Dhul fis-sehh tas-sistema Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) fl-1 ta' Frar 1999 / Entry into Force of the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) on 1st February 1999

Dhul fis-sehh tas-sistema Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) fl-1 ta' Frar 1999

Fl-ewwel ta' Frar 1999 is-sistema maghrufa bhala il-Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) ser tkun dahlet kollha fis-sehh. Din hi s-sistema automatika li ser tiehu post is-sistema manwali ezistenti maghrufa bhala "SOS" jew "Mayday".

Ghalkemm il-GMDSS hija obbligatorja ghall-vapuri tal-passigieri kollha u vapuri tal-merkanzija ta’ 300 tunnellata 'l fuq, kulhadd jista’ jipppartecipa f'din is-sistema billi jwahhal l-apparat mehtieg skond iz-zona tal-bahar ta' fejn ikun ser ibahhar.Dawk li juzaw ir-radju volontarjament minn fuq "yachts", dghajjes tas-sajd jew xi tip iehor ta’ dghajjes, ma hemmx ghalfejn jibdlu ghal din is-sistema minnufih, ghaliex il-vapuri ser jibqghu jzommu smiegh kontinwu fuq "VHF channel 16" sa l-1 ta’ Frar tas- sena 2005. Madankollu, fl-interess tas-sigurtà tal-hajja fuq il-bahar huwa rakkomandat li jigi nstallat apparat ta’ sistema awtomatika malajr kemm jista’ jkun, biex dak li jkun ikun jista’ jikkomunika ma’ stazzjonijiet kostali marittimi u ma’ vapuri li juzaw is-sistema awtomatika, b’mod partikolari jekk se jintuza apparat iehor.Dawk li jiddeciedu li jippartecipaw f'din is-sistema tal-GMDSS ikunu jridu jigu allokati numru maghruf bhala Maritime Mobile Service Identity (MMSI). Dan jista’ jsir billi wiehed japplika ghal din l-identità lid-Dipartiment tat-Telegrafija minghajr Fili. Dawk li fid-dghajsa taghhom ghandhom installat "VHF radio" biss, ikunu jistghu jippartecipaw fil-GMDSS billi jew jimmodifikaw l-"VHF radio" b'facilita li tiehu d-Digital Selective Calling (DSC) jew inkella jinstallaw "VHF radio" gdid li digà jkun armat b'facilita tad-DSC.Ghad-DSC trid tigi allokat MMSI. Stazzjonijiet Kostali Marittimi gradwalment qeghdin jintroducu l-facilita’ tad-DSC fuq il-"Very High Frequency", "Medium Frequency" u "High Frequency". Smiegh fuq DSC jinzamm fuq VHF Ch 70, fuq MF frekwenza 2187.5Khz u frekwenzi ohra fl-H.F.Biex wiehed jitlob ghall-ghajnuna fuq id-DSC kull ma jrid jaghmel hu li jafas buttuna dedikata li tittrazmetti l-informazjoni bazika. Jekk wiehed jinstalla Global Positioning System Receiver (GPS)mas-sistema tad-DSC, il-pozizzjoni tad-dghajsa tigi aggornata automatikament. Dawn is-sejhat ghall-ghajnuna jkunu jistghu jigu mismugha minn stazzjonijiet kostali u vapuri li jkunu fil-vicin. Wara li wiehed jaghmel is-sejha ghall-ghajnuna fuq id-DSC, il-proceduri ghas-sejhat ghall-ghajnuna maghrufa bhala "Mayday" ser jibqghu l-istess. Ghaldaqstant, fuq il-VHF wiehed ikun jista’ jaqleb fuq kanal 16 u fuq MF jaqleb fuq il-frekwenza 2182KHz.Aktar informazzjoni dwar kif tahdem is-sistema tal-GMDSS u dwar kif jahdem apparat iehor addizjonali, tista’ tinkiseb mid-Dipartiment tat-Telegrafija minghajr Fili, fuq in-numru tat-telefon 247224-8, extension 624.

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Entry into Force of the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) on 1st February 1999

The Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) which is an automated system, will replace the existing Manual Distress and Safety System, known as "SOS" or "Mayday" by 1^stFebruary 1999.Although the GMDSS is compulsory for all Passenger ships and Cargo ships of 300 gross tonnage and upwards, anyone can participate in it by installing the appropriate radio equipment for the ships' respective sea area of operation.Voluntary users of radio, such as yachts, fishing boats and seacrafts, other than those mentioned above, will not have to change immediately to GMDSS, as a manual listening watch will continue to be maintained by ships, on VHF channel 16 up to 1^st February 2005. However, in the interest of safety of life at sea, it is advisable to join the new system to be able to communicate with other coast stations and ships participating in the system, particularly if one is using other than VHF radio.Should one decide to participate in the GMDSS one needs to be assigned a Maritime Mobile Service Identity (MMSI) number. This can be done by applying for such an identity at the Wireless Telegraphy Department. Even if one’s boat is fitted only with a VHF transceiver, one can participate in the GMDSS, either by upgrading the VHF for Digital Selective Calling (DSC) or installing a new VHF radio with built-in DSC.Coast stations are gradually introducing DSC on Very High Frequency (VHF), Medium Frequency (MF) and High Frequency (HF). DSC watch is maintained on VHF Channel 70 and MF 2187.5 KHz and on some other HF frequencies.To make a DSC distress call, all one has to do is press a dedicated button which transmits basic information. If one connects a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver to one’s DSC the boat’s position can be updated automatically. Such calls are heard by ships and Coast stations within range. After making a DSC distress call, the distress "Mayday" radio procedures are the same as now. For VHF revert to Channel 16 and for MF revert to 2182 KHz.Further information on how the system works and the function of additional radio equipment used in the system can be obtained from the Wireless Telegraphy Department, on telephone number 247224-8, extension 624.

12.10.98