How are the alerts to be received, and then re-broadcast on non-GMDSS systems?
Alerts go unheard, and people die.
The problem is exacerbated by the separation of commercial
and distress/safety functions brought about by the GMDSS.
Under the pre-GMDSS Morse and Radiotelephone systems, the
distress and safety services provided by Coast Radio Stations were subsidised
to a certain extent by revenue from commercial traffic (ie: telegrams and
telephone calls).
The GMDSS has transferred the great majority of the world's
maritime commercial traffic to Inmarsat (satellite) systems.
Accordingly, many Coast Radio Stations are now forced to rely
directly on funding from their Governments and SAR agencies. Unfortunately,
some developing countries have precious little revenue to allocate to Coast
Radio Networks.
Even Coast Stations in developed countries are feeling the
effects of the GMDSS - many of the world's major Coast Radio Stations have
closed or severely rationalised their services.
Some countries are now providing SAR-related services only
from their stations.
