Emergency Communications

1
Emergency Communications

• And other comms to keep you in touch with the
  world
• Bob Thompson
• March 2007

2
Agenda

• Types of Communications
• Safety
• Rescue 21 (formerly NDRS) US coastal and inland
  waters
• Rescue 21 How it will work and where we are
  today
• Global Maritime Distress and Safety System
  (GMDSS)
• How you can comply and fit into the network
• Personal
• Voice (Cellular/VHF/SSB/Satellite)
• Data (Cellular/SSB/Satellite)
• Internet (Satellite)
• What Types of Communications to Use Where
• Near Shore (up to 30 miles)
• Offshore (over 30 miles)
• The Emergency Communications Plan
• How to Build Your Communications Requirements
  List

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Safety Communications
4
Safety Communications

• Rescue 21
• Digital VHF land based system covering entire US
  coast out to 30 miles Great Lakes and rivers
  Alaska, Guam, Hawaii and Puerto Rico Managed by
  the USCG
• Channel 70 (DSC) and channel 16 VHF access
• Replaces NDRS 1970s system that is outdated
• Direction finding capability on channel 70 LOB
  from multiple stations and by GPS integration
  into channel 70 along with identification of
  calling station (MMSI)
• Six simultaneous emergency communications
  channels (70 and 16)
• Automated broadcasts (marine information)

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Safety Communications

• Rescue 21 Coordination Centers
• Monitor VHF channel 16 and channel 70 (DSC)
• Coordinate search and rescue operations
• Communicate with commercial and recreational
  vessels
• Provide command and control for Coast Guard units
• Original date of full implementation 2006
• GAO report of 4/2006 estimates 2011 before
  completely implemented with reduced
  capabilities
• No asset tracking
• Less than optimum coverage (90)

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Safety Communications

• Where does that leave us?
• If you are not in a Rescue 21 implemented area
  you cannot use channel 70 red distress button
  for mayday calling must use channel 16 voice
  call
• You can use DSC for ship to ship calling if you
  know the MMSI of the called party
• Areas implemented are
• Atlantic City, NJ Eastern Shore, VA
• Mobile, AL St. Petersburg, FL
• Seattle, WA Port Angeles, WA
• What is the schedule for other areas?

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Safety Communications

• North East 2007 2010
• Mid Atlantic 2008 2010
• South East 2008 2009
• Gulf Coast 2008 2009
• West Coast 2008 2011
• Western Rivers 2011
• Great Lakes 2011
• OCONUS 2011
• See me afterwards for a detailed map and master
  schedule.

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Safety Communications

• Global Maritime Distress and Safety System
  (GMDSS) International Maritime Organization
• Mandatory participation for all vessels of 300
  GRT as of 2/1/99 Must carry an Inmarsat or
  Iridium satellite GMDSS transceiver
• Recreational vessels can also participate carry
  a GMDS satellite transceiver
• Worlds oceans divided into four (4) regions
• A1 up to 30 miles offshore
• A2 30 to 150 miles offshore
• A3 Inmarsat system coverage areas
• A4 Polar regions
• Uses both terrestrial and satellite
  communications systems for rescue coordination
  through 22 Rescue Coordination Centers serving 15
  NAVMET regions

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• Search and Rescue Regions - US

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Safety Communications

• GMDSS Communications Systems
• Area A1 VHF (DSC)
• Area A2 MF voice and VHF (DSC)
• Areas A3/A4 Satellite voice/data and VHF (DSC)
  plus SART
• Complying with Area A3/A4 requirements will
  provide compliance with all areas
• In many areas of the world, A3 compliance is
  required up to the coastline No VHF (DSC)
  emergency service available
• Complying with Area A3 requirements with SSB
  (replacing satellite) will also provide the
  recreational vessel with access to global search
  and rescue services

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Safety Communications
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Safety Communications

• GMDSS Communications System Requirements
• VHF (DSC) with channels 70, 16, 13, and 6
• One search and rescue transmitter (SART)
• Portable VHF radio (DSC)
• Inmarsat C ship earth station (satellite data) or
  Iridium (satellite voice)
• SSB transceiver in place of required satellite
  system will not fully comply with GMDSS, but will
  provide the same capability for long range
  emergency communications (ship to shore)
• 406 MHz EPIRB (not 121.5Mhz EPIRB phased out by
  2/1/09)
• Having these systems would provide the
  recreational vessel with GMDSS communications
  capability

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Personal Communications

• What You Need Depends on Where You Will Be Going
  and What You Want To Do
• Voice Systems
• Inshore (within 30 miles)
• Cellular (with cellular booster antenna)
• Offshore (outside 30 miles)
• Single Side Band (SSB) no need for Morse code
  test
• Satellite
• Iridium (voice and low speed data)
• Inmarsat Mini-M (voice/fax and 2.4kbps data)
• Globalstar (partial ocean coverage) 2008 phase
  out date

