Global Maritime Distress And Safety System

Marine communications changed for ever on February 1, 1999, with the introduction of the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System or GMDSS.

The GMDSS has automated many marine radio functions and processes, particularly those related to distress and safety.

The GMDSS is an amalgam of a number of individual radio systems.  Whilst satellite-based systems do play a part in the GMDSS, ‘normal’ terrestrial radio continues as the primary system for ship-ship and ship-shore communications.

The GMDSS has automated marine radio distress alerting by the use of a technology known as Digital Selective Calling (DSC).