NATIONAL GMDSS IMPLEMENTATION TASK FORCE
Newsletter and
Summary Record of 8 January 2004 Meeting
1. This
summary record is provided for information and will be posted on the Task Force
portion of the Coast Guard web site at www.navcen.uscg.gov/marcomms/
(click GMDSS, then GMDSS Task Force) the summary record is also distributed to
all Task Force members to serve as a Newsletter summarizing GMDSS developments.
Please note a new email address for Task Force Director, Jack Fuechsel, given
at the end of this report. The GMDSS Task Force met in Washington DC on 8
January 2004. The documents listed below were distributed and copies are
available on request. Some are also posted on the web site:
Summary record of Task Force
meeting 24 October 2003
Task Force comments to FCC on
AIS Frequencies
NVIC 8-01, Change 1- Approval
of Navigation Equipment for Ships
NVIC 04-03. Encl 5; Ship
Security Alerting System (SSAS)
Task Force Letter to Sabella
Associates on GMDSS Training Video
FCC Public Notice DA 03-3933
of 11 Dec notifying new ULS Interface
FCC GMDSS Inspection Check
List
Coast Guard Rescue 21 Pamphlet
2. The
Summary Record of the 24 October 2003 Task Force meeting was approved with
notification of an error in paragraph 5.a. reporting activation of Canadian Sea
Area A1 on the east and west coasts. Sea Area A2 has not been declared except
in the Canadian Arctic.
3. The FCC
report included the following highlights:
a. Ghassan Khalek introduced FCC
Public Notice DA 03-3933 of 11 December announcing deployment of a new online
filing interface for the Universal Licensing System (ULS). The changes were
made to accommodate a recent decision to record full vessel descriptive
information on station license applications. Clarifications were also made reminding
applicants that an MMSI number issued by BOAT US or Sea Tow could not be used
in applying for a station license as that process would automatically assign a
new MMSI number. This Public Notice can be viewed on the FCC website at
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-03-3933A1.pdf.
b. Ghassan Khalek also distributed
copies of an FCC Check List to be used in conducting GMDSS inspections on U.S.
flag vessels. Since it had been compiled several years ago, Task Force members
wishing to review the check list and recommend changes were invited to do so.
Members who did not attend the meeting may view the check list on the website: www.fcc.gov/eb/gmdss.html.
Suggestions for updating the check list should be submitted to Ghassan Khalek (gkhalek@fcc.gov) by
13 February; the revised version of the check list will be posted on the FCC
website.
c. Tim Maguire reported briefly on
the status of requests for comment and rule making involving MariTEL frequency
authorizations and the Coast Guard requirements for AIS frequencies. The
comment periods have closed but FCC decisions have not yet been announced.
4. The
Coast Guard report included the following highlights:
a. Russ Levin reported on the
status of the MF coastal network which continues to suffer from a degraded
performance due to inadequate antenna systems. Concern over the limited
effectiveness of the watch on 2182 kHz has prompted the recent release of a Notice
to Mariners warning of the degraded performance. In a similar vein, the upgrade
to VHF-DSC is also awaiting the planned
technical upgrade and no date for establishment of Sea Area A2 can be
projected at this time.
b. LT Scott Mason of the Rescue 21
staff reported on the status of the VHF-DSC upgrade, which has encountered
delays in software development. The impact on the Full Operating Capability
(FOC) date is being evaluated by the project staff. Initial Operating
Capability (IOC) is anticipated for May 2003 at the first sites on the eastern
seaboard, Group Atlantic City and Group Eastern Shore. Captain Sawyer advised
that even though different areas would become operational on differing dates,
it was not planned to declare Sea Area A1 operational until all CONUS sites had
been completed and FOC declared.
c. Ed Brady reported on the work of
ITU Working Party 8B which had completed its work on redefining Digital
Selective Calling (DSC) parameters during its Geneva meeting in November.
Revisions were made to two ITU Resolutions, 493-11 that defines how DSC works
and 541-10 that governs how DSC is used operationally. The changes to 493-11
have been ratified and are now effective. The changes to 541-10 are expected to
be adopted without further change but because that Resolution has treaty status
with the effect of law in the U.S. it may be 2006 or 2007 before it has full
legal status. Current equipment is grand-fathered but manufacturers should
examine the new provisions before submitting new models for type acceptance.
