Essential Communication and Navigation Equipment for Cargo and Passenger Ships

Ensuring the safety and efficiency of cargo and passenger ships involves equipping them with the necessary communication and navigation tools. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the required equipment based on the gross tonnage (GRT) of the vessel and its operating area.

Cargo Ships

300 < GRT < 500

Equipment Area 1 Area 1 + Area 2 Area 1 + Area 2 + Area 3
VHF + DSC ✓ ✓ ✓
Duplicated VHF + DSC ✓ ✓ ✓
VHF – DSC Watch Receiver (Ch. 70) ✓ ✓ ✓
NAVTEX Receiver ✓ ✓ ✓
Satellite EPIRB – 406 MHz ✓ ✓ ✓
Reserve Power Source + Automatic Battery Charger ✓ ✓ ✓
SBM – Shore based Maintenance ✓ ✓ ✓
2-Way radio telephones (Portable GMDSS VHF) ✓ ✓ ✓
2-Way radio telephones (Portable FFA VHF) ✓ ✓ ✓
SART (RADAR-SART 9GHz –or- AIS-SART) x1 ✓ ✓ ✓
General Alarm System + Communication –or- Public Address System ✓ ✓ ✓
RADAR X-band (9 GHz) ✓ ✓ ✓
Annual Radio Survey ✓ ✓ ✓
MF – SSB + DSC   ✓ ✓
MF – DSC Watch Receiver (Freq. 2187,5 KHz)   ✓ ✓
LRIT reporting function   ✓ ✓
Inmarsat C –or- GMDSS mini-C + EGC receiver     ✓
MF/HF – SSB + DSC + NBDP     ✓
MF/HF – DSC Watch Receiver (2, 4, 6, 8, 12 & 16 MHz)     ✓
Duplicated Inmarsat C -or- GMDSS mini-C + EGC receiver     ✓
Duplicated MF/HF SSB+DSC+NBDP     ✓

500 < GRT

Equipment Area 1 Area 1 + Area 2 Area 1 + Area 2 + Area 3
VHF + DSC ✓ ✓ ✓
Duplicated VHF + DSC ✓ ✓ ✓
VHF – DSC Watch Receiver (Ch. 70) ✓ ✓ ✓
NAVTEX Receiver ✓ ✓ ✓
Satellite EPIRB – 406 MHz ✓ ✓ ✓
Reserve Power Source + Automatic Battery Charger ✓ ✓ ✓
SBM – Shore based Maintenance ✓ ✓ ✓
2-Way radio telephones (Portable GMDSS VHF) ✓ ✓ ✓
2-Way radio telephones (Portable FFA VHF) ✓ ✓ ✓
SART (RADAR-SART 9GHz –or- AIS-SART) x1 ✓ ✓ ✓
General Alarm System + Communication –or- Public Address System ✓ ✓ ✓
RADAR X-band (9 GHz) ✓ ✓ ✓
Annual Radio Survey ✓ ✓ ✓
MF – SSB + DSC   ✓ ✓
MF – DSC Watch Receiver (Freq. 2187,5 KHz)   ✓ ✓
LRIT reporting function   ✓ ✓
Inmarsat C –or- GMDSS mini-C + EGC receiver     ✓
MF/HF – SSB + DSC + NBDP     ✓
MF/HF – DSC Watch Receiver (2, 4, 6, 8, 12 & 16 MHz)     ✓
Duplicated Inmarsat C -or- GMDSS mini-C + EGC receiver     ✓
Duplicated MF/HF SSB+DSC+NBDP     ✓

Passenger Ships

300 < GRT < 500

Equipment Area 1 Area 1 + Area 2 Area 1 + Area 2 + Area 3
VHF + DSC ✓ ✓ ✓
Duplicated VHF + DSC ✓ ✓ ✓
VHF – DSC Watch Receiver (Ch. 70) ✓ ✓ ✓
NAVTEX Receiver ✓ ✓ ✓
Satellite EPIRB – 406 MHz ✓ ✓ ✓
Reserve Power Source + Automatic Battery Charger ✓ ✓ ✓
SBM – Shore based Maintenance ✓ ✓ ✓
2-Way radio telephones (Portable GMDSS VHF) ✓ ✓ ✓
2-Way radio telephones (Portable FFA VHF) ✓ ✓ ✓
SART (RADAR-SART 9GHz –or- AIS-SART) x1 ✓ ✓ ✓
General Alarm System + Communication ✓ ✓ ✓
RADAR (X-band, 9 GHz) ✓ ✓ ✓
Annual Radio Survey ✓ ✓ ✓
GMDSS Alarm Panel ✓ ✓ ✓
Passenger Aero VHF ✓ ✓ ✓
Public Address System ✓ ✓ ✓
MF SSB + DSC   ✓ ✓
MF DSC Watch Receiver (Freq. 2187.5 KHz)   ✓ ✓
LRIT reporting function   ✓ ✓

500 < GRT

Equipment Area 1 Area 1 + Area 2 Area 1 + Area 2 + Area 3
VHF + DSC ✓ ✓ ✓
Duplicated VHF + DSC ✓ ✓ ✓
VHF – DSC Watch Receiver (Ch. 70) ✓ ✓ ✓
NAVTEX Receiver ✓ ✓ ✓
Satellite EPIRB – 406 MHz ✓ ✓ ✓
Reserve Power Source + Automatic Battery Charger ✓ ✓ ✓
SBM – Shore based Maintenance ✓ ✓ ✓
2-Way radio telephones (Portable GMDSS VHF) ✓ ✓ ✓
2-Way radio telephones (Portable FFA VHF) ✓ ✓ ✓
SART (RADAR-SART 9GHz –or- AIS-SART) x1 ✓ ✓ ✓
General Alarm System + Communication ✓ ✓ ✓
RADAR (X-band, 9 GHz) ✓ ✓ ✓
Annual Radio Survey ✓ ✓ ✓
GMDSS Alarm Panel ✓ ✓ ✓
Passenger Aero VHF ✓ ✓ ✓
Public Address System ✓ ✓ ✓
MF SSB + DSC   ✓ ✓
MF DSC Watch Receiver (Freq. 2187.5 KHz)   ✓ ✓
LRIT reporting function   ✓ ✓
Inmarsat C (or GMDSS mini-C) + EGC receiver     ✓
MF/HF – SSB + DSC + NBDP     ✓
MF/HF DSC Watch receiver (2, 4, 6, 8, 12 & 16 MHz)     ✓
Duplicated Inmarsat C (or GMDSS mini-C) + EGC     ✓
Duplicated MF/HF – SSB + DSC + NBDP     ✓

Navigation Equipment

All Vessels

Gross Tonnage Equipment Required
GRT < 150 Standard Magnetic Compass, Pelorus or Compass Bearing Device, Correction to Heading/Bearing, Nautical charts + Nautical Publications, GNSS or Terrestrial Radio Nav. System, RADAR Reflector, Sound Reception System (SRS), Telephone to Emergency Steering System
150 < GRT < 300 Standard Magnetic Compass, Pelorus or Compass Bearing Device, Correction to Heading/Bearing, Spare Magnetic Compass, Nautical Charts + Nautical Publications, GNSS or Terrestrial Radio Nav. System, Sound Reception System (SRS), Telephone to Emergency Steering System, Daylight Signaling Lamp, Bridge Navigational Watch Alarm System (BNWAS), Automatic Identification System (AIS), 9GHz X-Band RADAR + EPA, ATA or ARPA, Echo-Sounder, Speed and Distance Measuring Device (SDME), Transmitting Heading Device (THD), Long Range Identification and Tracking (LRIT), Simplified/ Voyage Data Recorder (S/VDR), S/VDR Annual Performance Testing
300 < GRT < 500 Same as above with additional requirements for larger vessels, including: Gyrocompass, Gyrocompass Heading Repeater, Indicators (Rudder, Propeller, Thrust, Pitch, Operational mode), ECDIS + backup arrangement
500 < GRT < 3000 Same as above with additional equipment: 3-GHz S-Band RADAR + ATA or ARPA
3000 < GRT < 10000 Same as above with further enhancements: Gyrocompass Heading Repeater at emergency steering position
10000 < GRT < 50000 Comprehensive suite including all above equipment plus multiple repeaters for 360-degree visibility
50000 < GRT Full spectrum of navigation and communication tools to ensure maximum safety and operational efficiency

By adhering to these guidelines, ships can ensure compliance with international safety standards and enhance their navigational capabilities, providing a safer journey for both cargo and passengers.