RSS-288 — Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS)

This Radio Standard Specification (RSS) sets out the requirements for certification of the following shipborne radiocommunication equipment, operating in the MF (300 kHz – 3 MHz), HF (3 MHz – 30 MHz), and SHF (3 GHz – 30 GHz) bands, which meets the requirements of the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) operating in specific bands as stated under RBR-2 — Technical Requirements for the Operation of Mobile Stations in the Maritime Service:

1. medium frequency (MF) radio transmitters and receivers for voice communication, with digital selective calling (DSC);
2. medium frequency and high frequency (MF/HF) radio transmitters and receivers for voice communication, with DSC; and
3. survival craft search and rescue transponder (SART) devices in the SHF band 9.2-9.5 GHz.

The following equipment is not in scope of this RSS.

VHF equipment which meets GMDSS requirements falls under RSS-182, Maritime Radio Transmitters and Receivers in the Band 156-162.5 MHz.

The emergency position indicating radio beacon (EPIRB), which is another device of the overall GMDSS, falls under RSS-287, Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRB), Emergency Locator Transmitters (ELT), Personal Locator Beacons (PLB), and Maritime Survivor Locator Devices (MSLD).

This section sets out the general requirements and references related to this RSS.

2.1 Coming into force and transition period

This document will be in force as of the date of its publication on Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada's (ISED) website.

However, a transition period of six months from the publication date will be provided. During this period, all applications for certification under RSS-288 issue 1 or issue 2 will be accepted. After this period, only applications for the certification of equipment under RSS-288, issue 2, will be accepted, and equipment manufactured, imported, distributed, leased, offered for sale, or sold in Canada shall comply with this present issue.

A copy of RSS-288, issue 1, is available upon request by consultationnormesradio@ised-isde.gc.ca.

2.2 Certification requirements

Equipment covered by this standard is classified as Category I equipment and shall be certified. Either a technical acceptance certificate (TAC) issued by ISED's Certification and Engineering Bureau (CEB) or a certificate issued by a recognized certification body (CB) is required.

2.3 Licensing requirements

Equipment covered by this standard is exempt from licensing requirements pursuant to section 15 of the Radiocommunication Regulations.

2.4 RSS-Gen compliance

In addition to the requirements specified in this standard, equipment being certified under this standard shall also comply with the applicable requirements set out in RSS-Gen, General Requirements for Compliance of Radio Apparatus.

2.5 References

This section specifies the external documents that are relevant for this RSS.

2.5.1 Related documents

The following document(s) should be consulted together with this RSS:

• RBR-2, Technical Requirements for the Operation of Mobile Stations in the Maritime Service

2.6 Definitions and abbreviations

The following terms are used in this document.

Digital Selective Calling (DSC) is a type of synchronous system developed by the ITU Radiocommunication Sector (ITU-R) that is used to establish contact with a station or groups of stations automatically by means of radio equipment.

Shipborne radio equipment requires verification from Transport Canada (TC), and requires to meet TC's operational requirements before the applicant can submit the equipment for certification under this RSS. Non-shipborne equipment, portable VHF radiotelephone (voice only) and coast station equipment do not require this acceptance letter. TC requirements can be found in the Navigation Safety Regulations, 2020.

The acceptance letter issued by TC, confirms that the equipment has met TC requirements, and shall be included as part of the certification application sent to the CEB or a recognized CB.

3.1 Inquiries concerning Transport Canada requirements

Inquiries concerning Transport Canada requirements should be directed to:

This section sets out the requirements applicable to radio transmitters subject to this standard.

4.1 General

GMDSS equipment requires approval from Transport Canada as meeting that department's operational requirements before the applicant can submit the equipment to ISED for certification (see section 3).

4.2 Equipment with DSC capability

All MF and HF radio transmitters and receivers for voice communication with DSC must comply with the applicable standards outlined in the Navigational Safety Regulations, 2020.

NOTE: As outlined in the Navigation Safety Regulations, 2020, section 2(2), any reference in these regulations to a document refers to the most recent version of that document, as amended from time to time, unless the regulation specifically refers to the version as it read on a particular date.

4.3 Add-on device for DSC capability

If the DSC capability is contained in an "add-on" device which is intended for connection to the voice port of a radio terminal model that has already been certified by ISED (e.g. a radio terminal certified to RSS-181 or RSS-182), certification of the add-on device by ISED is not required. However, each type or model of the add-on device shall be tested and shall meet the standards contained in the IMO resolutions listed in section 4.2.

The testing can be performed by the manufacturer or the importer.

The test results shall be kept by the manufacturer or the importer and shall be made available to ISED upon request.

The equipment user manual shall provide the following or equivalent notice: "This device meets the GMDSS standard (per IMO Resolution #______). It may be connected to the voice/data input port of a radio terminal model that has already been certified by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada."

4.4 Survival Craft Survival Craft Search and Rescue Transponders (SART) in the band 9.2-9.5 GHz

Survival craft SART in the band 9.2-9.5 GHz shall comply with the applicable standards as listed in the Navigational Safety Regulations, 2020.

NOTE: As outlined in the Navigation Safety Regulations, 2020, section 2(2), any reference in these regulations to a document refers to the most recent version of that document, as amended from time to time, unless the regulation specifically refers to the version as it read on a particular date.