I had asked Ken Lawrenson to tell me "the truth about DSC", especially when it will actually be up and working in Oregon. Following is his response, which he suggested that I post here:
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The United States has been very slow to comply with the "Sea Area A1" requirements of the GMDSS (Global Maritime Distress and Safety System)... we lag most of Europe by about a dozen years. "Sea Area A1" is defined as an area within radiotelephone coverage of at least one VHF coast station in which continuous digital selective calling (DSC) alerting is available. This is generally within 25 NM of shore. Good discussion and background on the GMDSS can be read at
http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/marcomms/gmdss/default.htm .
The GMDSS is a really cool concept, but like most cool "new" things, is expensive and will take some time to get off the ground and tuned up. The Coast Guard has set 2006 as the target date for US Sea Area A1 coverage. The
equipment is being installed incrementally. As stated in your first source, CG Groups Portland, Astoria and North Bend are scheduled for 2004, and should cover the entire coast from Queets River (North of Gray's Harbor) to the Oregon-California border, and out approx. 25 NM.
This same area is covered by a network of remote "high sites," just antennas and relay gear, with the actual communications monitored 24/7 by the Group Operations Center. These "high sites" will be replaced during the upgrade to A1 (to include DF (direction finding) capability, etc.). Note that when you talk now to the Coast Guard on your VHF, you are probably NOT talking to a local Station, unless during the day you specifically call a Station. You'll be talking to the Group instead (with a watchstander in Portland, Astoria or North Bend).
So instead of using your DSC with the Station in Newport (or Depoe Bay, for example), the DSC comms for the entire area will be coordinated thru the local Group (in this case, Group North Bend). In the event a SAR response is necessary, the Group will coordinate the case, and dispatch the appropriate platforms from the Station(s) closest.
I have heard nothing that leads me to believe that the ENTIRE system (from Canada to Mexico) must be operational before it functions anywhere. And BTW, the Charleston mentioned in the implementation schedule is in South
Carolina.
The "when" of your questions isn't as clear. There may well be a year-long trial phase of A1 before the CG declares it operational. This is presently the case for Sea Area A2 coverage along the Oregon / Washington coast (A2 is
DSC alerting coverage on 2MHz MF radiotelephony, i.e. single sideband, out to about 150 NM offshore). One of the best ways to keep current on these developments is to subscribe to the Thirteenth CG District's Local Notice to
Mariners (LNM), which you can do by sending an email to
mailto
13LNM@pacnorwest.uscg.mil .
This will also get you valuable info regarding lights, aids, chart updates, GPS and loran-C availability, etc.
Hope this helps. Just DON'T push the red button to test the system (there are other ways!), and if you'd like to post this to the iFish site, that would be great. Be safe,
Ken
K. M. Lawrenson
Fishing Vessel Safety Coordinator
MSO Portland, Oregon
(503) 240-9337
Fax: 240-9369
EMail:
KLawrenson@PacNorWest.uscg.mil
Mark Mc
DSC VHF, Coast Guard Statement
Linear Mode
