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How to Handle Distress Messages Received on GMDSS

Written by Capt Rajeev Jassal on November 8, 2017
44
ship-in-distress The strongest people make time to help others, even if they are struggling with their own personal demons. This saying is so true for the navigators sailing on the high seas. We ought to help people in distress. In fact, even if someone does not wish to, they won't have a choice. IMO requires every ship to help any nearby ship in distress. Not doing so will be the serious violation of international rules. GMDSS is the equipment on board that can let us know of any ship that may be in distress. A ship in distress can transmit its distress message to the ships and shore station thousands of mile away. When you receive a distress message from a ship that is 1000 NM away from its position, are you supposed to proceed for help? Irrespective of how helping heart you may possess, proceeding to help in this case will be illogical. So when must you proceed for help and when should you not? What do you need to do on receiving a distress message on board? Even if you are thousands of miles away from the ship in distress, is there any way you can be of some help? Knowing these answers will not only help the ships in distress but also help us in avoiding the violation of international regulations on providing help to the ships in distress. In this post, I will discuss the step by step proce...

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Comments (44)

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  • Farhan Maktabay November 10, 2017
    Finally got everything at one place ....great effort for the community.... I always eagerly wait for your articles
    1

    Rajeev Jassal November 20, 2017
    Thanks Farhan...

  • Ivan November 13, 2017
    Thank you very much, Captain Rajeev for sharing your knowledge and experience, I am always waiting for your articles.
    1

    Rajeev Jassal November 20, 2017
    Thanks Ivan...

  • Alex November 16, 2017
    I was waiting for the new article long time. I had read all of your posts and it’s very useful and easy to get it. Thanks a lot!
    1

    Rajeev Jassal November 20, 2017
    Glad you found it useful Alex...

  • Fu Tang November 17, 2017
    Dear capt., We are in Navarea I, noticed that Navtex msgs are pouring out while Sat-C barely print any Navwarn except one rig list and one summary of in force Navwarn. Why? Is Navtex replacing Sat-C as primary Navwarn promugator in area I?
    2

    Rajeev Jassal November 20, 2017
    Navtex issues coastal messages only... Sat-C issues warnings for oceans and open seas. Few messages may overlap but most of the messages will not.. so in this case you have lots of coastal warnings which are issued through Navtex and are not duplicated by Navarea coardinator

    Fu Tang November 26, 2017
    Thanks. Another question, i don't if you have worked on bridge with all FURUNO equipment, the FURUNO doppler log DS60 frequently gives "alarm 011", i have looked into the manual, searched online, didn't find anything useful to explain what is the alarm and how to solve it, do you have any insights please?

  • omkar chavan November 30, 2017
    thanx for information :)
    1

    Rajeev Jassal December 16, 2017
    Thanks, Omkar...

  • Don Mc December 3, 2017
    Capt. is EM log and doppler log the same equipment? or obsolutely two very different item?
    0

  • Vijeet Kumar Chanderwanshi December 7, 2017
    So much thanks to u sir...finally everthying at one place...i m always waiting for ur articles sir
    1

    Rajeev Jassal December 16, 2017
    Thanks Vijeet...

  • Rajeev Jassal December 16, 2017
    Both measures speed through water.. only the principle of operation is different. EM log works on electro magnetic rays and Doppler log works on Doppler effect..
    0

  • Prashant Gosain March 4, 2018
    Very nicely explained sir
    0

  • Puneet vohra March 16, 2018
    Hi sir...I had a query that incase we receive a Distress message not Distress Alert then what would be the correct sequence of action by the ship receiving the Distress message. To consider scenario if same is recvd from 100 odd miles or less or if greater...then what's the correct sequence of response from vessel receiving the same. Thanks
    0

  • TOE April 12, 2018
    What will be the procedure, if a ship call us on VHF by name and told us that they have a missing person onboard and suspect it as possible manoverboard. Request us to assist them in search and rescue. Can we consider it as Distress call?
    0

  • msahli April 26, 2018
    Great , is it possible to make pdf file from this tutorial
    0

  • akki May 4, 2018
    as per Gmdss. ..in no case vessel shall send the distress relay on rept of dsc distress alert on VHF and MF. your distress rcvd on 2187.5 fq...pls let me know your action on rcvg alert on MF? what you have explained is for HF.
    1

    ProJect December 19, 2020
    Yes, I agree with you. The article is kinda misleading...

