RSS-188 - Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS)
Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS)
(PDF, 32 KB, 10 pages)
Issue 1 (Provisional)
August 24, 1996
Spectrum Management
Radio Standards Specification
Table of Contents
- Scope
- General
- Related and Technical Standards Documents
- Test Instruments
- Equipment Requirements
- Equipment Standards
- Canadian Coast Guard Requirements
- Licensing
- Equipment Certification and Test Report Submission
1. Scope
1.1 This document sets out standards for ship-borne radiocommunication equipment for the purpose of equipment certification, to meet the requirements of the Global Maritime Distress And Safety System (GMDSS).
This document deals only with the following types of equipment:
- Medium Frequency radio transmitters and receivers for voice communication, with digital selective calling (DSC);
- Medium Frequency and High Frequency (MF/HF) radio transmitters and receivers for voice communication, with digital selective calling (DSC) and narrow-band direct printing (NBDP) telegraphy;
- VHF radio transmitters and receivers for voice communication, with digital selective calling (DSC);
- Survival craft two-way VHF radiotelephones;
- Survival craft Search and Rescue Transponder (SART) devices in the band 9.2-9.5 GHz;
- NAVTEX receivers on 518 kHz assigned frequency.
The Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB), which is another device of the overall GMDSS system, is governed by another standard RSS-187, available from Industry Canada (Chief, Production of Publications).
A technical acceptance certificate (TAC) is required for the above equipment, pursuant to section 4(2) of the Radiocommunication Act. Before certification is granted, the applicant must show that the applicable standards have been complied with.
1.2 The equipment may be subject to licensing, pursuant to section 4(1) of the Radiocommunication Act.
2. General
2.1 Periodic testing
Periodic testing shall be carried out by the manufacturer or importer to ensure continuing compliance with the technical requirements. Non-compliance problems shall be corrected by the manufacturer or importer. Industry Canada will conduct audit checks from time to time to ensure compliance.
2.2 Inquiries about this standard
Inquiries about this Standard may be directed to Industry Canada's local office or to:
Manager
Radio Equipment Standards
Industry Canada
300 Slater Street
Ottawa, Canada
K1A 0C8
Tel (613) 990-4699/fax (613) 990-3158
Internet: Lum.kwai@ic.gc.ca
However, inquiries concerning equipment certification matters should be directed to Manager, Certification, Engineering and Operations, Industry Canada; see address in section 9.
3. Related and Technical Standards Documents
The following are related and technical standards documents. RSP-100 and TRC-49 provide guidance when applying for equipment certification.
3.1 RSP-100: "Radio Equipment Certification Procedure".
3.2 TRC-49: "Certification Service Fees".
3.3 RSS-181: "Coast and ship station single sideband radiotelephone transmitters and receivers operating in the 1.605-28 MHz band".
3.4 RSS-182: "Marine radiotelephones, frequency or phase modulated, operating in the 156-162.5 MHz band".
3.5 International Maritime Organization (IMO) resolution A.525(13): "Performance standards for narrow-band direct printing telegraph equipment for the reception of navigational and meteorological warnings and urgent information to ships".
3.6 IMO resolution A.609(15): "Performance standards for ship-borne VHF radio installations capable of voice communications and digital selective calling".
3.7 IMO resolution A.610(15): "Performance standards for ship-borne MF radio installations capable of voice communications and digital selective calling".
3.8 IMO resolution A.613(15): "Performance standards for ship-borne MF/HF radio installations capable of voice communications, digital selective calling and narrow-band direct printing".
3.9 IMO resolution A.694(17): "General requirements for shipborne radio equipment forming part of the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) and for electronic navigational aid".
3.10 IMO resolution A.697(17): "Performance standards for survival craft radar transponders for use in search and rescue operations".
3.11 IMO resolution A.700(17): "Performance standards for narrow-band direct printing telegraph equipment for the reception of navigational and meteorological warnings and urgent information to ships (MSI) by HF".
3.12 IMO resolution A.762(18): "Performance standards for survival craft two-way VHF radiotelephone apparatus".
Copies of IMO resolutions may be obtained from the International Maritime Organization, 4 Albert Embankment, London, England, 5E1 7SR. Tel: 71-735-7611/fax: 71-587-3210.
The other documents are available in English and French from the local offices of Industry Canada or from:
Chief
Production of Publications
Industry Canada
300 Slater Street
Ottawa, Canada
K1A 0C8
Telephone: (613) 990-4761/fax: (613) 990-3341
Internet: Spectrum_pubs@ic.gc.ca
4. Test Instruments
The test report shall list all test equipment used. The list shall identify instruments by manufacturer's type and model number.
5. Equipment Requirements
5.1 Equipment labels
Equipment that is certified under this RSS shall be permanent labeled on each item or inseparable combination. The label shall contain the following:
- the certification number, prefixed by the name "Canada";
- the manufacturer's name or trade name or brand name;
- a model name or number.
Equipment for which a certificate has been issued is not considered certified if it is not properly labeled.
5.2 Transmitter External Controls
The transmitter shall not have any external controls accessible to the user that can be adjusted and operated in violation of this Standard. A high/low power switch is however permitted.
To prevent radio interference caused by end-users' (operators') transmissions in unauthorized frequencies the following measures are instituted:
- Users of transmitters with external frequency selection controls shall not be able to operate on channels other than those for which the apparatus has been preset by the manufacturer, equipment supplier or service/maintenance personnel.
- Transmitters having frequency programming capability are exempt from clause (a) if the design of such transmitters:
- Is such that transmitters with external controls normally available to the operator must be internally modified to place the equipment in the programmable mode. Further, while in the programmable mode, the equipment shall not be capable of transmitting. The procedures for making the modification and altering the frequency program shall NOT be made available to the end user of the equipment; or
- Requires the transmitter to be programmed for frequencies through controls normally inaccessible to the operator; or
- Requires equipment to be programmed for frequencies through use of external devices or specifically programmed modules made available only to service/maintenance personnel; or
- Requires equipment to be programmed through cloning (copying a program directly from another transmitter) using devices and procedures made available only to service/maintenance personnel.
5.3 Supply voltage and temperature
Tests shall be performed at ambient temperature and at the manufacturer's specified rated supply voltage except as indicated otherwise. The test voltage shall be stated in the test report.
6. Equipment Standards
The following are the standards to be complied with:
6.1 Radio transmitters and receivers with DSC and/or NBDP capabilities
Shipborne radio transmitter and receiver systems complete with digital selective calling (DSC) and/or narrow-band direct printing (NBDP) telegraphy capabilities shall comply with the standards of Industry Canada and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) resolutions, per Table 1.
| Item | Type of equipment | Applicable standards (see section 3.) |
|---|---|---|
| a | Medium frequency radio transmitters and receivers for voice communication, with digital selective calling (DSC) | RSS-181, IMO resolutions: A.610(15)* and A.694(17)* |
| b | Medium frequency and high frequency (MF/HF) radio transmitters and receivers for voice communication, with digital selective calling (DSC) and narrow-band direct printing (NBDP) telegraphy. | RSS-181, IMO resolutions: A.613(15)*, A.694(17)*, A.700(17)* |
| c | VHF radio transmitters and receivers for voice communication, with digital selective calling (DSC). | RSS-182, IMO resolutions: A.609(15)* and A.694(17)* |
* as amended from time to time.
6.2 "Add on" DSC and/or NBDP capabilities
If the DSC and/or NBDP capabilities are contained in an "add on" device and the device is intended for connection to the voice port of a radio terminal model that has already been certified by Industry Canada (e.g. radio terminal certified to RSS-181 or RSS-182), certification of the add-on device by Industry Canada is not required. Each type or model of the add-on device is however required to be tested and to meet the standards contained in the IMO resolutions listed in Table 1.
The testing can be performed by the manufacturer or importer.
The test results shall be kept by the manufacturer or importer and made available to Industry Canada on request.
Furthermore, the equipment user manual shall provide the following or equivalent notice : "This device meets the GMDSS standard ........(cite the IMO resolution number). It may be connected to the voice input port of a radio terminal model that has already been certified by Industry Canada".
If the device is intended to be connected to any other input point (e.g. to a data port of the radio terminal), its use and method of connection are subject to evaluation by Industry Canada. The manufacturer or importer should contact Industry Canada, Manager, Radio Equipment Standards. See section 2.2 for the address.
