 MHz and 174 MHz;
  4. the maritime mobile service in the bands between 4,000 kHz and 27,500 kHz; and
  5. the maritime mobile service in the bands between 415 kHz and 535 kHz (NAVTEX system as a component of the World Wide Navigational Warning Service) and between 1,605 kHz and 4,000 kHz.

Part C

Ship requirements

Regulation 6

Radio installations

Every ship shall be provided with radio installations capable of complying with the functional requirements prescribed by SOLAS throughout its intended voyage and, unless exempted for the sea area or areas through which it will pass during its intended voyage.

Every radio installation shall:

  1. be so located that no harmful interference of mechanical, electrical or other origin affects its proper use, and so as to ensure electromagnetic compatibility and avoidance of harmful interaction with other equipment and systems;
  2. be so located as to ensure the greatest possible degree of safety and operational availability;
  3. be protected against harmful effects of water, extremes of temperature and other adverse environmental conditions;
  4. be provided with reliable, permanently arranged electrical lighting, independent of the main and emergency sources of electrical power, for the adequate illumination of the radio controls for operating the radio installation; and
  5. be clearly marked with the call sign, the ship station identity and other codes as applicable for the use of the radio installation.

Control of the VHF radiotelephone channels, required for navigational safety, shall be immediately available on the navigation bridge convenient to the conning position and, where necessary, facilities should be available to permit radio communication from the wings of the navigation bridge. 

Portable VHF equipment may be used to meet the latter provision.

In passenger ships, a distress panel shall be installed at the conning position.  This panel shall contain either one single button which, when pressed, initiates a distress alert using all radio communication installations required on board for that purpose or one button for each individual installation. 

The panel shall clearly and visually indicate whenever any button or buttons have been pressed. 

Means shall be provided to prevent inadvertent activation of the button or buttons. 

If the satellite EPIRB is used as the secondary means of distress alerting and is not remotely activated, it shall be acceptable to have an additional EPIRB installed in the wheelhouse near the conning position.

In passenger ships, information on the ship’s position shall be continuously and automatically provided to all relevant radio communication equipment to be included in the initial distress alert when the button or buttons on the distress panel is pressed.

In passenger ships, a distress alarm panel shall be installed at the conning position.  The distress alarm panel shall provide visual and aural indication of any distress alert or alerts received on board and shall also indicate through which radio communication service the distress alerts have been received.

Regulation 7

Radio equipment: General

Every ship shall be provided with:

  1. a VHF radio installation capable of transmitting and receiving:

                                 i.                     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; (Administrations may exempt certain ships constructed before 01.02.1997, plying in areas A2 from DSC watch if they keep continuous watch on CH.16) and

                               ii.                     radiotelephony on the frequencies 156.300 MHz (channel 6), 156.650 MHz (channel 13) and 156.800 MHz (channel 16);

  1. 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 above (Administrations may exempt certain ships constructed before 01.02.1997, plying in areas A2 from DSC watch if they keep continuous watch on CH.16)
  2. a radar transponder capable of operating in the 9 GHz band, which:

                                i.                     shall be so stowed that it can be easily utilized; and

                               ii.                     may be one of those required by regulation for a survival craft;

  1. 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;
  2. a radio facility for reception of maritime safety information by the INMARSAT enhanced group calling system if the ship is engaged on voyages in any area of INMARSAT coverage but in which an international NAVTEX service is not provided.  However, ships engaged exclusively on 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.
  3. a satellite emergency position-indicating radio beacon (satellite EPIRB) which shall be:

                                 i.                     capable of transmitting a distress alert either through the polar orbiting satellite service operating in the 406 MHz band or, if the ship is engaged only on voyages within INMARSAT coverage, through the INMARSAT geo-stationary satellite service operating in the 1.6 GHz band;

                               ii.                     installed in an easily accessible position;

                              iii.                     ready to be manually released and capable of being carried by one Person into a survival craft;

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

                               v.                     capable of being activated manually.

 

g.       Until 1 February 1999 or until such other date as may be determined by the Maritime Safety Committee, every ship shall, in addition, be fitted with a radio installation consisting of a radiotelephone distress frequency watch receiver capable of operating on 2,182 kHz. (The Maritime Safety Committee, at its sixty-eighth session (28 May to 6 June 1997), decided that watch keeping by GMDSS ships on the frequency 2182 kHz should cease from 1 February 1999).

h.       Every passenger ship shall be provided with means for two-way on-scene- radio communication for search and rescue purposes using the aeronautical frequencies 121.5 MHz and 123.1 MHz from the position from which the ship is normally navigated.

