NEW AUSTRALIAN COAST RADIO ARRANGEMENTS

From 1 July 2002, the services previously provided by the seven stations of the Australian Coast Radio Network (Sydney, Brisbane, Townsville, Darwin, Perth and Melbourne) have been replaced by two distinct networks:

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) operated network, comprising two radio stations located in the Western and Eastern Australian deserts at Wiluna in Western Australia and Charleville in Queensland. 

The network maintains a continuous DSC watch on the 4, 6, 8, 12 and 16 MHz DSC distress and safety channels.  It should be noted that these stations are primarily designed to provide services to GMDSS vessels; as such, there are no voice watches provided. 

Voice communications are available after a call via DSC, nominating a radiotelephone channel for ongoing comms. 

The stations will come up on either the voice distress and safety channels (4125, 6215, 8291, 12290 or 16420 kHz) or the following working channels: 404, 607, 806, 1226, 1604 or 2212.  

This network also provides automated voice and facsimile weather broadcasts on behalf of the Australian Bureau of Meteorology.

The Australian State and Territory Marine HF Radio Network – these stations are located at Sydney, Gladstone, Cairns, Darwin, Port Hedland, Fremantle (Perth), Broken Hill, Alice Springs, Hobart and Melbourne.

The network provides a form of voice watch-keeping on 4125, 6215 and 8291 kHz. 

The network also offers a limited MSI broadcast capability on 8176 kHz.

The new State networks are intended to maintain the level of service provided by the previous Australian Coast Radio Network. 

 

A brief operational and technical evaluation of the State networks may be found here.

 

More detailed information on the new arrangements is available at the following web sites

AMSA

Bureau of Meteorology

Marine and Safety Tasmania

Marine Safety Victoria

Marine Group, Transport South Australia

NSW Maritime

Northern Territory Department of Transport and Works

Maritime Safety Queensland

Western Australia Department of Transport

GMDSS for Recreational Vessels

So, why should you fit GMDSS equipment to your pride and joy?

The GMDSS is not just a system for ocean going Merchant Vessels. The GMDSS is designed to cater for all types of craft.

The Maritime Safety Committee of the International Maritime Organisation has issued a circular which urges administrations to enforce the equipping of their vessels with GMDSS compatible VHF equipment.

IMO resolution MSC 77 (69), adopted 13 May 1998.

THE MARITIME SAFETY COMMITTEE

URGES Governments:

1. To require all new VHF radio equipment manufactured for, or installed on or after 1 February 1999 on, seagoing vessels to which the 1974 SOLAS Convention does not apply to be fitted with facilities capable of transmitting and receiving distress alerts by DSC on VHF Channel 70;
2. To require all seagoing vessels to which the 1974 SOLAS Convention does not apply, but which are required to carry a radio installation under national legislation, to be fitted with a radio installation which includes facilities for transmitting and receiving distress alerts by DSC on VHF channel 70 no later than 1 February 2005;
3. To encourage seagoing vessels being voluntarily fitted with VHF radio equipment to be fitted also with facilities for transmitting and receiving distress alerts by DSC on VHF channel 70 no later than 1 February 2005; and
4. To require all vessels being fitted with facilities in accordance with sub-paragraph .1 to .3 above, to maintain, when practicable, a continuous listening watch on VHF channel 16 until 1 February 2005, and to require personnel operating such equipment to be adequately trained, taking into account ITU Resolution 343 (WRC-97);

Whilst many administrations have yet to incorporate GMDSS requirements in their national legislation, GMDSS technologies will eventually permeate their way into common use.

However, this situation is Australia is somewhat further complicated by the diversity of State and Territory marine radio legislation.  At the moment, there are no uniform requirements for recreational craft marine radio equipment across the country.

A joint Federal/State Government committee is investigating the issues.

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Why DSC?

Whilst Inmarsat systems, particularly Inmarsat C, are now becoming small enough to fit in just about any vessel, they still remain out of the financial reach on the average small boat user - prices for an Inmarsat C system are in the region of five to ten thousand dollars.

The GMDSS communications system with the most potential for recreational users is DSC.

Yes, the system is not without its shortcomings. However, if used correctly, DSC greatly improves your chances of getting a distress message through to the rescue authorities and surrounding vessels.

• A simple push button operation sends a distress call.

• All GMDSS vessels in range receive the call directly.

• If you are called, an alarm will sound.

• In addition, DSC automates your radio - no more listening to hash and noise on HF nor idle chatter on VHF.

VHF DSC for small vessels

More information on VHF DSC for small vessels may be found at the VHF DSC information web site

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