#MARINE NOTICE - The latest Marine Notice from the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport (DTTAS) reminds mariners to familiarise themselves with the operation of the distress alert button on GMDSS marine radio equipment.

Radio communications fitted on board Irish ships and fishing vessels with distress button capability, such as DSC or GMDSS-compliant satellite terminals, are fitted with a distress button which initiates an automatic distress alert on maritime mobile distress frequencies. This includes the identification of the vessel and may include its position.

The Maritime Radio Affairs Unit wishes to bring to the attention of GMDSS marine radio operators the Guidance on Distress Alerts contained in the IMO Circular COMSAR.1/Circ.45 which can be found HERE.

Owners and operators should ensure that this notice is posted at all VHF, MF, HF, DSC Digital Selective Calling and all GMDSS approved maritime satellite communications equipment.

Complete details for shipowners, fishing vessel owners, shipmasters and seafarers are included in Marine Notice No 36 of 2012, a PDF of which is available to read and download HERE.