6.3 Survival craft radio equipment and NAVTEX receivers
The standards are given in Table 2.
| Item | Type of equipment | Applicable Standards (see section 3.) |
|---|---|---|
| a | Survival craft two-way VHF radiotelephones. | RSS-182, IMO resolutions: A.694(17)* and A.762(18)* |
| b | Survival craft search and rescue transponder (SART) devices in the band 9.2-9.5 GHz. | IMO resolutions: A.694(17)* and A.697(17)*. |
| c | NAVTEX receivers of 518 kHz assigned frequency. | IMO resolutions: A.525(13)* and A.694(17)* |
* as amended from time to time.
NAVTEX is an international direct printing service to provide navigational, weather warnings, and other urgent marine safety information to ships along coastal waters up to 400 nautical miles off shore. These NAVTEX receivers operate on 518 kHz and do not require equipment certification by Industry Canada. But they must nevertheless comply with the IMO resolutions. For more details on NAVTEX receivers, please contact the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG).
7. Canadian Coast Guard Requirements
Certification of equipment by Industry Canada signifies that the equipment has met the requirements of the Radiocommunication Act. However, shipborne equipment used on Canadian flag ships and on other ships generally trading on Canadian waters are also subject to regulations of the Canadian Coast Guard. If certification to GMDSS standards apply, the test report should firstly be submitted to:
Canadian Coast Guard
Marine Technical And Support Services Directorate
344 Slater Street
Ottawa, Canada
K1A 0N7
Tel: (613) 998-1520 / Fax: (613) 995-4700
Evaluation of the test report against Canadian Coast Guard requirements/standards mentioned in 6.1, 6.3 and 6.4, with the exception of Industry Canada's standards (RSS-181 and 182), are the responsibility of CCG.
When CCG requirements are met they would forward the test report with their evaluation result to Industry Canada's Equipment Certification Section. (NOTE: The application for equipment certification and the fees could be sent directly by the applicant to Industry Canada).
The SOLAS (Safety Of Life At Sea) Convention requires the implementation of GMDSS by February 1, 1999 for certain ships. CCG has set the following time table:
- All new ships built after February 1, 1995 shall comply with GMDSS standards if these ships are governed by the SOLAS convention.
- All ships shall be retrofitted by February 1, 1999 to comply with GMDSS standards if the ships are governed by the SOLAS convention.
Inquiries on the SOLAS convention or on GMDSS in general should therefore be directed to the Canadian Coast Guard Division.
The application for equipment certification shall clearly indicate whether the equipment is to be certified to GMDSS standards or not. If GMDSS standards are not involved, the evaluation step by the Canadian Coast Guard is to be omitted. The equipment certification application should then be sent directly to Industry Canada, i.e. RSS-181 or RSS-182 applies in the usual way.
8. Licensing
The device described in 6.2 on digital selective calling and narrow-band direct printing telegraphy, and NAVTEX receivers (section 6.5) do not require radio station licences. All other equipment (described in sections 6.1, 6.3 and 6.4) is subject to licensing.
9. Equipment Certification and Test Report Submission
The test report, complete with measurement results, that addresses the requirements of this Standard, is to be with the application for certification of a transmitter. For receiver certification, a detailed test report is not necessary; it is only required to report the receiver tuning range or ranges, and the spurious emission levels.
Any equipment that has been certified to meet the GMDSS standards will be assigned a technical acceptance certificate number that bears a suffix G.
GMDSS equipment that has been type-accepted by another Government or administration that is a signatory to the SOLAS Convention may be considered for certification by Industry Canada. A copy of such test results and approval certificate and an attestation that all parameters meet the appropriate IMO resolutions, as listed in sections 6.1, 6.3 and 6.4, together with a test report showing compliance to RSS-181 or RSS-182, as appropriate, may be submitted by the applicant directly (i.e. evaluation by CCG not required) to:
Manager
Certification, Engineering and Operations
Industry Canada
1241 Clyde Avenue
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
K2C 1Y3
Tel: (613) 952-3200 / Fax (613) 952-1088
Internet: Corey.bob@ic.gc.ca
Issued under the authority of the Minister of Industry.
R.W. McCaughern
Acting Director
General Spectrum Engineering
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