The new versions of the Resolutions should be posted on the Coast Guard website
soon.
d. Captain Scott Evans, Chief of
the Coast Guard Office of Boating Safety briefed the Task Force on his scope of
responsibility. His Congressional mandate has been driven by the goal of
reducing casualties in boating operations. Fatalities which routinely
approached 2000 per year are now down to less that 1000 per year. His office
manages the Boating Safety Grants program that dispenses funds from marine fuel
taxes for worthy programs proposed by non-profit organizations dedicated to
boating safety. Most of that funding goes to the states to maintain their
boating safety programs. In response to a question about the Hawaiian Law
requiring VHF Radios or EPIRBs on boats that go more than a mile offshore, Capt
Evans doubted that the Coast Guard could mandate such a provision nationally
without Congressional action. He considers it more likely that selected coastal
states might adopt their own version of the Hawaiian Law if deemed appropriate.
e. A new Coast Guard Navigation and
Vessel Inspection Circular (NVIC) 04-03 was recently issued dealing with many
aspects of the Maritime Security Act. Copies of Enclosure (5) to NVIC 04-03
that deals with the new Ship Security Alerting System (SSAS) were distributed
for information. The SSAS is unique in that it was approved by the IMO on a
fast track with limited study in response to a perceived high priority need.
Further, the SSAS requirements do not describe a specific piece of equipment
but rather are a set of functional requirements that could be met by a variety
of different equipments. For this reason and the need for early outfitting,
there is a certain amount of confusion on the subject. The NVIC can be viewed
on the website at www.uscg.mil/hq/g-m/nvic_04-03.pdf.
The Task Force and the RTCM plan to arrange for more detailed discussion of the
SSAS options at their forthcoming meetings in St. Pete Beach, Florida during
May.
f. Russ Levin outlined the major
issues that will be addressed at the forthcoming meeting of IMO’s COMSAR
Subcommittee, February 16-20, 2004 in London. He welcomed any Task Force
members who wish to be involved in the planning process for COMSAR meetings by
joining the SOLAS Working Group which holds several meetings each year to
prepare U.S. input papers and positions. To be placed on the membership of the
Working Group, contact Russ at 202-267-1389 or rlevin@comdt.uscg.mil.
5. RTCM
President, Bob Markle reported that the Annual Assembly would be held at the
Tradewinds Hotel in St. Pete Beach, Florida May 16-21, 2004. A draft Program
for the Assembly is posted on the RTCM website at www.rtcm.org/meeting-program.html. The Hotel
is now accepting reservations at1-800-808-9833, be sure to ask for the RTCM
room block. Several exhibitors have already registered and others can still be
listed in the printed program if they register by 30 January. Bob also reminded
the group that RTCM had moved its office to Rosslyn. VA with good metro service
and a savings in rent for a better space. The new phone number for RTCM is
703-527-2000.
6. Elaine
Dickinson reported for the Recreational Vessels Task Group and noted that BOAT
US had issued 13396 MMSI numbers to date. There is a continuing reluctance
among recreational vessel operators to purchase station licenses at $ 200.00 to
comply with an FCC rule that neither country has any plans to enforce. She
thanked the FCC for clarifying the online rules to point out that those trying
to obtain station licenses via the ULS could not use MMSIs assigned by BOATUS
and Sea Tow. The Task Force continues to feel that the ULS should be modified
to accept these already assigned MMSIs to conserve numbers and avoid the cost
of reprogramming the radio with a new MMSI number. Other reports involving
recreational vessels were as follows:
a. Bob Negron reported on the
progress by John Sabella Associates in completing the GMDSS training videos.
Numerous suggestions to modify the text had been received from those who
previewed the tapes and those would be incorporated before going into final
production. The Task Force had prepared a letter of endorsement of the project
that can be incorporated into promotional materials.
b. Gene Danko reported on the
status of a new Learning Guide on GMDSS being produced by the U.S. Power
Squadrons. He handed out copies on CD and invited interested Task Force members
to review the CD and make suggestions, hopefully by 13 February. Other Task
Force members who did not attend the meeting are also invited to review the
text by requesting an email version from Gene Danko at 860-896-1889 or genedanko@jhu.edu.
The Learning Guides are for internal use within the U.S.P.S. but will also be
offered for sale at a modest markup over cost. The Task Force has offered an
endorsement similar to that for the video training product.
c. Applicants for Coast Guard
Boating Safety grants have until 15 January 2004 to submit proposals. The BOAT
US foundation is expected to renew its proposal for an interactive VHF-DSC
tutorial to be offered to the public at no charge. This is another voluntary
training tool for which the Task Force has stated a strong need.
7. The
Training Task Group had been asked to clarify the procedure whereby graduates
of Coast Guard approved courses for
GMDSS Operator and GMDSS Restricted Operator could automatically qualify for
those FCC Licenses based on passing the examinations using qualifying question
pools which have been approved by both agencies. The successful candidate is
given a Course Completion Certificate by the school that he submits to a Coast
Guard Regional Examination Center which will certify that the STCW GMDSS requirements have been met. The
School provides a copy of the Course Completion Certification to an FCC COLEM who normally charges a nominal
processing fee to submit a Proof of Passing Certificate to the FCC Licensing
office in Gettysburg which then issues the FCC license to the candidate.
8. The
following are highlights of issues raised by Nino Martini’s Commercial Vessel
Task Group:
a. Bo Norton of Telenor USA
reported that the transition to upgraded Thrane and Thrane Inmarsat C Coast
Earth Stations had been completed with a minimum of trouble shooting and that
AMVER/SEAS programs and SafetyNET broadcast programs were operating normally.
He noted that the new stations did not initially recognize Trimble shipboard
stations but that anomaly had been successfully corrected.
b. The
cover pages of Change 1 to Coast Guard NVIC 8-01 was distributed for
information. The NVIC deals with approval of Navigation Equipment for SOLAS
ships and can be viewed on the website at www.uscg.mil/hq/g-m/nvic/CH-1_8-01.pdf.
9. Ralph
Sponar, Chairman of the Service Agents and Manufacturers Task Group raised
several issues which will require follow-up action as follows:
a. Ralph had reviewed a five page
draft Bulletin on EPIRB Ownership and Maintenance which had been prepared for
the U.S. Marine Safety Association and indicated that it seemed to be accurate
and thorough. Since the Task Force earlier arranged for development of a
similar three page Bulletin by the Coast Guard and NOAA entitled Monthly EPIRB
Inspection Procedures, we plan to discuss the matter with the author to resolve
any discrepancies between the two.
b. Ralph noted that there appears
to be a serious problem that some boat operators have encountered when
attempting to interface their GPS with a VHF-DSC radio. Qualified service
agents rarely have a problem but individual owners who attempt the interface
without qualified help can easily make errors in the hookup depending on the
age of the GPS and the adequacy of instructions in the manual for the VHF
Radio. He has also observed that a few of the older radios won’t accept GPS
input at all. The radios most prone to interface problems seem to be those
built to the RTCM SC-101 specification. Not all radios will display the
position on command even if they have been correctly hooked up. Since it is
very important that DSC radios be interfaced with a navigation receiver to
transmit an accurate position in event of distress, the Task Force will attempt
to better define the problem and issue a warning Bulletin. Similar issues of
correct interface may also arise with other GMDSS radios and with AIS units.
10. The Task
Force briefly reviewed the Continuing Work List but made no changes.
11. The Task
Force agreed to meet next on Thursday morning 20 May 2004 at the Tradewinds
Hotel in St. Pete Beach, Florida during the RTCM Annual Assembly.
GMDSS TASK FORCE CONTINUING WORK LIST
8 January 2004
1. Monitor FCC continuing action to update GMDSS Rules (TF)
2. Recommend actions to reduce False alerts in GMDSS systems
(TF)
3. Monitor Coast Guard Port State GMDSS inspection program
(TF)
4. Monitor MSI broadcasting programs for compliance with
GMDSS Standards (TF)
5. Review GMDSS Internet Web Sites and update Task Force
portion of USCG site (TF)
6. Support SOLAS Working Group planning for IMO COMSAR
meetings (TF)
7. Disseminate GMDSS Information Bulletins and IMO GMDSS
Circulars, and Resolutions (TF)
8. Advocate Canadian coordination to extend GMDSS services
and requirements to the Great Lakes (TF)
9. Assist RTCM to expand its interactive website to include
GMDSS equipment requirements (TF)
10. Review GMDSS publications and make recommendations to
keep the data current (TR)
11. Encourage AMVER & VOS participation to supplement
GMDSS (CV)
12. Publicize availability of NAVTEX receivers without
printers for all vessel categories (CV)
13. Advocate changing GMDSS rules to permit ship calling on
Distress and Safety channels (CV)
14. Encourage Manufacturers to upgrade GMDSS explanations
and guidance in equipment manuals (SA)
15. Recommend to FCC clarifications to their List of
Approved GMDSS Equipment (SA)
16. Monitor development of guidelines for GMDSS equipment
maintenance and maintainer standards (SA)
17. Recommend training programs for non-mandatory users of
GMDSS systems (RV)
18. Recommend development of GMDSS handbooks and Internet
and video training aids (RV)
19. Recommend Class ‘D’ VHF-DSC for voluntary vessels as
superior to RTCM SC-101 format (RV)
20. Advocate suspension of FCC Station License requirement
for short international voyages (RV)
21. Advocate that FCC modify ULS to accept MMSI numbers
assigned by BOAT US and Sea Tow (RV)
22. Recommend voluntary use of Marine Personal Locater
Beacons if EPIRBs are too costly (RV)
Key to cognizant group: (TF)
Task Force
(TR)
Training Task Group
(CV)
Commercial Vessel Task Group
(SA)
Service Agents and Manufacturers Task Group
(RV)
Recreational Vessel Task Group
Please refer questions and proposals to Captain Jack
Fuechsel at 703-941-1935 or gmdsstf@cox.net
File: tfsr-38.doc
