Maritime Safety Communications Services

Kordia™’s Maritime Safety Communications Services provide the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) with a means of communicating with vessels in distress via High Frequency (HF) radio.

But that is only a small part of our role. We also provide

• Access to ships in need of medical advice
• Weather forecasts
• Services to the vessels within Navarea X

The Maritime Safety Communications Services is responsible for one of the world’s largest Navareas, covering a total area of 58.2 million square kilometres.

Fulfilling Australia’s obligations in international Safety of Life at Sea convention, the MSCS uses a multitude of cutting-edge technologies including:

• Satellite and microwave links
• Dedicated and secure internet connections

Meteorological Broadcasting

The Maritime Safety Communications Services is under contract to the Bureau of Meteorology for the:

• Dissemination of meteorological forecasts
• Warnings to ships on high seas and in coastal waters around Australia

This is in accordance with Australia’s obligations under Safety Of Life At Sea and the applicable conventions of the World Meteorological Organisation.

The MSCS broadcasts both fax and voice products using the latest HF radio equipment from two sites – Charleville in Queensland and Wiluna in Western Australia, both strategically located to give 100 per cent coverage of the Australian Metarea.

Our capabilities

Our centre is manned 24/7. We take pride in knowing that the level of professionalism displayed by our operators is second to none in the maritime communication business.

Any vessel carrying DSC (HF) and HF equipment can initiate a call direct to our centre from all over Navarea X to test their equipment.

Australian Ship Reporting SYSTEM (AUSREP)

The MSCS provides HF radiotelephony as a means to participate in AUSREP; a ship reporting system designed to contribute to safety of life at sea.

Participation in AUSREP is mandatory for certain ships. However, other commercial ships visiting Australia or transiting Australian waters are encouraged to participate voluntarily.

Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS)

Maritime communications are carried out under regulations set down in the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS).

This uses satellite and digital selective calling techniques on MF, HF, and VHF bands to enable a distress alert to be transmitted and received over short and long distances.

The system allows search and rescue authorities ashore, as well as other vessels in the vicinity of the ship in distress, to be rapidly alerted to a distress incident. This provides assistance in a co-ordinated search and rescue operation with the minimum of delay.

STAYING CONNECTED AT SEA

If you are traveling on a vessel offshore, you can take advantage of Australia’s premier HF system.

To register for a daily reporting time (SKED), contact Kordia™ to log your vessel details and sailing plan. Download the PDF (below) to find out how: