THE GMDSS IMPLEMENTATION FOR NON-CONVENTION VESSELS

After full implementation of the GMDSS on February 1, 1999, non GMDSS equipped vessels may experience difficulty in establishing communications with vessels complying with the GMDSS. These difficulties are associated with the differences between the automated equipment required in the GMDSSand the non-automated equipment typicaly carried on small vessels. The purpose of this paper is to describe the IMO activities on the application of the GMDSS to non-SOLAS Convention ships both from a radiocommunication and a SAR point of view, and the national GMDSS implementation programme for non-SOLAS vessels. There are no differentiation between SOLAS ships and non-SOLAS vessels complying with the GMDSS, but they have to comply with the GMDSS according to the trading area A1, A2, A3 and A4. Canadian commercial vessels not subjects to SOLAS , will be required to comply with the GMDSS. Carriage requirements are being developed in consultation with the marine industry. The vessels not subject to SOLAS will not be required to carry GMDSS equipment, however, it is recommeded they fit for the GMDSS as applicable to their area of operation in many countries. Some recommednations are made to implement the GMDSS for non-SOLAS vessels in Korea.