SOLAS Regulations for Maritime Radio Communication

International Conference on Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS)

• SOLAS 1914: Ships with more than 50 people on board must be fitted with a radio telegraph installation
• SOLAS-48: Set radio watch at a frequency of 2182 kHz
• SOLAS-74: Made it obligatory for all ships at sea to maintain a continuous radio listening watch (Frequency: 156.8mHz or 2182kHz)

Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS)

• Introduced in 1988
• Replaced Morse code with Narrow Band Direct Printing (NBDP)
• DSC (Digital Selective Calling) mode revokes the need for continuous radio listening watch
• International Telecommunication Union (ITU) approves frequencies used in GMDSS

Frequencies and Modes

• VHF-CH16 (156.8 MHz): Radio-telephone mode for voice communication
• VHF-CH70 (156.525 MHz): DSC mode
• 2 174.5 kHz: Radio-telex mode (NBDP)
• 156.8 MHz (VHF-CH16): Direct communication during search and rescue operations
• 518 kHz (Narrow Band Letter Printing): Information about safety of navigation (MSI)
• 490 kHz: National frequency
• 156.650 MHz (VHF-CH 13): Messages on safety of navigation between ships
• 406-406.1 MHz: Used exclusively by satellite EPIRBs
• 161.975 MHz (VHF-CH AIS 1) and 162.025 MHz (VHF-CH AIS 2): Search and Rescue transmitters (AIS-SART)
• 9 200-9 500 MHz: Used by SARTS (radar transponders)

Radio Regulations

• Any emission is prohibited if it causes harmful interference

Ship Reporting Systems and Ship Reporting Requirements

• General Principles
• Guidelines for Reporting Incidents Involving Dangerous Goods
• Guidelines for Reporting Incidents Involving Harmful Substances and/or Marine Pollutants

Mayday and Securité

• MAYDAY: Grave and imminent danger
• Securité: Regularly made by coast stations

International Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue (IAMSAR)

• Expanding Square Search: Most effective when location is known within relatively close limits
• Sector search (VS): Most effective when position is accurately known and the search area is small
• Track line search (TS): Vessel has disappeared without a trace along a known route
• Parallel track search (PS): Search a large area when location is uncertain
• Contour search (OS): Used around mountains and in valleys
• Coordinated vessel-aircraft search pattern: Only if there is an OSC present to give direction

WHO International Medical Guide for Ships

• Treatment of any ill or injured person on board

Information Required when Requesting Assistance

• Vessel's Name, Call sign, and Flag
• Position, Port of Departure, and Destination, ETA
• Patient's Name, Rank, Sex, Date of Birth, and Nationality
• Patient's Symptoms, Location of pain, associated symptoms
• Other medical problems with special reference to Drug or other allergies, Chronic illness, and their treatment

5 Points To Radio Medical Advice

• 1. DO NOT PANIC
• 2. QUICK AND EFFICIENT ACTION
• 3. OBTAINING ADVISE THROUGH INMARSAT
• 4. OBTAINING ADVICE THROUGH R/T IN VHF, MF/HF
• 5. CONTENT OF MESSAGE

Search and Rescue Transponder (SART)

• Helps in locating the position of the vessel in case it goes off track
• Carriage requirement: Passenger ship- at least 02, Cargo ship 500 GT and above- at least 02, Cargo ship 300 GT and above- at least 01, 1 on each survival craft
• Battery requirement: Operational life in standby condition