On-board station equipment records are required that the licensee show the name and identification of the on-board station. The number and type of repeater and mobile units used on-board the vessel and the date and type of equipment which is added or removed from the on board station. Some of these are the hand held units that are used in day-to-day operations, even if not used with a on board repeater.
Concerning the Radio Installations aboard ships. We are also governed by the FCC rules regarding the installation of the GMDSS equipment aboard GMDSS compulsory ships. This is noted in 47CFR 80.1083.
The ships must be provided with radio installations capable of complying with the nine functional requirements (stated above) of the rules. These installations must be so located so no harmful interference of mechanical, electrical or other origin effects its proper use and so as to ensure electromagnetic compatibility and avoidance of harmful interaction with other equipment and systems.
The installation must be so located as to ensure the greatest possible degree of safety and operational availability. Also the installation must be protected against harmful effects of water and other environmental conditions.
The GMDSS installation must be provided with reliable, permanently arranged electrical lighting, independent of the main and emergency sources of electrical power, for illumination ofthe radio controls for operating the radio installation.
There must be a clearly marked placard with the call sign and ship station identity.
Also control of the VHF radiotelephone channels required for navigation safety must be immediately available on the navigating bridge convenient to the conning position and be able to permit radio communications from the wings of the navigating bridge. (Portable radios may be used to meet this requirement.)
The FCC Rules restrict the ships sources of energy (47CFR80.1 099) to that of the electrical energy present to operate the GMDSS radios. Rule 80.1099 (e) states:
There must be available at all times, while the ship is at sea, a supply of electrical energy sufficient to operate the radio installations and to charge any batteries used as part of a reserve source of energy for the radio installations.
A reserve source of energy to supply radio installations must be provided on every ship for distress and safety Radio communications, in the event of failure of ship main and emergency electrical power.
This reserve source of energy does not need to supply independent HF and MF radio installations at the same time. The reserve source of energy must be independent of the propelling power of the ship and the ship's electrical system.
A means of charging such reserve source of energy (batteries) must be capable of recharging them to a minimum capacity requirements within 10 hours, and the capacity of the battery or batteries must be checked, using appropriate method, at intervals not exceeding 12 months. (This check must not be made while the ship is at sea.)
If the ship is equipped with an INMARSAT Ship Earth Station (SES)
to partially meet the ship radio carriage requirements for Sea areas A 1, A2, A3, the reserve source of energy must be capable of supply power to the VHF radio installation AND the INMARSAT SES for at least one hour.
VHF Requirements, reserve source of energy, must be capable of operating the VHF radio installation for a period of one hour.
Lighting has a reserve source of energy and must supply the energy to the lighting for a period of one hour.
For ships that are constructed prior to February 1, 1995 and on cargo ships of less than 500 gross tons, if the ships emergency source of electrical power is not provided or does not comply fully with all relevant requirements of SOLAS, chapter 11-1, regulations 43 or 42 (as amended) it shall be six hours.
Providing Position Information for equipment on board the ship.
This position information can be from the ships GPS, or other navigational equipment. This information needs to be available to ensure that such information is available in the event of failure of the ships main or emergency power source.
There must be a means of ensuring an continuous supply of electrical power, with in the equipment tolerances, provided to all GMDSS equipment that could be affected by changes in the power of the ship. A UPS (un-interruptible power supply) is sufficient for this purpose.
FCC rules, 80.1105 insures that the Maintenance of the GMDSS equipment is properly performed. This requires thatthe GMDSS Equipment must be designed to facilitate the replacement of main units without recalibration or readjustment. Adequate information must be supplied by the equipment manufacturer must be provided to enable the equipment to be properly operated and maintained. In order to provide the operation and .maintenance of the equipment then adequate tools, spare parts, and test equipment appropriate to the maintenance methods used by the ship (i.e., duplications of equipment, shore-based maintenance, or at sea
maintenance) should be provided and readily accessible.
. Radio equipment must be maintained to ensure compliance with GMDSS functional requirements and to meet performance standards. [IN IMO REGULATIONS.]
A3, the reserve source of energy must be capable of supply power to the VHF radio installation AND the INMARSAT SES for at least one hour.
VHF Requirements, reserve source of energy, must be capable of operating the VHF radio installation for a period of one hour.
Lighting has a reserve source of energy and must supply the energy to the lighting for a period of one hour.
For ships that are constructed prior to February 1, 1995 and on cargo ships of less than 500 gross tons, if the ships emergency source of electrical power is not provided or does not comply fully with all relevant requirements of SOLAS, chapter 11-1, regulations 43 or 42 (as amended) it shall be six hours.
Providing Position Information for equipment on board the ship.
This position information can be from the ships GPS, or other navigational equipment. This information needs to be available to ensure that such information is available in the event of failure of the ships main or emergency power source.
There must be a means of ensuring an continuous supply of electrical power, with in the equipment tolerances, provided to all GMDSS equipment that could be affected by changes in the power of the ship. A UPS (un-interruptible power supply) is sufficient for this purpose.
FCC rules, 80.1105 insures that the Maintenance of the GMDSS
equipment is properly performed. This requires thatthe GMDSS Equipment must be designed to facilitate the replacement of main units without recalibration or readjustment. Adequate information must be supplied by the equipment manufacturer must be provided to enable the equipment to be properly operated and maintained. In order to provide the operation and .maintenance of the equipment then adequate tools, spare parts, and test equipment appropriate to the maintenance methods used by the ship (i.e., duplications of equipment, shore-based maintenance, or at seamaintenance) should be provided and readily accessible.
. Radio equipment must be maintained to ensure compliance with GMDSS functional requirements and to meet performance standards. [IN IMO REGULATIONS.]
A ship must not deparl from any porl unless and until the ship is capable of performing al/ distress and safety function in the GMDSS funcilonalrequifement These are the Nine functional requirements
