**Executive Summary**
Merchant Shipping Notice No. 06 of 2022, issued on June 1, 2022, addresses the recognition of port signal stations as VHF Coast Stations in Sea Area A1. It outlines requirements for coast stations in the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) for Sea Area A1 and specifies the actions Indian ports must take to have their waters considered as Sea Area A1. Indian ports desiring to have their waters declared Sea Area A1 must inform the Directorate of their coordinates, comply with requirements, and apply to the Ministry of Communication.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **GMDSS Sea Areas:**
* The Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) divides global waters into Sea Areas A1, A2, A3, and A4.
* Indian waters are currently designated as Sea Area A3.
* **Sea Area A1 Definition:**
* Sea Area A1 is defined as an area within the radiotelephone coverage of at least one VHF coast station with continuous DSC alerting.
* **Requirements for Coast Stations in GMDSS for Sea Area A1:**
* Stations must have a continuously manned radio station operating 24/7/365.
* VHF radiotelephone equipment must have DSC with carrier power not exceeding 50W and emission class F3E/G3E/G2B.
* Affiliation with a Rescue Coordination Center (RCC) and reliable communication via telephone and email are required.
* Stations must provide complete coverage of their immediate sea area.
* Continuous operation is mandatory.
* **Requirements for Indian Ports Desiring Sea Area A1 Designation:**
* Inform the Directorate of the coordinates of the proposed GMDSS Sea Area A1 for verification.
* Comply with the requirements stated in paragraph 4.
* Apply to the Ministry of Communication for a coast station license and MMSI number after verification of compliance by the Mercantile Marine Department.
* **Directorate General of Shipping Action:**
* Upon completion of these requirements, the Directorate General of Shipping will initiate the process for specifying the coordinates of the area as Sea Area A1.
**Impact Analysis**
**Indian Ports**
* **Impact:** Ports desiring to have their waters designated as Sea Area A1 will be required to meet specific operational and equipment standards.
* **Action Required:** Inform the Directorate of their coordinates, comply with requirements, and apply to the Ministry of Communication.
Key Entities Referenced
SOLAS: International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea; Regulation 2.1.12 Chapter IV is referenced for the definition of 'Sea Area A1'.
Sea Area A1: Area within the radiotelephone coverage of at least one VHF coast station where continuous DSC alerting is available, crucial for maritime safety and communications.
Directorate General of Shipping, Mumbai: Primary regulatory body issuing the notice and responsible for specifying the co-ordinates of 'Sea Area A1'.
Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS): International system dividing global waters into sea areas; the notice focuses on requirements for 'Sea Area A1' within the GMDSS framework.
Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways: The ministry to which the Mercantile Marine Department applies for coast station license and coast station MMSI number on verification of compliance with 'Sea Area A1'.
7r,ry=
>.-Hr:-: rl9 5EZ, !'- s{rr s{dFR/ covERNMENT oF rNDtA 3{If,TCIr
.
qaa,ffileraritrra-qptrrrdq
srqa c-drN-q
MINISTRY OF PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS
+{5ar6rfrilrrc.rF
DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF SHIPPING, MUMBAI
F. No. 25-2501 l/6/2022-NT-DGS Date-01.06.2022
Merchant Shippins Notice No. 06 of 2O22
Sub: - Recognition of Port Sisnal Station as VHF Coast Station in Sea Area Al-ree.
1.
Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) has divided global waters into Sea
Areas Al, 42, A.3 and .A4. Indian waters have been declared as Sea Area
^43.
2.
Requirement of radio communication equipment on ships operating in different Sea Areas
are different. Hence. requests have been received to declare Sea Area A1, wherever possible.
3. As per Regulati on 2.1.12 Chapter IV of SOLAS, "Sea Area Al means an area within the
radiotelephone coverage of at least one VHF coast station in which continuous DSC alerting is
available. As per ITU radio regulation, Coast Station means "a land station in the maritime mobile
service".
4. For Coast stations in the GMDSS System for Sea Area Al, the basic requirement are as
follows;
a)
Have continuously manned radio station operating 24x7x365 days.
b)
VHF radiotelephone equipment with DSC having carrier power not exceeding 50W and
class of emission F3E/G3E/G2B;
c)
be affiliated to an RCC and have reliable communications by telephone and email;
d)
provide as complete a coverage oftheir immediate sea area as possible; and
e)
be in continuous operation.
5. Indian ports desiring to consider their waters as 'Sea Area A1' under the GMDSS are
required to;
a)
inform this Directorate of the co-ordinates of the proposed GMDSS 'Sea Area A1' for
verification.
b)
Comply with requirements stated in para 4.
c) Ai'
on verification of compliance with 'Sea Area requirement by Mercantile Marine
Department, apply to Ministry of Communication for coast station license and coast
station MMSI number (e.g. 00419xxxx).
6.
On completion ofthese aspects, the Directorate General of Shipping will initiate the process
for specifying the co-ordinates of the area as 'Sea Area A1'.
7.
This is issued with the approval ofthe Director General of Shipping & Additional Secretary
to the Gon. of india.
l**
.o,
66
Balunkesh ohapatra
Senior Radio Surveyor-cum-ADG (Tech)
9A dF-d, t r @rr, fr6 @ *.rtcs, 6iE{ nfu lfs, *q{nr.tqO, rrf - 400042
"rf
96 Floor, BETA Bulldlng, l-Thlnk Tachno Campus, Kanlur Vlllags Road, Kanlurmarg (E), Mumbol-100042
fin el.: 9l -22-2S?S20{0/l/2/J,tt'{{/Fa\.: 9l-22-25752029/35+S /H-mail :dqship-dss'a nic.initqlte/$'ebsire: !.E!=gg!EipDi!g,8g!=i!