engaged on voyages in any area of INMARSAT coverage but in
which an international NAVTEX service is not provided.
However, ships engaged exclusively on voyages in areas where
an HF direct-printing telegraphy maritime safety information
service is provided and fitted with equipment capable of
receiving such service, may be exempt from this requirement.*
.6 subject to the provisions of regulation 8.3, a satellite emergency
position-indicating radio beacon (satellite EPIRB)
{ which shall be:
.6.1 capable of transmitting a distress alert either through the polar
orbiting satellite service operating in the 406 MHz band or, if
the ship is engaged only on voyages within INMARSAT
coverage, through the INMARSAT geostationary satellite
service operating in the 1.6 GHz band;
{
.6.2 installed in an easily accessible position;
.6.3 ready to be manually released and capable of being carried by
one person into a survival craft;
.6.4 capable of floating free if the ship sinks and of being
automatically activated when afloat; and
.6.5 capable of being activated manually.
2 Until 1 February 1999 or until such other date as may be determined
by the Maritime Safety Committee, every ship shall, in addition, be fitted
with a radio installation consisting of a radiotelephone distress frequency
watch receiver capable of operating on 2,182 kHz.
}
3 Until 1 February 1999, every ship shall, unless the ship is engaged on
voyages in sea area A1 only, be fitted with a device for generating the
radiotelephone alarm signal on the frequency 2,182 kHz.
}
4 The Administration may exempt ships constructed on or after
1 February 1997 from the requirements prescribed by paragraphs 2 and 3.
5 Every passenger ship shall be provided with means for two-way onscene
radiocommunications for search and rescue purposes using the
aeronautical frequencies 121.5 MHz and 123.1 MHz from the position
from which the ship is normally navigated.
* Refer to the Recommendation on promulgation of maritime safety information adopted by
the Organization by resolution A.705(17).
{ Refer to resolution A.616(15) concerning search and rescue homing capability.
{ Subject to the availability of appropriate receiving and processing ground facilities for each
ocean region covered by Inmarsat satellites.
} The Maritime Safety Committee, at its sixty-eighth session (28 May to 6 June 1997), decided
that watchkeeping by GMDSS ships on the frequency 2182 kHz should cease from1 February
1999.
} Refer to resolution A.421(XI) concerning operational standards for radiotelephone alarm
signal generators adopted by the Organization.