GMDSS Global Maritime Distress and Safety System Review

A collection of vocabulary flashcards covering GMDSS equipment, sea area definitions, emergency signals, and maritime reporting systems based on the review transcript.

Radio Silence

A communication state where stations not directly involved in on-going distress traffic are prohibited from transmitting on the associated frequency or channel.

SART Radar Signal

A visual display on a radar screen that appears as a series of $12$ equally spaced dots, indicating the transponder's position.

AIS-SART Transmission

A signal that appears on Automatic Identification Systems as eight identical position report messages.

SEELONCE FEENEE

The radiotelephone procedure word used to signify that distress traffic has concluded and normal radio conditions are restored.

Coordinator Surface Search (CSS)

A vessel designated by mutual agreement to coordinate search and rescue activities when multiple merchant ships are responding to a distress incident.

SITREP

The standard format used by a Rescue Coordination Center (RCC) or Rescue Sub-Center (RSC) to transmit situational information to an On Scene Coordinator (OSC).

$$518\,kHz$$

The primary international frequency used exclusively for receiving NAVTEX Maritime Safety Information (MSI) broadcasts.

SafetyNET

An international satellite-based service used to broadcast Maritime Safety Information to ships in areas not adequately covered by NAVTEX.

Medium Frequency (MF) Range

The radio frequency band spanning from $300\,kHz$ to $3000\,kHz$.

High Frequency (HF) Range

The radio frequency band spanning from $3\,MHz$ to $30\,MHz$.

Very High Frequency (VHF) Range

The radio frequency band spanning from $30\,MHz$ to $300\,MHz$.

Super High Frequency (SHF) Range

The radio frequency band spanning from $3\,GHz$ to $30\,GHz$.

Uncertainty Phase

An emergency classification used when a vessel is reported overdue or has failed to provide a mandatory position report.

Distress Phase

An emergency classification declared when there is reasonable certainty that a ship or person is in grave and imminent danger and needs immediate assistance.

RMSS

The Radio Medical Support System, a database designed to maintain the confidentiality and security of seafarer medical data.

SECURITE

A radiotelephone safety signal repeated three times to preface messages regarding navigation or important meteorological warnings.

PAN PAN

A radiotelephone urgency signal repeated three times to indicate a message concerning the safety of a vessel, aircraft, or person.

MAYDAY

The internationally recognized radiotelephone distress signal announcing that a vessel is threatened by grave and imminent danger.

Sea Area A1

An operational area within the radiotelephone coverage of a VHF coast station providing continuous Digital Selective Calling (DSC) alerting.

Sea Area A2

An operational area, excluding Sea Area A1, within the radiotelephone coverage of an MF coast station providing continuous DSC alerting.

Sea Area A3

An operational area, excluding Sea Areas A1 and A2, within the coverage of an Inmarsat geostationary satellite providing continuous alerting.

Sea Area A4

Maritime areas located outside of the designated Sea Areas A1, A2, and A3, typically covering the Polar regions.

MMSI

The Maritime Mobile Service Identity, a unique nine-digit number used to identify ship stations and coast stations in digital communications.

Hydrostatic Release Mechanism

A safety device that allows a float-free Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) to automatically deploy if the vessel sinks.

AMVER

The Automated Mutual-Assistance Vessel Rescue System, a voluntary global ship reporting system used to assist search and rescue authorities.

JASREP

The Japanese Ship Reporting System used for maritime safety and coordination.

SART Wavelength

The specific radar frequency wavelength of $3\,cm$ to which a Search and Rescue Radar Transponder responds.

Reserve Source of Energy

The electrical supply required to power radio installations for distress and safety communications in the event of a failure of the ship's main and emergency power sources.

NAVTEX Subject Indicator D

The code used in a NAVTEX preamble to identify search and rescue information or SAR alerts.

NAVTEX Subject Indicator E

The code used in a NAVTEX preamble to identify meteorological forecasts.