WRITTEN QUESTION E-1231/02

by Franz Turchi (UEN) to the Commission

(29 April 2002)

Subject: Maritime mobile service

The International Telecommunications Regulation (ITU 99) states that maritime mobile service communications are to be made by means of short/medium-wave radiotelegraph apparatuses, MF/HF radiotelephone apparatuses or VHF radiotelephone apparatuses.

The international frequencies (calling, help, emergency and security) for the maritime mobile service are: Radiotelegraphy 500 Khz, Radiotelephony 2 182 Khz and Radiotelephony VHF CH 16 (156.8 Mhz). Merchant passenger and goods vessels built before 1995 have, in accordance with the vessel fitting-out plans, the following installations: radioelectric stations with two radiotelegraph receiver/transmitters (RTs; one has a back-up role for the other), one radiotelephone MF/HF RT, one radiotelephone VMF RT, and one radiotelegraph and radiotelephone RT installed on the lifeboat. All this is for purposes of safe navigation, the protection of human life at sea, and communications of a general nature; the apparatuses serve to ensure connections between the vessel and coastal stations or between the vessel and other vessels.

Since the installation of the GMDSS security systems, the administrations that are party to the SOLAS Convention 74/83 no longer use the medium-wave 500 Khz radiotelegraphic equipment, and, therefore, the radioelectric apparatuses used for safe navigation and the protection of human life are the DSC MF/HF RT of the GMDSS system, the VHF DSC of the GMDSS system, the MF/HF RTF RT installed in the radio room, the VHF RT installed in the radio room, and the RT installed on the lifeboat. Merchant passenger and goods vessels built after 1995 have radioelectric stations installed pursuant to the GMDSS technical rules. For the maritime mobile service, they have a single MF/HF DSC apparatus. This means that, should this apparatus break down, it is impossible to guarantee safe navigation and the protection of human life, since the vessel is then unable to link to the international DSC calling/support frequency or the international calling/support 2 182 Khz frequency.

Does the Commission not consider it desirable to propose a Community directive under which administrations could oblige vessel owners to install two MF/HF RTF DSC RTs, one having a back-up role for the other, with one feeding into the main electricity network and the other into a reserve energy source (accumulators)?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(17 June 2002)

At present, as the Honourable Member rightly states, the maritime radiocommunication service is governed by the rules of the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) adopted in November 1988 by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and in force since 1 February 1999.

This system aims to improve the maritime mobile service by remedying its shortcomings and adopting new digital and space technologies. Radiotelegraphy (500 kilohertz (kHz)) has thus been abandoned in favour of the mandatory use of digital selective calling (DSC) in the medium frequency (MF)/high frequency (HF) and very high frequency (VHF) bands. In addition, use of the Inmarsat and Sarsat-Cospas satellite services has been introduced.

Enhanced safety is the principle underlying the introduction of these new technologies. GMDSS should enable any merchant passenger ship or freighter, regardless of its position, to contact any coastal station by at least two different, independent means using different radiocommunication services. Redundancy of radiocommunication equipment appropriate to a vessel's declared navigation area is therefore ensured.

Consequently, if a merchant ship's DSC MF/HF transmitter breaks down, it can communicate via another equivalent on-board radiocommunication apparatus (e.g. an Inmarsat station or another DSC MF/HF station), thereby guaranteeing the safety of shipping and safeguarding human life at sea.

In this light, the Commission does not intend to propose mandatory installation of two DSC MF/HF transmitter-receivers.