Question

List and briefly describe the 4 GMDSS sea areas

Answer 1

The four GMDSS sea areas ensure communication of distress signals and receipt of maritime safety information tailored to different technology ranges: Sea Area A1 covers VHF radio station range, A2 covers MF coastal radio station range, A3 covers Inmarsat satellite range excluding A1 and A2, and A4 covers regions outside A1, A2, and A3, generally polar areas.

Step-by-step explanation:

The four Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) sea areas are defined to ensure that ships equipped with certain safety gear can communicate distress signals and receive maritime safety information. Here is a brief description of each:

1. Sea Area A1: An area within the range of shore-based VHF coast radio stations where digital selective calling alerts (DSC) can be sent and received.
2. Sea Area A2: An area, excluding Sea Area A1, within the coverage of MF coastal radio stations that provide DSC alerts.
3. Sea Area A3: Excluding Sea Areas A1 and A2, an area within the satellite coverage of an Inmarsat geostationary satellite where alerts can be sent and received.
4. Sea Area A4: The area outside Sea Areas A1, A2, and A3, essentially covering the polar regions not within effective range of Inmarsat satellites.

Each sea area determines the type of communication equipment a vessel must carry to comply with GMDSS requirements, thereby enhancing the safety of the ship’s voyage.