Global Maritime Distress Research Articles

Survey and Analysis of User Opinion for the Review and Modernization of GMDSS and Implementation of e-Navigation

Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) equipment and Electronic Chart Display & Information System (ECDIS) are typical equipment which help seafarers to obtain information for ship`s safe navigation. In this study, a survey on using of GMDSS equipment and ECDIS was conducted on a total of 260 ship masters and crew who have been working on ocean-going vessels. The subjects were asked about the usage, and level and reason of satisfaction or dissatisfaction of GMDSS equipment and ECDIS, the leading navigational system from which they receive information. The survey showed that the third- and fourth-most frequently used equipment, MF/HF and INMARSAT (telex), were deemed to be the second- and third-most useless equipment. It means that the frequency of device usage is not proportionate to the level of navigational safety. Especially, `ease of device use (42.3%)` and `necessity of the provided information (50%)` were highlighted as factors increasing the level of satisfaction with the system. The survey result shows that ship safety cannot be realized by only adopting advanced systems, technology and services. It emphasizes the need to consider the level of `accessibility and appropriateness of the information` and `ease of device use`. Discussions implemented by the IMO on various policies and regulations are aimed at securing ship safety. In order to achieve the goal, such institutions should be validated by end-users and relevant studies should be conducted.

Long Range Security and Safety Tracking System for Merchant Vessels

Seventy percent of the earth’s surface is covered by water, in this large area the vessels are trading, fishing and transporting. Whatever the purpose of sailing we can consider it shipping and is relaying and requiring safety navigation, taking into account keeping clean environment. The Shipping plays a vital role in the economics of most countries so the safety and security control and monitoring from shore is significant. This paper will explain the maritime vessels security systems and safety and will be concentrated on the integration of the security system devices, safety system devices and transmission through satellite communication systems to the shore side, by other means main office on land, to raise the level of safety and security. The safety by choice not by chance Keywords: IMO international maritime organization, GIS geographic information system, SOLAS safety of live at sea ,VDR voyage data recorder ,ECDIS electronic chart display and information system ,RADAR radio detection and ranging ,AIS automatic identification system ,MIS marine information system ,PLC programming logic control ,SCADA supervisory control and data acquisition , GPS global position system , GMDSS global maritime distress and safety system ,SASS Ship Security Alert System ,NAVTEX national weather service BNWAS bridge navigational watch alarm system ,NMEA 183 combined electrical and data specification for communication between marine electronics . tronics .

Development and characteristics of African Satellite Augmentation System (ASAS) network

This paper reports on an African Satellite Augmentation System (ASAS) Space and Ground Segments as an integration part of Global Satellite Augmentation System (GSAS) for enhanced Traffic Control and Management (TCM) globally at sea, on the ground (road and railway vehicles) and in the air. The ASAS network can be used as solely systems for covering and providing TCM and Safety and Security service for entire African Continent and Middle East region, according to the International Maritime Organization (IMO), its Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) and International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) recommendations and requirements. Since 1995 few commercial Regional Satellite Augmentation System (RSAS) networks have been projected and developed to utilize Communication, Navigation and Surveillance (CNS) service for Maritime Traffic Control (MTC), Land Traffic Control (LTC) and Air Traffic Control (ATC), including for improved Safety and Security in all transportation systems. The proposed Space Segment of Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) constellation and Ground Segment of ASAS network are discussed, and areas examined where further investigations are needed. Specific issues related to these challenges are concluded and a set of solutions is proposed to maximize the availability of ASAS network capacity to the user applications.