Regulation 8

Radio equipment: Sea area Al

In addition to meeting the requirements of regulation 7, every ship engaged on voyages exclusively in sea area Al shall be provided with a radio installation ca able 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, 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 406 MHz; this requirement may be fulfilled by the satellite EPIRB, either by installing the satellite EPIRB close to, or by remote activation from, the position from which the ship is normally navigated; or
  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 the INMARSAT geo-stationary satellite service; this requirement may be fulfilled by:

                                 i.                     an INMARSAT ship earth station; (INMARSAT A, B, C all providing 2 way communication) or

                               ii.                     the satellite EPIRB, either by installing the satellite EPIRB close to, or by remote activation from, the position from which the ship is normally navigated.

 

The VHF radio installation, shall also be capable of transmitting and receiving general radio communication using radiotelephony.

Ships engaged on voyages exclusively in sea area Al may carry, in lieu of the satellite EPIRB, 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 9 GHz 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.

Regulation 9

Radio equipment: Sea areas A 1 and A2

Every ship engaged on voyages beyond sea area Al, 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:

                                 i.                     2,187.5 kHz using DSC; and

                               ii.                     2,182 kHz using radiotelephony;

  1. a  radio installation capable of maintaining a continuous DSC watch on the frequency 2,187.5 kHz and
  2. means of initiating the transmission of ship-to-shore distress alerts by a radio service other than MF operating either:

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

                               ii.                     on HF using DSC; or

                              iii.                     through the INMARSAT geo-stationary satellite service; this requirement may be fulfilled by:

o          HF

o          the satellite EPIRB, by installing the satellite EPIRB close to, or by remote activation from, the position from which the ship is normally navigated.

d.       It shall be possible to initiate transmission of distress alerts by the radio installations from the position from which the ship is normally navigated.

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

                                 i.                     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 the addition of this capability in the equipment; or

                               ii.                     an INMARSAT ship earth station.

The Administration may exempt ships constructed before 1 February 1997, which are engaged exclusively on voyages within sea area A2, from the VHF DSC watch requirements of keeping watch on CH.70 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.

Regulation 10

Radio equipment: Sea areas A 1, A2 and A3

Every ship engaged on voyages beyond sea areas Al and A2, but remaining within sea area A3, shall be provided with:

a.        an INMARSAT ship earth station capable of:

                                 i.                     transmitting and receiving distress and safety communications using direct-printing telegraphy;

                               ii.                     initiating and receiving distress priority calls;

                              iii.                     maintaining watch for shore-to-ship distress alerts, including those directed to specifically defined geographical areas;

b.       transmitting and receiving general radio communication, using either radiotelephony or direct-printing telegraphy; and

c.        an MF radio installation capable of transmitting and receiving, for distress and safety purposes, on the frequencies:

                                 i.                     2,187.5 kHz using DSC; and

                               ii.                     2,182 kHz using radiotelephony; and

d.       a radio installation capable of maintaining a continuous DSC watch on the frequency 2,187.5 kHz which may be separate from or combined; and

e.        means of initiating the transmission of ship-to-shore distress alerts by a radio service operating either:

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

                               ii.                     on HF using DSC; or

                              iii.                     through the INMARSAT geo-stationary satellite service, by an additional ship earth station or by the satellite EPIRB, either by installing the satellite EPIRB close to, or by remote activation from, the position from which the ship is normally navigated;

In addition, every ship engaged on voyages beyond sea areas Al and A2, but remaining within sea area A3, shall, if it does not comply with the requirements of paragraphs above be provide with:

f.         an MF/HF radio installation capable of transmitting and receiving, for distress and safety purposes, on all distress and safety frequencies in the bands between 1,605 kHz and 4,000 kHz and between 4,000 kHz and 27,500 kHz:

                                 i.                     using DSC;

                               ii.                     using radiotelephony; and

                              iii.                     using direct-printing telegraphy; and

g.        equipment 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.

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

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

                               ii.                     through the INMARSAT geo-stationary satellite service; this requirement may be fulfilled by:

                              iii.                     an INMARSAT ship earth station; or

                             iv.                     the satellite EPIRB, either by installing the satellite EPIRB close to, or by remote activation from, the position from which the ship is normally navigated; and

i.          in addition, ships shall be capable of transmitting and receiving general radio communication using radiotelephony or direct printing telegraphy by an MF/HF radio installation operating on working frequencies in the bands between 1,605 kHz and 4,000 kHz and between 4,000 kHz and 27,500 kHz.

j.         It shall be possible to initiate transmission of distress alerts by the radio installations from the position from which the ship is normally navigated.

k.       The Administration may exempt ships constructed before 1 February 1997, and engaged exclusively on voyages within sea areas A2 and A3, from the requirements of keeping watch on DSC Ch.70, provided such ships 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 normal navigated.

