ITU – International Telecommunication Union – Maritime Publications and Radiocommunications

Introduction

The ITU, or International Telecommunication Union, is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible, among other things, for the international regulation and coordination of radiocommunications. In the maritime sector, its publications are essential references for ships equipped with the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System, known as GMDSS, as well as for coastal stations, rescue coordination centres and maritime radiocommunications professionals.

ITU maritime documentation covers communications between ships and shore stations, station identification, radio frequencies, distress and safety services, maritime safety information, meteorological services, AIS systems and satellite communications.

For merchant ships, service vessels, maritime administrations, radio officers and international navigation professionals, ITU publications therefore provide essential regulatory and operational documentation.

What Are the Main ITU Maritime Publications?

ITU maritime documentation includes several complementary references. The most important include:

• the Maritime Manual, or Manual for Use by the Maritime Mobile and Maritime Mobile-Satellite Services;

• List IV, or the List of Coast Stations and Special Service Stations;

• List V, or the List of Ship Stations and Maritime Mobile Service Identity Assignments;

• the Radio Regulations;

• documents and information relating to maritime services and the MARS system.

These publications enable crews and radiocommunications personnel to access precise information about stations, frequencies, maritime identities and available services.

ITU and GMDSS

GMDSS, the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System, provides the international framework for maritime distress and safety communications.

Its purpose is to enable a ship in an emergency to transmit an alert rapidly and receive the information necessary for its safety. Depending on the maritime area and available equipment, the system relies on different communication methods, including VHF, MF, HF, Digital Selective Calling (DSC), satellite communications and associated services.

ITU publications make it possible, in particular, to identify radio stations, their operating frequencies and the services they provide.

List IV, for example, provides information on coast stations maintaining DSC and radiotelephone watchkeeping, as well as medical advice services, meteorological and navigational warnings, maritime safety information and rescue coordination centres.

List IV: Coast Stations and Special Services

List IV is one of the major ITU references for maritime radiocommunications.

It contains detailed information about coast radio stations, including their call signs, geographical coordinates, transmitting and receiving frequencies and service hours.

It also provides information concerning:

• coast stations;

• port stations;

• pilot stations;

• VTS stations;

• coast earth stations;

• RCC rescue coordination centres;

• SAR organizations;

• NAVAREA coordinators;

• AIS services;

• meteorological and navigational warnings;

• maritime safety information;

• medical advice services.

List IV is therefore particularly useful when planning a voyage, identifying radio services available in a maritime area or checking the communication facilities available near a port.

List V: Ship Stations and MMSI Identities

List V concerns ship stations and Maritime Mobile Service identities.

It makes it possible to identify ships and associated stations using information submitted to international authorities. It also contains data relating to MMSI identities, coast stations, search and rescue aircraft and certain administrative authorities.

The recent version of List V includes a searchable database containing information on more than 900,000 ships.

This documentation can be particularly useful during search and rescue operations, maritime identity verification or inspections of onboard equipment and regulatory documentation.

The ITU Maritime Manual

The Maritime Manual is the Manual for Use by the Maritime Mobile and Maritime Mobile-Satellite Services.

It is a reference document for understanding the organization of maritime radiocommunication services and their use within the international framework.

It is particularly relevant to professionals responsible for onboard communications, safety managers, deck officers and personnel involved in the management of radio equipment.

The Manual places the various radio procedures and information within the broader framework of the Radio Regulations and GMDSS.

Radio Regulations and Maritime Navigation

The Radio Regulations provide the international framework governing radio services.

For professional navigation, maritime radiocommunications are not simply a means of communication between a ship and shore. They directly contribute to navigational safety, maritime traffic management, search and rescue operations and the distribution of safety information.

Radio equipment must therefore be operated in accordance with the applicable procedures and frequencies.

ITU documentation should consequently be regarded as complementary to the other regulatory and nautical publications used on the bridge.

ITU, AIS, VTS and Maritime Safety Information

Modern maritime communications are closely connected with AIS and traffic management systems.

VTS, or Vessel Traffic Services, enable port and coastal authorities to monitor and manage maritime traffic in certain particularly busy areas.

Information concerning VTS stations, AIS stations, meteorological services and maritime safety information forms part of the data associated with ITU maritime publications.

This complementarity is particularly important when approaching major commercial ports such as Le Havre, Rotterdam, Antwerp, Hamburg, Marseille or Singapore.

Radiocommunications in Major Maritime Areas

ITU publications have a worldwide scope. They apply both to ships operating close to the coast and to vessels undertaking long ocean passages.

In the English Channel, radio communications are essential for vessels operating in an area of particularly dense traffic between France and the United Kingdom.

In the North Sea, ships calling at Rotterdam, Antwerp and Hamburg operate in an environment where communication with coast stations and VTS services plays an important role.

In the Mediterranean Sea, radio information is useful to vessels calling at Marseille and the many commercial and industrial ports throughout the region.

During crossings of the Atlantic Ocean, Red Sea, Indian Ocean or Pacific Ocean, communication and distress systems must also be appropriate to the navigation area.

Complementarity with Nautical Charts

ITU publications do not replace nautical charts or hydrographic documents. They serve a different but complementary purpose.

A vessel may therefore use several types of documentation simultaneously:

• official nautical charts;

• sailing directions;

• radiocommunications publications;

• ITU publications;

• IMO regulatory documents;

• meteorological and maritime safety information;

• AIS data and VTS services.

For nautical charts, professionals may use products from organizations and publishers such as Shom, Admiralty, depending on the geographical area and navigation requirements.

This complementarity provides both a reliable representation of the maritime environment and the information required for communications and safety.

Use in Ports and During Inspections

ITU documentation is also important during regulatory inspections.

Ships subject to GMDSS requirements must carry the applicable maritime publications. The ITU now provides digital formats as well as physical media for several of its maritime publications.

Verification of the presence and validity of these publications may take place during flag-state inspections, Port State Control or inspections relating to radio installations.

This regulatory dimension explains the importance of having the appropriate and up-to-date edition of each publication.

Digital ITU Documentation

Digital transformation also affects ITU maritime publications.

Maritime publications are now available in digital formats, with search functions that facilitate access to information. CD and USB formats are also available for certain references.

The digital format offers several advantages:

• rapid searches for ships or stations;

• easier access to radio data;

• structured consultation of information;

• easier updating;

• use adapted to professional digital environments.

For a crew or maritime department, this ease of searching can be particularly useful when a specific piece of information needs to be found quickly.

Who Uses ITU Maritime Documentation?

ITU publications are intended for:

• shipowners and shipping companies;

• masters and deck officers;

• radiocommunications officers;

• merchant ship operators;

• vessels subject to GMDSS requirements;

• maritime training centres;

• maritime administrations;

• coast stations;

• VTS centres;

• SAR organizations;

• port services;

• inspectors and maritime control professionals.

They can also be used for training in maritime radiocommunications and maritime safety.

Why Is ITU Documentation Important?

Maritime radiocommunications are a fundamental element of ship safety.

Under normal circumstances, they enable communication with coast stations, ports, VTS services and other participants in maritime traffic. In an emergency, they become an essential means of transmitting an alert, receiving information and coordinating search and rescue operations.

ITU documentation therefore provides an internationally consistent reference framework for maritime communications.

It complements IMO regulations, GMDSS documentation, hydrographic publications and shipping companies' operational procedures.

Conclusion

ITU maritime publications constitute essential documentation for international maritime radiocommunications. The Maritime Manual, List IV of coast stations, List V of ship stations and Maritime Mobile Service identities, and the Radio Regulations address complementary requirements relating to safety, station identification, radio frequencies and maritime services.

Their use applies to ships navigating the English Channel, North Sea, Mediterranean Sea, Red Sea, Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean, as well as to major international ports such as Le Havre, Rotterdam, Antwerp, Hamburg, Marseille and Singapore.

Combined with nautical charts and maritime publications from Shom, Admiralty, ITU documentation contributes to comprehensive and professional voyage planning and maritime communications.

FAQ

What is the ITU?

The ITU, or International Telecommunication Union, is a specialized United Nations agency. It coordinates international telecommunications and radiocommunications and publishes essential references for maritime services.

What are ITU maritime publications used for?

They provide regulatory and operational information concerning maritime radiocommunications, coast stations, ship stations, radio frequencies, MMSI identities and safety services.

What is GMDSS?

GMDSS, the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System, is the international system used by ships to transmit and receive distress alerts and safety information through various available radiocommunication systems.

What is ITU List IV?

List IV is the List of Coast Stations and Special Service Stations. It contains information including frequencies, coordinates, service hours and services provided by coast radio stations, VTS stations, pilot stations and rescue coordination centres.

What is ITU List V?

List V is the List of Ship Stations and Maritime Mobile Service Identity Assignments. It provides information relating to ships and MMSI identities.

What is an MMSI number?

MMSI, or Maritime Mobile Service Identity, is an identification number used in Maritime Mobile Service communications, particularly with GMDSS equipment and procedures.

Is ITU documentation useful for merchant ships?

Yes. It is particularly important for ships subject to international requirements concerning radiocommunications and GMDSS, as well as for crews, shipping companies and personnel responsible for safety.

Do ITU publications replace nautical charts?

No. They serve a different purpose. They complement nautical charts and maritime publications by providing information required for radiocommunications and maritime services.

Which nautical charts can complement ITU documentation?

Depending on the navigation area, charts and publications may come from organizations and publishers such as Shom, Admiralty. They complement radiocommunication information with the hydrographic and nautical data required for navigation.

In which maritime areas are ITU publications used?

They are used worldwide, including the English Channel, North Sea, Mediterranean Sea, Red Sea, Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean.