On 22 November 2016, UAB “Elsis TS” and the Maritime Rescue Coordination Center (MRCC) of the Navy of the Lithuanian Armed Forces signed an agreement on the acquisition, installation, and modernisation of the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS).
The main goal of this project is to ensure that the Maritime Rescue Coordination Center (MRCC) of the Navy of the Lithuanian Armed Forces is able to accept a distress signal and to provide high-quality radiotelephony (voice) and data exchange communication with ships and authorities participating in search and rescue operations. The Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) consists of the following parts: a GMDSS operator’s console, which integrates the following equipment: a GMDSS AD (HF/MF) 250W DSC Class A radio station (transmitter and receiver, antenna tuning device); a GMDSS LAD (VHF) DSC Class A radio station; a GMDSS Inmarsat mini-C station with a terminal; a GMDSS air band radio station; an LAD (VHF) radio station with programmable channels; a personal computer with a monitor integrated in the console for displaying NAVTEX messages; GMDSS software licences to ensure GMDSS functionality; a voice communication terminal of radio stations enabling the operator to work with all radio stations simultaneously; an uninterruptible power supply.
During the implementation of the project, the existing partially functional GMDSS console will be uninstalled, and a new GMDSS will be designed, installed, configured, and fine-tuned, while users will be trained to use the system.
The goal of modernising the GMDSS is to ensure that the Maritime Rescue Coordination Center is able to communicate via voice and data exchange in the high frequency range with ships participating in search and rescue operations in the A2 area.
During the project, modernisation of the GMDSS will include dismantling the high-frequency radio station located in the Nida maritime observation post of the Navy of the Lithuanian Armed Forces, replacing it with a new one, updating the existing GMDSS V4 software, and adjusting it to the GMDSS used by the Maritime Rescue Coordination Center (MRCC) of the Navy of the Lithuanian Armed Forces.
The project, which is worth more than EUR 183,000 without VAT, will be completed by 22 May 2017.