and coordination center within JMSA, in order to supervise communications and coordination among the relevant organizations. In addition, each Regional Maritime Safety Headquarters has a Rescue Co-ordination Center composed of regional organizations, etc., and search and rescue operations are carried out through the cooperation of the relevant organizations.
8. Introduction of the GMDSS
(1) History of GMDSS
Whenever there was an opportunity, it was mentioned that the existing communications system for distress and safety, which was created as a result of the disastrous accident that befell the British passenger liner "TITANIC," had weaknesses, such as that it was unable to respond to distant communications and that there were cases in which a distress signal was not transmitted, such as when a ship capsized suddenly.
It is for this reason that the International Maritime Organization (IMO) led the study of this issue, and revised the "International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974" (SOLAS 74 Convention) to employ the new "Global Maritime Distress and Safety System: GMDSS" from February 1992.
As a result of this, Japan also established related national laws that require passenger ships and 300-ton gross tonnage or more cargo ships engaged in international voyages, to equip themselves with communications equipment, etc., that can respond to GMDSS, by January 31, 1999. In addition, ships engaged only in national voyages, fishing vessels, pleasure boats and other such vessels are required to do the same in stages.
(2) Benefits of GMDSS
GMDSS enables any ship in distress anywhere in the world to request aid promptly and reliably from search and rescue organizations and ships navigating nearby, through the use of satellite communications and other such technology. In addition, ships can also reliably receive maritime safety information from land-based facilities through an automated communications system.
(3) Outline of the System
GMDSS is composed of "Medium. High, and Ultra High Frequencies communications systems " the "COSPAS SARSAT system," and the "Inmarsat system" for Search and Rescue, and the "NAVTEX system" and "Inmarsat-EGC system" for promulgation of Maritime Safety Information .
