Maritime Glossary
Global Maritime Distress and Safety System
Also known as: GMDSS
The internationally agreed suite of communications equipment and procedures for maritime distress, urgency, and safety communications.
Status: ActiveVerified: Source confidence: high (97%)
Full Definition
GMDSS replaced Morse-code distress communications in 1999. Mandated under SOLAS Chapter IV, it defines carriage requirements based on sea area: A1 (near VHF DSC coast stations), A2 (near MF coast stations), A3 (Inmarsat coverage), A4 (polar regions). Required equipment includes VHF DSC radio, MF/HF DSC radio, Inmarsat or Iridium terminal, NAVTEX, EPIRB, SART, and two-way VHF handhelds. GMDSS enables automatic distress alerts, maritime safety information (MSI) reception, and coordinated SAR response.
Domain Tags
safetynavigationregulation