멀티센서 퓨전 기법을 활용한 방위 측정 알고리즘의 설계

현재 선박의 자동운항을 위해서는 항체의 위치정보 및 방위정보가 반드시 필요하다. 그 중에서도 방위정보는 자동조타 시스템에 필수적인 요소로 측정 장비로는 자이로컴퍼스, 마그네틱 컴퍼스 그리고 GPS 컴퍼스가 있다. 자이로컴퍼스는 주로 GMDSS(Global Maritime Distress & Safety System)의 대형선박에 사용되고 있으며 정밀도와 신뢰도가 우수하지만 부피가 크고 고가라는 단점이 있다. 그리고 마그네틱 컴퍼스는 비교적 정확하고 저렴하지만 선박의 철제 구조물 등과 같은 자성물체에 의한 영향을 많이 받는다는 단점을 가지고 있다. GPS컴퍼스의 경우는 위치정보의 변화에 따라 진북을 가리키지만 항체가 정지해있거나 오차범위 내에서 운동을 할 경우 정확한 방향을 얻을 수 없다. 본 논문에서는 이러한 방위각 센서의 상호보완을 위해서 least-square curve fitting 방법을 이용하여 GPS 컴퍼스의 성능을 향상시키고 이를 마그네틱 컴퍼스와 공분산 오차의 크기에 따른 가중치를 적용하여 방위각의 정밀도를 향상 시키는 알고리즘을 제안하였다. 실험을 통하여 제안된 알고리즘의 특성을 분석하고 성능을 검증하였으며 실험 결과를 통해 제안된 알고리즘의 적용 가능성을 보여주었다. Presently, the location and direction information are certainly needed for the autonomous vehicle of the ship. Among them, the direction information is a essential elements to automatic steering system. And the gyro-compass, the magnetic-compass and the GPS compass are the sensor indicating the direction. The gyro-compasses are mainly used in the large-sized ship of the GMDSS(Global Maritime Distress & Safety System). The precision and the reliability of the gyro-compasses are excellent but big volume and high price are disadvantage. The magnetic-compass has relatively fine precision and inexpensive price. However, the disadvantage is in the influence by the magnetism object including the steel structure of a ship, and etc. In the case of the GPS compass, the true north is indicated according to the change of the location information but in case of the minimum number of satellites or stopping of a ship or exercise in the error range, the exact direction cannot be obtained. In this paper, the performance of the GPS compass was improved by using the least-square curve fitting method for the mutual trade off of the angle sensor. The algorithm which improves the precision of an azimuth by applying the weighted value according to the size of covariance error was proposed with GPS-compass and magnetic compass. The characteristic and the performance of the proposed algorithm were analyzed and verified through experimentation. The applicability of the proposed algorithm was shown through the experimental result.

Usage Review of Global Maritime Distress and Safety System

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Search and Rescue Location and Identification: Experience with SARTs

This paper summarizes the current situation on maritime navigation transponders, including those used in the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) and those installed in Rescue Co-ordination Centres (RCCs) and on board Search and Rescue boats, and discusses the possible future trends. The paper then describes the methods used and conclusions reached during a variety of tests carried out in Tenerife Roads, RCC Tenerife and on board Sociedad Estatal de Salvamento vessels, in order to determine the accuracy and efficiency of various ships' identification, positioning, location, tracking and homing systems in normal and distress situations. The systems tested included Radar/Automatic Radar Plotting Aids (ARPAs), Search and Rescue Transponders (SARTs), Target Enhancers and Radar Reflectors.

English in the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System

Traditional methods of sending and responding to distress and safety alerts at sea, involving telegraphy and telephony with limited range and clarity, have been superseded by a mainly satellite‐based system, with global range and high quality. Alerts are now primarily initiated by telex from ship to shore, rather than to other ships, and the message, including the latest ship's position, can be entirely automated. Responses can also be automated, and made via telex. In these circumstances, it may be supposed that the use of English, especially spoken English, is of less importance for the safety of life at sea. However, this study shows that for the new system to work properly, a good command of English is still required, from the reading of technical manuals and safety warnings to the ability to communicate by speech via telephony, as well as by writing via telex. In the context of increased multilingual crewing on ships where the working language is English, the teaching of both general and maritime English to ships' crews is more important than ever.

Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) deadline postponed six years.

Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) deadline postponed six years.

The Global Maritime Distress and Safety System: Basic Concept and Functions

Safety of life at sea and assistance to persons in distress are matters of great importance to seafarers, shipowners and maritime administrations and have been addressed by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) since its foundation.

The Global maritime distress and safety system

The evolution of modern communications, in particular by satellite, has enabled the development of a Global system for the alerting and coordination of search and rescue organisations in the event of maritime disaster. A brief overview of the components of the system is given after a review of the various official bodies involved in its inception.

