Report No. CI 99-4      COMPLIANCE & INFORMATION  ACTION      February 1, 1999

                                                      
          Global Maritime Distress and Safety System 
          Fully Implemented effective February 1, 1999


     The Federal Communications Commission announced today that the Global Maritime
Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) became fully implemented in the United States effective
today,  February 1, 1999.

     All cargo ships of 300 gross tons and upwards, all large passenger vessels operated in the
open sea and all small passenger vessels operating on international voyages now must comply
fully with the GMDSS requirements unless exempted by the FCC.

     The GMDSS is a ship-to-shore distress and safety communications system that requires
two separate means of sending a distress alert.  It relies on geostationary communications
satellites and terrestrial digital communications systems that enable ship radio operators to send
and receive distress and safety communications worldwide.  The GMDSS also uses radar
transponders and distress beacons that pinpoint the location of a ship or survival craft in distress. 
It replaces the manual Morse Code radiotelegraph system. 
 
     Full implementation of this automated communications system vastly improves the ability
of ships at sea to notify the maritime community of events which may threaten loss of life.

     The GMDSS was first adopted by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in 1988. 
In 1992, the FCC adopted new rules phasing in GMDSS compliance, with full implementation
scheduled for February 1, 1999.  

     Prior to the GMDSS, passenger and large cargo ships were required to be equipped with
manual Morse code radiotelegraph installations manned by skilled radiotelegraph operators when
sailing in the open sea or on international voyages.  

                            - FCC - 
                                    
News Media Contact: David Fiske (202) 418-0513
Compliance and Information Bureau Contact: Leonard Langley (202) 418-1177