Date of Award
1995
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Master of Science in Maritime Affairs
Specialization
Maritime Education & Training
Campus
Malmö, Sweden
Country
Mozambique
First Advisor
Muirhead, Peter M.
Abstract
This dissertation examines the worldwide current development of Maritime Satellite Communications technology; the INMARSAT organization and its Maritime Services, either for safety of life at sea or commercial and social applications, as well as the introduction of the new Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS), Search and Rescue (SAR) operations and the Communication systems for use in the GMDSS that comprise Satellite and Terrestrial Communications. In addition, the research has addressed special attention to the review of the current state of maritime communications in Mozambique, the role that the national telecommunications company (TDM) plays in the maritime communications. The government efforts leading to the introduction of the GMDSS communications system in Mozambique and the activities of the national Maritime Safety Authority (SAFMAR) are also discussed in this paper. The need of co-operation with neighboring countries in order to build up the efficient Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre (MRCC) is considered. The routing arrangement with Coast Earth Stations providing services in INMARSAT-A, B, C and M in all four ocean regions coverage by INMARSAT geostationary satellites is shown to be the transitional stage to the full introduction of new technology based in Maritime Satellite Communications in Mozambique. The need of training for those whose tasks are to operate the day-to-day GMDSS communications in Mozambique is discussed, as well as the role of Escola Nautica de Mocambique (ENM) regarding the training of personnel for General Operator’s Certificate (GOC), where the use of PC-based simulators, in addition to the real-life equipment already available at ENM is also considered. The concluding chapter sum up the key issues discussed in this dissertation and gives more emphasis on the need of proper training of personnel to serve the GMDSS radio stations either ashore or onboard ships equipped with this technology, where proper use of the English language is required.