comdtinst m2400.1f - US Coast Guard Response Boat-Medium

B. GMDSS System and Operational Details.
1. GMDSS. The basic concept of the GMDSS is for SAR authorities
ashore as well as shipping in the vicinity to be alerted to a
distress incident so that effective assistance can be provided
quickly. The system will also provide for urgency and safety
communications and the dissemination of navigational and
meteorological information to shipping.
2. Distress Alerting. The system will provide for distress
alerting, distress and safety traffic, search and rescue
coordinating communications, on scene communications,
transmission of navigational and meteorological information,
and the distress watch.
3. Implementation. In order to implement these concepts the
broad radio communications network proposed will employ a
number of dedicated (exclusive) and designated (non-exclusive)
frequencies in the bands used by the maritime mobile service
and the maritime mobile satellite service.
6-1