Do commercial fishing vessels have to fit GMDSS equipment?
The GMDSS does not apply to most commercial fishing vessels. However, the Communications Act as implemented by FCC regulations does require U.S. fishing vessels 300 gross tons or heavier to carry GMDSS equipment. The temporary waiver for certain GMDSS equipment in effect since 1998 no longer applies. Unless the ship always remains within VHF and 2 MHz range of USCG coast stations, US fishing vessels 300 gross tons and heavier will now have to comply with the GMDSS for Sea Area A3. This change is a result of Federal Communications Commission (FCC) WT Docket No. 00-48, FCC No. 02-102 adopted 27 March 2002, released 9 April 2002, and in force effective 5 November 2003. See http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-02-102A1.
The GMDSS does not apply to most commercial fishing vessels. However, the Communications Act as implemented by FCC regulations does require U.S. fishing vessels 300 gross tons or heavier to carry GMDSS equipment. The temporary waiver for certain GMDSS equipment in effect since 1998 no longer applies. Unless the ship always remains within VHF and 2 MHz range of USCG coast stations, US fishing vessels 300 gross tons and heavier will now have to comply with the GMDSS for Sea Area A3.
