Regulation 2 - Terms and definitions
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Regulation 2 - Terms and definitions

  1 For the purpose of this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings defined below:

  • .1 Bridge-to-bridge communications means safety communications between ships from the position from which the ships are normally navigated.

  • .2 Continuous watch means that the radio watch concerned shall not be interrupted other than for brief intervals when the ship's receiving capability is impaired or blocked by its own communications or when the facilities are under periodical maintenance or checks.

  • .3 Digital selective calling (DSC) means a technique using digital codes which enables a radio station to establish contact with, and transfer information to, another station or group of stations, and complying with the relevant recommendations of the International Radio Consultative Committee (CCIR).footnote

  • .4 Direct-printing telegraphy means automated telegraphy techniques which comply with the relevant recommendations of the International Radio Consultative Committee (CCIR).footnote

  • .5 General radiocommunications means operational and public correspondence traffic, other than distress, urgency and safety messages, conducted by radio.

  • .6 Inmarsat footnote means the Organization established by the Convention on the International Maritime Satellite Organization adopted on 3 September 1976.

  • .7 International NAVTEX service means the co-ordinated broadcast and automatic reception on 518 kHz of maritime safety information by means of narrow-band direct-printing telegraphy using the English languagefootnote.

  • .8 Locating means the finding of ships, aircraft, units or persons in distress.

  • .9 Maritime safety information means navigational and meteorological warnings, meteorological forecasts and other urgent safety related messages broadcast to ships.

  • .10 Polar orbiting satellite service means a service which is based on polar orbiting satellites which receive and relay distress alerts from satellite EPIRBs and which provides their position.

  • .11 Radio Regulations means the Radio Regulations annexed to, or regarded as being annexed to, the most recent International Telecommunication Convention which is in force at any time.

  • .12 Sea area A1 means an area within the radiotelephone coverage of at least one VHF coast station in which continuous DSC alerting is available, as may be defined by a Contracting Government. footnote

  • .13 Sea area A2 means an area, excluding sea area A1, within the radiotelephone coverage of at least one MF coast station in which continous DCS alerting is available, as may be defined by a Contracting Government.footnote

  • .14 Sea area A3 means an area, excluding sea areas A1 and A2, within the coverage of an INMARSAT geostationary satellite in which continuous alerting is available.

  • .15 Sea area A4 means an area outside sea area A1, A2 and A3.

  • .16 Global maritime distress and safety system (GMDSS) identities means maritime mobile services identity, the ship's call sign, recognized mobile satellite service identities and serial number identity which may be transmitted by the ship's equipment and used to identify the ship.

  • .17 Recognized mobile satellite service means any service which operates through a satellite system and is recognized by the Organization, for use in the global maritime distress and safety system (GMDSS).

  2 All other terms and abbreviations which are used in this chapter and which are defined in the Radio Regulations and in the International Convention on Maritime Search and Rescue (SAR), 1979, as may be amended, shall have the meanings as defined in those Regulations and the SAR Convention.


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