Furuno FM-8800, Service Manual, Page: 212 / 268

Chapter 9. Q & A
9-8
Q37. An inspector cautioned me about contents of COMSAR/Cir.32
regarding installation of equipment. What is it about?
COMSAR/Circ.32 is about GMDSS requirements for radio installation issued
by IMO on 08/16/2004. The heading is ''Harmonization of GMDSS
requirements for radio installation on SOLAS ship.
http://www.imo.org/includes/blastDataOnly.asp/data_id%3D10750/32.pdf
A section concerning VHF installation is,
4 GMDSS RADIO EQUIPMENT
4.1 Location of VHF transceivers and VHF DSC controllers
.1 VHF with DSC forming part of the mandatory VHF communication equipment for
safety of navigation should be located in the conning position. This equipment may
be connected to several remote control units, i.e. on the wings of the navigation
bridge, provided that the navigating bridge has priority. If such combined equipment
is chosen, it should be possible to transmit DSC distress alert from the conning
position.
.2 If the ship is equipped with extra VHF transceiver (without DSC) with channels
required for navigational safety, located in the conning position, another central
location of the mandatory DSC VHF equipment on the navigation bridge (in
navigating position) can be accepted.
(SOLAS 1974, as amended, regulations IV/4.1.5, 4.1.9 and 6.3.)
Note: - With regard to the location of equipment and distress alerts, the same
requirements also apply to the duplicated DSC VHF equipment for ships in
sea areas A3 and A4. The duplicated VHF transceiver can, however, be
located in the .navigating position. instead of in the conning position.
( IMO resolution A.702(17), Annex, item 2.1.)
In order to conduct power measurements, easy access to the antenna output of each
equipment should be provided.
(SOLAS 1974, as amended, regulation IV/15.2 and IMO resolution A.948(23))
4.2 Continuous watch on DSC VHF channel 70
Continuous watch on DSC VHF channel 70 can be met by:
.1 a separate VHF channel 70 watch receiver. It should not be muted or interrupted
when using other radio equipment, or
.2 a dedicated watch receiver combined with the VHF transceiver. It should be installed
so as to maintain watch even when the VHF equipment is used for telephony, or
.3 VHF with DSC permanently locked on channel 70 for reception and transmission of
DSC calls only. To deal with other correspondence on other channels, an additional
VHF transceiver should be installed, which may be without the DSC function.
(IMO resolutions A.694(17) and A.803(19), as amended, and COM/Circ.105)