An Overview of the Global Maritime Distress & Safety System

Over fifteen years ago the Maritime Organization (IMO),a United Nations agency specializing in safety of shipping and preventing ships from polluting the seas, began looking at ways of improving maritime distress and safety communications. In 1979, a group of experts drafted the International Convention on Maritime Search and Rescue, which called for development of a global search and rescue plan. This group also passed a resolution calling for development by IMO of a Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) to provide the communication support needed to implement the search and rescue plan. This new system, which the world's maritime nations, including the United States, are implementing, is based upon a combination of satellite and terrestrial radio services, and has changed international distress communications from being primarily ship-to-ship based to primarily ship-to-shore (Rescue Coordination Center) based.

• International Maritime Organization (IMO) GMDSS Overview .
• You may download a pdf copy of the GMDSS brochure from the USCG Boating website.
• How to Conduct an Inspection of a Fishing Vessel Radio Installation For Compliance with the Fishing Vessel GMDSS Waiver go to the FCC's website.