Glossary

• A1 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.
• A2 Sea area A2 means an area, excluding sea area A1, within the radio coverage of at least one MF coast station in which continuous DSC alerting is available, as may be defined by a contracting government.
• A3 Sea area A3 means an area, excluding sea areas A1 and A2, within the coverage of an Inmarsat goestationary satellite in which continuous alerting is available.
• A4 Sea area A4 means an area outside sea areas A1, A2 and A3.
• DSC 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 Radio Consultative Committee (CCIR).
• EPIRB Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon: tracking transmitter which aid in the detection and location of boats, aircraft, and people in distress.
• GT Gross tonnage
• NAVTEX Information system for receiving maritime safety information on the 518 kHz (Englisch), 490 kHz (local language) and 4209.5 kHz.
• NBDP Narrow Band Direct Printing Telegraphy: means automated telegraphy techniques which comply with the relevant recommendations of the International Radio Consultative Committee (CCIR).
• MF Medium Frequencies (MF) designated for marine communication range between 1605 kHz to 3800 kHz and are called "t" band.
• HF High Frequencies (HF) designated for marine communication range between 4000 kHz to 27500 kHz and are called "u" band. This is divided into the following sub-bands: 4, 6, 8, 12, 16, 18/19, 22, 25/26 MHz. Only the first five are used for distress and safety communication.
• SAR Search And Rescue
• SART Search And Rescue Transponder
• VHF Maritime Radio: refers to the radio frequency range between 156.0 and 162.025 MHz, inclusive. In the official language of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) the band is called the VHF maritime mobile band.
• V Refers to the SOLAS regulations chapter V
• IV Refers to the SOLAS regulations chapter IV
• X Refers to the SOLAS regulations chapter X
• BNWAS Bridge Navigational Watch Alarm System
• ECDIS Electronic Chart Display and Information System
• GNSS Global Navigation Satellite System
• GPS Global Positioning System
• DGPS Differential Global Positioning System