Radio

17

Radio

17.1 Radio communications: The Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS)

All yachts of 300GT and above should comply with the requirements of SO LAS Chapter IV as amended.

17.1.1

Each yacht should carry sufficient radio equipment to perform the following distress and safety communications functions throughout its intended voyage: .1 Transmitting ship to shore distress alerts by at least two separate and independent means, each using a different radio communication service; .2 Receiving shore-to-ship distress alerts; .3 Transmitting and receiving ship-to-ship distress alerts; .4 Transmitting and receiving search and rescue coordinating communications; .5 Transmitting and receiving on-scene communications; .6 Transmitting and receiving signals for locating by radar; .7 Transmitting and receiving maritime safety information; .8 Transmitting and receiving bridge-to-bridge communications.

17.2

Radio installations

Table 1 illustrates the radio installations to be carried to fulfil the functional requirements for sailing at different distances from a safe haven.

17.2.1

Example: As an illustration, the minimum equipment to be installed on a yacht engaged on worldwide operations south of 70 degrees North and north of 70 degrees South would be: One VHF radiotelephone with DSC; one INMARSAT-C ship earth station; one NA VTEX receiver. Note also the requirement for the carriage of two way radiotelephone sets, EPIRBs and SARTs given in section 13 Table 1.

17.3 Operational Performance

All required radio communications equipment should be of a type which is approved by the relevant authority.

17.4 Installation

17.4.1

The radio installation should: .1 Be so located to ensure the greatest possible degree of safety and operational availability; .2 Be protected against the harmful effect of water, extremes of temperature and other adverse environmental conditions; .3 Be clearly marked with the call sign, the yacht station identity and any other codes applicable to the use of the radio installation.

17.5 Sources of energy

17.5.1 There should be available at all times, while the yacht 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.

17.5.2 A reserve source of energy, independent of the propelling power of the yacht and its electrical system, should be provided for the purpose of conducting distress and safety radio communications for a minimum of one hour in the event of failure of the yacht's main and emergency sources of electrical power, (three hours minimum). An independent reserve source of energy should be provided for the purpose of conducting distress and safety radio communications for a minimum of 1 hour in addition to that provided by the emergency source of electrical power.

17.5.3 When a reserve source of energy consists of a rechargeable accumulator battery, a means of automatically charging such batteries should be provided, which is capable of recharging them to minimum capacity requirements within 10 hours which should include a visual and audible charger failure device.

17.5.4 The siting and installation of accumulator batteries should ensure the highest degree of service and safety.

17.6 Watches

17.6.1 A yacht, while at sea, should maintain a continuous watch: .1 Where practicable, on VHF Channel 16; .2 Where practicable, on VHF Channel 13; .3 On VHF Digital Selective Calling (DSC), on channel 70; .4 If fitted with an MF/HF radiotelephone, on the distress and safety DSC frequency 2187.5kHz; .5 for satellite shore-to-ship distress alerts, if fitted, with a radio facility for reception of maritime safety information by the INMARSAT enhanced group calling system; .6 for broadcasts of maritime safety information on the appropriate frequency or frequencies, on which such information is broadcast for the area in which the yacht is navigating; normally using the International NAVTEX service or INMARSAT's enhanced group calling facility. (Further information may be obtained from the Admiralty List of Radio Signals volume 5.)