GMDSS考证阅材料.docVIP

Reading Comprehension Passage 1 Three types ship earth station terminals of Inmarsat Satellite systems operated by the International Mobile Satellite Organization (Inmarsat), are also important elements of the GMDSS. Three types of Inmarsat ship earth station terminals are recognized by the GMDSS: the Inmarsat A, B and C. The Inmarsat A and B, an updated version of the A, provide ship/shore, ship/ship and shore/ship telephone, telex and high-speed data services, including a distress priority telephone and telex service to and from rescue coordination centers. The Inmarsat C provides ship/shore, shore/ship and ship/ship store-and-forward data and telex messaging, the capability for sending preformatted distress messages to a rescue coordination center, and the SafetyNET service. The Inmarsat C SafetyNET service is a satellite-based worldwide maritime safety information broadcast service of high seas weather warnings, NAVAREA navigational warnings, radionavigation warnings, ice reports and warnings generated by the USCG-conducted International Ice Patrol, and other similar information not provided by NAVTEX. SafetyNET works similarly to NAVTEX in areas outside NAVTEX coverage. Inmarsat C equipment is relatively small and lightweight, and costs much less than an Inmarsat A or B. Inmarsat A and B ship earth stations require relatively large gyro-stabilized antennas; the antenna size of the Inmarsat C is much smaller. Inmarsat also operates an EPIRB system, the Inmarsat L, which is similar to that operated by COSPAS-SARSAT. Under a cooperative agreement with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), combined meteorological observations and AMVER reports can now be sent to both the USCG AMVER Center, and NOAA, using an Inmarsat C ship earth earth station, at no charge. There is also no charge to register for this service and to receive the necessary Inmarsat C software. For more information, see the NOAA Shipboard Environmental (data) Ac