IMO is moving forward with modernising the global maritime distress and safety system (GMDSS) after a draft plan was approved by the sub-committee for the safety of navigation, communications and search and rescue, (NCSR). The subcommittee met from 6-10 March this year to discuss issues impacting on safety communications. This NCSR 4 session agreed to forward the approved plans to the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC), which will be meeting in June. At that meeting, MSC 98 will consider endorsing a new work programme item for the revision of Solas chapters III and IV to modernise the GMDSS, including any related and consequential amendments to other existing IMO instruments. The draft modernisation plan includes: 1. provision of GMDSS satellite services 2. redefinition of Sea Area 3 3. VHF data exchange system 4. routeing of distress alerts and related information 5. search and rescue technologies 6. high frequency communications 7. GMDSS carriage requirements 8. handling of false alarms 9. training for GMDSS. The revision work and draft modernisation plan will be also be presented to the experts group on radiocommunication that IMO set up with the International Telecommunication Union. This group is scheduled to meet from 10-14 July this year.
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