Standard-C and Positioning

Since the days of Sputnik, 1, Transit and Early Bird, satellite communications and navigation have followed separate development paths. Now with the development of the INMARSAT Standard-C and Enhanced Group Call systems the two will be drawn more closely together. Standard-C will provide a simple low cost satellite solution for ships to send and receive data and messages throughout the world in any weather 24 hours a day. For the mariner this will mark a significant advancement over existing conventional services. The Enhanced Group Call (EGC) system uses the basic Standard-C system architecture to broadcast Marine Safety Information (SafetyNET) and commercial calls (FleetNET) to defined geographic areas or groups of ships. The EGC system therefore brings the mariner an optimal way to automatically receive shore-to-ship distress alerts, routine weather forecasts and NAVAREA and storm warnings applicable to the area in which he is sailing. For the commercial user it offers a means to provide news, stock, commodity market and other business information to a selected group of recipients. In the future it may also provide the means for automatically updating data bases containing electronic charts, light lists, tide tables, hazardous cargo and other information currently carried in printed form. The ability to advise ships in near real-time of pertinent Marine Safety Information will be demonstrated during sea trials of the EGC system in the North Atlantic during 1987. A successful trial is expected to lead to IMO making an EGC receiver capability a part of the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) carriage requirements which, together with 518 KHz NAVTEX, will enable the mariner to receive crucial Marine Safety Information automatically anywhere he sails. The Standard-C ship earth station (SES) will have the ability to transmit the vessel's position automatically when connected to an electronic positioning system, either at pre-assigned intervals or on demand when polled. The same capability may also be used to transmit meteorological observations as well as cargo and engine monitoring/performance data. Starting in 1987, INMARSAT will test and demonstrate position determination through its satellites by using ranging techniques. It is planned that some of these tests will be conducted using modified Standard-C SESs. Sea Trials of Standard-C will begin in the latter part of 1987 with commercial service from 1988. The multifunctional capabilities of this small, lightweight, low-cost SES with omnidirectional antenna are remarkable. Standard-C will therefore have a significant impact on navigation and communications practice and thinking by the marine community into the 21st Century.

Development and implementation of the future global maritime distress and safety system (FGMDSS)

Development and implementation of the future global maritime distress and safety system (FGMDSS)

Inmarsat Spreading Its Wings

INMARSAT, the International Maritime Satellite Organisation, has made great progress since its foundation in 1965 and has now 44 members. Its three components, the satellites leased, the stations on land and those on ships, have grown with INMARSAT in size, number and efficiency, thus providing ever increasing communication services to the international maritime community. Research and future development are described which will make a significant contribution to the future global maritime distress and safety system. Finally, INMARSAT is now preparing to provide services to the aeronautical community, like those at present operative for maritime communications.

INMARSAT: a satellite safety net for seafarers

The International Maritime Satellite Organization's (INMARSAT) success in operating the world's maritime satellite communications system has led to moves for it to expand its activities into other related areas. A vital role for INMARSAT in the Future Global Maritime Distress and Safety System has already been acknowledged and moves are currently being made to alter the organization's Convention to enable it to provide a range of aeronautical services.

International standards in radio communication

A REVIEW is given of some of the international technical standards activities and Recommendations of the International Radio Consultative Committee (CCIR) for radio communications. A new Recommendation for the digital coding of television signals provides a basis for a single world standard for video signals in broadcasting studios, recording, and exchange of programs. Work is underway on high-definition television and a standard for satellite direct broadcasting downlink. Fixed satellite earth-station antenna standards (developed earlier), and performance criteria for satellite links in the integrated services digital network are being improved. Digital microwave radio relay standards include allowable bit error ratio, channel arrangements, and baseband interconnection. Mobile service Recommendations include system standards for VHF/UHF automated radiotelephony, a future global maritime distress and safety system, and radio paging codes and formats. Standards for the use of ARQ in HF and maritime communications, and the use of Universal Coordinated Time (UTC) in international telecommunications, are based on CCIR Recommendations.

Inmarsat expands its horizons

AbstractThe International Maritime Satellite Organization (INMARSAT) is the world's only commercial satellite system providing mobile communications. This article describes the system and the services which are provided through it to the worldwide shipping and offshore industries. It provides some background on the establishment of the system and why maritime nations looked to satellites as the way to effect a dramatic improvement in maritime communications. The article discusses some of the research and development now being carried out which is expected to lead to the provision of new services, including aeronautical communications via satellite. Also mentioned is the role to be played by INMARSAT in the Future Global Maritime Distress and Safety System, now being developed by the International Maritime Organization for introduction in 1990. New services, such as these, and greatly expanded capacity are to be provided by INMARSAT in its second generation system, consisting of a new series of satellites for launch from 1988.

INMARSAT: looking beyond the maritime community

As a relatively new satellite organization, INMARSAT is engaged in making its system known to the maritime community with a view to increasing its usage. Current priorities include removal of restrictions on communications equipment in harbours and territorial waters, the setting up of disaster relief communications systems on land, the development of the Future Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (FGMDSS), cooperation with the aeronautical communities in a common satellite system, and planning for its second-generation system.