 

Regulation 12

Watches

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

a.        on VHF DSC channel 70, if the ship, is fitted with a VHF radio installation;

b.       on the distress and safety DSC frequency 2,187.5 kHz, if the ship, is fitted with an MF radio installation;

c.        on the distress and safety DSC frequencies 2,187.5 kHz and 8,414.5 kHz and also 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, appropriate to the time of day and the geographical position of the ship, if the ship, is fitted with an MF/HF radio installation.  This watch may be kept by means of a scanning receiver;

d.       for satellite shore-to-ship distress alerts, if the ship, is fitted with an INMARSAT ship earth station.

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

Until I February 1999 or until such other date as may be determined by the Maritime Safety Committee, (The Maritime Safety Committee decided (resolution MSC.77(69)) that all GMDSS ships, while at sea, shall continue to maintain, when practicable, continuous listening watch on VHF channel 16 until 1 February 2005) 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.

Until 1 February 1999 or until such other date as may be determined by the Maritime Safety Committee, every ship required to carry a radiotelephone watch receiver shall maintain, while at sea, a continuous watch on the radiotelephone distress frequency 2,182 kHz.  This watch shall be kept at the position from which the ship is normally navigated.

Regulation 13

Sources of energy

There shall be available at all times, while the ship is at sea, a supply of electrical energy sufficient to operate the radio installations and to charge any batteries used as part of a reserve source or sources of energy for the radio installations.

A reserve source or sources of energy shall be provided on every ship, to supply radio installations, for the purpose of conducting distress and safety radio communication, in the event of failure of the ship’s main and emergency sources of electrical power.  The reserve source or sources of energy shall be capable of simultaneously operating the VHF radio installation, as appropriate for the sea area or sea areas for which the ship is equipped, and either the MF radio installation, the MF/HF radio installation, or the INMARSAT ship earth station, and any of the additional loads for a period of at least:

a.        1h on ships provided with an emergency source of electrical power if such source of power complies fully with all relevant requirements, including the supply of such power to the radio installations; and

b.       6 h on ships not provided with an emergency source of electrical power complying fully with all relevant provisions of regulations, including the supply of such power to the radio installations. (For guidance, the following formula is recommended for determining the electrical load to be supplied by the reserve source of energy for each radio installation required for distress conditions: ˝ of the current consumption necessary for transmission + the current consumption necessary for reception + the current consumption of any additional loads).

The reserve source or sources of energy need not supply independent HF and MF radio installations at the same time.

The reserve source or sources of energy shall be independent of the propelling power of the ship and the ship’s electrical system.

Where, in addition to the VHF radio installation, two or more of the other radio installations, can be connected to the reserve source or sources of energy, they shall be capable of simultaneously supplying, for the period specified, as appropriate, the VHF radio installation and:

a.        all other radio installations which can be connected to the reserve source or sources of energy at the same time; or

b.       whichever of the other radio installations will consume the most power, if only one of the other radio installations can be connected to the reserve source or sources of energy at the same time as the VHF radio installation.

The reserve source or sources of energy may be used to supply the electrical lighting

Where a reserve source of energy consists of a rechargeable accumulator battery or batteries:

a.        a means of automatically charging such batteries shall be provided which shall be capable of recharging them to minimum capacity requirements within 10 h; and

b.       the capacity of the battery or batteries shall be checked, using appropriate method, (One method of checking the capacity of an accumulator battery is to fully discharge and recharge the battery, using normal operating current and period (e.g. 10 h).  Assessment of the charge condition can be made at any time, but it should 6e done without significant discharge of the battery when the ship is at sea), at intervals not exceeding 12 months, when the ship is not at sea.

The siting and installation of accumulator batteries which provide a reserve source of energy shall be such as to ensure:

a.        the highest degree of service;

b.       a reasonable lifetime;

c.        reasonable safety;

d.       that battery temperatures remain within the manufacturer’s specifications whether under charge or idle; and

e.        that when fully charged, the batteries will provide at least the minimum required hours of operation under all weather conditions.

If an uninterrupted input of information from the ship’s navigational or other equipment to a radio installation required is needed to ensure its proper performance, means shall be provided to ensure the continuous supply of such information in the event of failure of the ship’s main or emergency source of electrical power.

Regulation 15

Maintenance requirements

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

On ships engaged on voyages in sea areas Al and A2, the availability shall be ensured by using such methods as duplication of equipment, shore based maintenance or at-sea electronic maintenance capability, or a combination of these, as may be approved by the Administration.

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.

While all reasonable steps shall be taken to maintain the equipment in efficient working order to ensure compliance with all the functional requirements specified in regulation 4, malfunction of the equipment for providing the general radio communication required by regulation 4.8 shall not be considered as making a ship un-seaworthy or as a reason for delaying the ship in ports where repair facilities are not readily available, provided the ship is capable of performing all distress and safety functions.

 

Regulation 16

Radio personnel

Every ship shall carry personnel qualified for distress and safety, radio communication 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 radio communication during distress incidents.

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

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.