  • Shahed Parvez May 22, 2018
    Thank you so much sir for the complete and details instructions I have been looking for... Would love to see more such writings in future.
    0

  • Lewis July 3, 2018
    Dear Captain Rajeev Jassal, after reading numerous blogs of yours, I would like to extend my thanks to you for taking the time to write in such a clear, helpful, and interesting manner. I am currently studying for my Master Orals and I am finding that although I am aware of much of the information, your blogs have been consistently helpful in arranging my answers in a clear, concise, and professional manner.
    0

  • Rajeev Ranjan October 25, 2018
    नमस्कार सर जी, I was very confused about gmdss function but after read your blog now I am able to analyse the things. अपने बहुत ही सरल तरीके से एक एक चीज को समझाया है जिसे पढ़ कोई भी आसानी से समझ सकता है। Thanks सर जी
    0

  • Amit Mehta November 17, 2018
    Please let me know which all stations reply to our NBDP calls for testing my equipment and on which frequencies.Highly appreciate.
    1

    st June 22, 2021
    guanzhou / shanghai

  • MD.ABUL KALAM AZAD December 14, 2018
    Excellent through training
    0

  • Manu Aggarwal January 31, 2019
    A perfect explanation to most of the doubts
    0

  • Daniel February 5, 2019
    Now it's clearer as never before.
    0

  • Mayank May 7, 2019
    Sir, what if we relay a distress alert received in Mid-Ocean but still no acknowledgement comes from shore station and the ship is 300 NM away- shall we acknowledge the alert and proceed for rescue or the relay has to be kept on forwarding until it reaches a coast station ?
    1

    Dinesh Dogra November 2, 2019
    In my opinion, you may give a call to the RCC on INMARSAT to confirm and take action accordingly.

  • Victor Francis July 18, 2019
    Thanks for the information sir. I have been reading your posts for quite some time now. Thanks again sir.
    0

  • Dinesh Dogra November 2, 2019
    You are amazing brother. Very impressive assimilation of procedures at one place. Cheers!
    0

  • vaibhav April 18, 2020
    right on the point. what a fabulous way to explain a topic.
    0

  • SUFYAN S H SHAARIN June 16, 2020
    does the five minutes rule apply to the coast guard patrol boats??
    0

  • ASIF September 29, 2020
    I did my cadetship in the ship that you have shown.
    0

  • Neil October 23, 2020
    Nice blog for everyone. This is really helpful article to handle distress and also people should have frequently massage therapy by Charlotte nuru massage with offers and deals.
    0

  • S.thilakarathna December 15, 2020
    This is really helpful article also very clear to understand .thanks sir
    0

  • Antonette May 30, 2021
    Great blog, Captain. I look forward to more discussions from you. Keep safe!
    0

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  • nsree April 19, 2022
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    0

  • Mushtaq Ali November 19, 2022
    Dear Sir, Can we pass Coastal Warning on GMDSS and secondly how we can delete a message form said once uploaded to the website, please.
    0

  • Mushtaq Ali November 19, 2022
    Dear Sir, Can we pass Coastal Warning on GMDSS and secondly how we can delete a message form said once uploaded to the website, please.
    0

Capt Rajeev Jassal

About Capt Rajeev Jassal

Capt. Rajeev Jassal has sailed for over 24 years mainly on crude oil, product and chemical tankers. He holds MBA in shipping & Logistics degree from London. He has done extensive research on quantitatively measuring Safety culture onboard and safety climate ashore which he believes is the most important element for safer shipping.

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