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Personal Communications

• Data Systems for Email and Internet Access
• Inshore/Onshore
• Cellular email and short messaging service
  (PDA)
• 3G cellular broadband services will greatly
  improve data throughput
• Wireless PC for use at wireless hot spots
  onshore
• Growth of WiMax services will increase coverage
• Offshore
• Single Side Band (SSB) email/weatherfax/broadcas
  ts)
• Inmarsat C email/weatherfax (600bps low data
  rate)
• Inmarsat Mini-M email/fax (2.4 kbps low data
  rate)
• Iridium email/weatherfax (9.6kbps low data
  rate)

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Personal Communications

• Expected Costs of Equipment and Voice/Data
  Service
• Single Side Band
• Equipment - 1,000 - 2,000
• Service Voice varies with connection charges
  and where call is to be placed (comparable to
  satellite)
• Email service very economical Winlink or
  Sailmail
• Has broadcast radio capabilities
• Amateur ham radio license is required for access
  to all frequencies no Morse code test
  requirement
• Satellite
• Equipment - 1,000 - 5,000 (Iridium or Inmarsat
  Mini-M)
• Service - 1.50 - 2.50 per minute for voice (no
  extra for email)
• Service contracts are available that allow the
  user to tailor a monthly plan that will minimize
  costs
• VHF
• Equipment - 500
• Service Cost of call plus a completion charge
  for using the marine operator (where available)

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Personal Communications

• What About Broadband Systems?
• Inmarsat Fleet 55
• Voice and data (64Kbps)
• Inmarsat Fleet 77
• Voice and data (128Kbps)
• SES Americom Ku Band
• Launches in June 2007
• Caribbean initially moving to North America,
  North Atlantic and Europe
• VoIP and high speed data (512Kbps transmit/3
  5Mbps receive)
• This will be your home DSL line at sea
• All of these system have high initial cost and
  monthly recurring service fees based on usage

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Suggested Comm Outfits

• Coastal Waters (out to 30 miles)
• Safety Communications Coastal Waters
• VHF (DSC) (Ship Mounted) Provides channel 70
  (DSC), 16 and 13 communications for emergency
  (NDRS), bridge to bridge and rescue coordination
  communications
• 406 EPIRB (121.5 EPIRB service is being
  cancelled)
• Handheld VHF (DSC) For use in cockpit, life
  raft or small boat
• Personal Communications Coastal Waters
• Cellular Provides voice and data communications
  plus short messaging service and small emails
• Wireless PC for use at shore based hot spots
• VHF (DSC) Provides voice service for telephone
  calls through the marine operator (where
  available)

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Suggested Comm Outfits

• Offshore (over 30 miles)
• Safety Communications Offshore
• VHF (DSC) (Ship mounted) Provides channel 70
  (DSC), 16 and 13 communications for emergency
  (NDRS), bridge to bridge and rescue coordination
  communications
• 406 EPIRB plus SART
• Handheld VHF (DSC) For use in cockpit, life
  raft or small boat
• Single Sideband Transceiver Long range
  emergency communications with global Rescue
  Coordination Services
• or
• Satellite System Voice or data communications
  with global Rescue Coordination Services

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Suggested Comm Outfits

• Personal Communications Offshore
• VHF (DSC) Provides voice service for telephone
  calls through the marine operator (where
  available)
• Voice and Data (Email) Communications plus
  broadcast radio entertainment
• Single Side Band (SSB) Provides very economical
  voice and low rate data services
  (email/weatherfax/broadcasts)
• or
• Iridium, Globalstar or Inmarsat Mini-M Provides
  voice and low rate data services (email) and fax
  (Mini-M)
• or
• Inmarsat C Provides email and data messaging
  (plus GMDSS)

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A Communications Plan

• Prepare a comms plan for crew use
• Laminated plan for use with grease pencil
• Easily changed information
• Contains instructions for using the communication
  systems
• Location of vessel/frequencies to use/what to say
  and how to say it
• Locate at Nav table, or where the radios are
  located
• Include radiotelephone procedures canned Mayday
  calling procedures, yacht call sign, position
  reporting, type of assistance required, etc.
• Make sure the crew knows how to use the radios in
  an emergency

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Your Communications Requirements?

• Comply with safety communications requirements
• Have the right radio equipment for the areas you
  will be cruising
• Prepare an emergency communications plan and make
  sure all crew members know how to use the
  equipment to make emergency calls
• Determine what you want to do for personal
  communications
• Voice?
• Data (Email/weather/entertainment, etc.)?
• Internet?
• Fax?
• Where are you going to go?
• Coastal cruising only (within 30 miles)
• Offshore sailing (over 30 miles offshore)
• How much do you want to spend, especially for
  ongoing service?

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How to Start

• Some Useful Websites
• www.winlink.org (SSB email service)
• www.Sailmail.com (SSB email service)
• www.iridium.com (Iridium equipment and service)
• www.stratosglobal.com (Iridium and Inmarsat
  equipment and service)
• www.telenorsatellite.com (Iridium and Inmarsat
  equipment and service)
• These websites will provide you with information
  on equipment and service