COMDTINST 16121.1
JAN 29 1998
communications. DSC terminals call a specific station or group of stations to establish
communications. DSC calls are made using the applicable Maritime Mobile Station
Identity (MMSI) and appropriate DSC guard frequencies. The MMSI is the equivalent
of the international radio callsign for establishing DSC communications.
b.
DSC calls include distress, urgency, safety, position information, or other information as
applicable. Federal Communication Commission (FCC) regulations require all VHF
and MF/HF marine radio types accepted after 17 June 1999 to have DSC capability.
c.
GMDSS has 9 specific functions which SOLAS ships must be capable of performing.
Functions 1-5 and 7-9 below are of specific concern to the Coast Guard for DSC
purposes:
(1)
Transmitting ship-to-shore distress alerts.
(2)
Transmitting and receiving ship-to-ship distress alerts.
(3)
Receiving shore-to-ship distress.
(4)
Transmitting and receiving Search and Rescue (SAR) coordination
communications.
(5)
Transmitting and receiving on-scene communications.
(6)
Transmitting and receiving locating signals (EPIRBs/ELTs)
(7)
Transmitting and receiving Maritime Safety Information (MSI)
(8)
Transmitting and receiving general radio communications (ship/ship and
ship/shore).
(9)
Transmitting and receiving bridge-to-bridge communications.
d.
GMDSS consists of numerous telecommunications sub-systems: some of which are
listed below:
(1)
DSC: For calling and distress via VHF-FM/MF/HF. 2
2
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