Under the GMDSS, all cargo ships of 300 gross registered tonnes
and upwards, and all passenger ships engaged on international
voyages, must be fitted with radio equipment that conforms to
international standards as set out in the system. The basic
concept is that search and rescue authorities ashore, as well as
vessels in the immediate vicinity of the ship in distress, will
be rapidly alerted through satellite and terrestrial
communication techniques so that they can assist in a co-
ordinated search and rescue operation with the minimum of delay.
Ships fitted with GMDSS equipment are safer at sea - and more
likely to receive assistance in the event of a distress -
because the GMDSS provides for automatic distress alerting and
locating when ship's staff do not have time to send out a full
distress call. The GMDSS also requires ships to receive
broadcasts of maritime safety information which could prevent a
distress from happening, and requires ships to carry satellite
Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons