This is the fourth edition of the Inmarsat Maritime Communications Handbook, which has been revised to include new Inmarsat systems and operating procedures. The handbook has been produced to help users of the Inmarsat network understand how the Inmarsat system works and how to get the most out of it. This can be done either via the internet or as an extension of the shipping company's own network.
Appendices at the end of the manual contain general information relating to the various chapters in the manual and a copy of the latest coverage map. Copies of this manual and any changes are available electronically from the Inmarsat Customer Care Center website (www.inmarsat.com/support). We welcome any comments or suggestions on this edition of the Inmarsat Marine Communications Handbook.
Please add them to the comments section of the Inmarsat Information Service Form printed in Appendix A. You can also use the form to request additional copies or other information, email us at customer_care@inmarsat .com or contact us via our website www.inmarsat.com.
Introduction
The space segment
The ground segment
Many earth station operators now offer service in all four sea regions through a global sharing agreement with other earth station operators in sea areas that cannot be seen from their own location. Each NCS communicates with the ground station operators in its sea region, the other NCSs and the Network Operations Center (NOC) located at Inmarsat's London headquarters, enabling operational information to be transmitted throughout the system. The NCSs are involved in establishing calls between an MES and an earth station operator.
The mobile earth stations
The Inmarsat-A system
The Inmarsat-B system
The Inmarsat-C system
The GMDSS transport requirements are mandatory for all merchant ships of more than 300 gross registered tons (GRT) and all passenger ships making international voyages. Fitting an Inmarsat-C MES is a cost-effective way for a ship to meet GMDSS transport requirements;.
The Inmarsat-E system
The Inmarsat-M system
The Inmarsat mini-M system
The Inmarsat Fleet system
Multi-channel operation
Using Inmarsat in the shore-to-ship direction
Information is also available on the Inmarsat website: www.inmarsat.com, which includes the Inmarsat ship guide.
Introduction
The role of Inmarsat in the GMDSS
- Ship-to-shore distress alerting
- Inmarsat-A distress alerting
- Inmarsat-B and M distress alerting
- Inmarsat-C distress alerting
- Inmarsat-E distress alerting
- Inmarsat Fleet distress alerting
- Distress communications
You should also ensure that anyone who may need to make a distress call is familiar with the operation of the MAS and the procedures shown in Figure 2-1. If all satellite channels are busy, one of them will be blocked and allocated to the MAS, which initiated the distress priority call. However, on other models, the distress button changes the call priority to distress priority (Priority 3), but does not initiate the distress message.
On this type of MES, the operator must still initiate the 'request' of the MES. These instructions must be mounted near the MES operating position and must be studied by all potential users. Upon generation of a 'request', by whatever means used, the MES sends a priority request via the satellite to a LES.
However, if a distress call is made through an LES without automatic connection to an RCC and the MES operator does not know the number of the RCC or is delayed in entering the number, an operator alerted by the sea region NCS will intervene and offer any necessary assistance. A pre-programmed emergency telex message (containing MES ID, position, heading, speed, position update and activation times) is retained in the MES memory.
Shore-to-ship distress alerting
An emergency call from the Fleet 77 system is a voice call, which means you will be connected to an operator in the RCC (Rescue Coordination Center). When the distress call is connected, the vessel's position and MES ID are sent to the RCC. Once the call is received by the RCC, the Center operator can send a priority distress call to the ship.
Lower priority calls are given priority and a busy tone sounds. However, it should be noted that Inmarsat MES equipped vessels can also contact any RCC of their choice by following the calling procedure for routine calls. Inmarsat mini-M can be used for this purpose, although communication cannot be guaranteed as this system is not equipped to generate emergency alerts.
A major advantage of Inmarsat's emergency priority systems is that it eliminates the need to allocate special frequencies for emergency and safety communications. However, it should be noted that due to the large coverage areas of geostationary satellites, such warnings are not very efficient, although this may be justified under exceptional circumstances.
Shore-to-ship alerting through Inmarsat SafetyNET TM
Inmarsat-B MESs can accept calls to rectangular or circular areas, provided a navigation position is entered into the terminal. This service is provided by a number of LESs in operator-assisted mode and allows a predefined group of vessels to be alerted.
Search and Rescue (SAR) co-ordination communications
On-scene SAR communications
Promulgation of Maritime Safety Information (MSI) via Inmarsat
The second stage is "turning on" or the connection of the MES with the spatial segment by the LES. Financial: The customer must be able to pay the costs to use the Inmarsat system. Inmarsat Maritime Communications Manual (4th Edition) 3-7 In the case of an MES used for GMDSS, the Land Earth Station Operator's (LESO) Designated Locking Authority (NBA) must notify the Marine MES operator before lifting a mandatory lock .
These certificates will not expire and are sent to the owner of the MAS unless otherwise requested. These stages include the satellite link to a selected LESO (known as a 'space segment'), the ground earth station operated by a LESO, and ground lines (perhaps in more than one country) to the final destination. When the fourth digit of the MES's main IMN is an odd number (1, 3, 5 or 7), the MES will have to retune to TDM1, from which all assignments to these IMNs are transmitted. The fourth digit of the second IMN has no influence on which common signaling channel is used.).
5 6.1.1 A summary of the operation of the Inmarsat-C network..5 6.1.2 Equipment that can be connected to the MES..5 6.2 Basic description of Inmarsat-C communications services………. Complete the selections in the menu displayed, first entering your vessel's position and then as much other information as possible in the time available (unless this information is automatically provided by navigation instruments, for example the GPS receiver). When the Inmarsat-C MES is part of the GMDSS station, no other programs or external interfaces (except GPS/NMEA) can be connected to the MES.
Confirmation of the message transfer from the MES to the LES; This is a mandatory service for all LESs. Confirmation of message delivery from the LES to the final destination; this is an optional and paid service. Group Polling: The operations center prepares the polling command, including the DNID for the closed network, but does not specify individual MESs. The polling command is then accepted by all MESs belonging to that DNID group that are synchronized to the NCS Common Channel and not busy at that time.
Use this code to obtain information from the international operator of the country where the LES is located. Use this code to obtain information from the international operator of the country in which LESO is located. The IMN is the Inmarsat MES mobile number that is called on board.
Where: the international access code is the code used when making international calls (usually '00'), the access code for the Inmarsat telex ocean region is as shown in Table 11-2;.
