Digital Selective Calling (DSC)

Introduction
DSC is, basically, a paging system that is used to automate distress alerts sent over
terrestrial (i.e.: non-satellite) VHF, MF and HF marine radio systems.
The DSC system's digital processing techniques, combined with the relatively narrow
receiver bandwidths used, provide a DSC signal with resistance to noise and fading
over
the
radio
path.
This results in increased range compared with radiotelephone transmissions.
Unfortunately, DSC remains one of the GMDSS' least understood sub-systems. This
lack of understanding is reflected in the very high DSC false alert rate.
Operations
DSC

is

used

to establish

initial

contact between

stations.

Following an alert by DSC, communications are normally carried out by

radiotelephone or Narrow Band Direct Printing (NBDP - radio telex).
DSC can be considered as a replacement for the radiotelephone and radiotelegraph
(Morse)
alarm
signals.
Rather than just indicate that the sending station is in distress, the DSC system
allows a great deal more information to be transmitted, including:
the priority of the call - DISTRESS, URGENCY, SAFETY or ROUTINE;
the
address
ie:
all
ships
or
a
single
ship/station;
the
identification
of
the
ship
in
distress;
the
position
of
the
ship
in
distress;
and
the nature of the distress.
DSC channels
The ITU has allocated a DSC distress and safety channel in the MF, each of the HF
and the VHF marine radio bands. These are:

MF/HF DSC
DISTRESS AND SAFETY CHANNELS
2187.5 4207.5 6312.0 8414.5 12577.0 16804.5 (kHz)
VHF DSC
DISTRESS AND SAFETY CHANNEL
VHF marine channel 70
Note that voice transmissions are PROHIBITED on the DSC channels.
The MF/HF channels are restricted to distress, urgency and safety traffic only
because of the relatively low speeds of transmission of 100 baud. If too many calls
were permitted on the MF/HF channels, the channels would quickly become
overloaded to the point where a distress call may be blocked.
VHF DSC operates at 12 times the speed of MF/HF - accordingly, all priorities of call
are
allowed
on
the
VHF
channels.
The ITU has also allocated a suite of HF channels dedicated to DSC commercial
operations. These may be found in the ITU DSC operational specification (the link is
at the bottom of this page).
DSC

call

categories

The DSC system supports a number of call categories. These categories mirror the
standard
maritime
prioritisation
of
message
traffic,
ie:
DISTRESS
URGENCY
SAFETY
ROUTINE

Distress

alerts

are

automatically

addressed

to

all

stations.

Urgency, safety and routine calls can be addressed to all stations, an individual
station,
or
a
group
of
stations.
Maritime

Mobile

Service

Identities

(MMSI)

All DSC equipment is programmed with a unique nine digit identification number,
known
as
a
Maritime
Mobile
Service
Identity
(MMSI).
The MMSI is sent automatically with each and every DSC transmission made.
Maritime

Identification

Digits

(MID)

The first three digits of the MMSI are known as the Maritime Identification Digits
(MID). The MID represents the country of registration of the vessel, or the country in
which the DSC shore station is located. MIDs are allocated on an international basis
by the ITU, in much the same way as a callsign prefix.
The MID list may be found here (opens in new window).
Formation

of

MMSI's

MMSIs allocated to merchant vessels are normally allocated with three trailing
zero's.
Those allocated to recreational craft have two or one trailing zero, Coast Station
MMSI's are formed with two leading zero's, those allocated to SAR aircraft use 111 as
the first three digits, hand held radios have 8 as a leading digit and Man Overboard
beacons have their own code structure, starting with 972.

For example:
Typical Australian merchant vessel MMSI- 503001000
where:
503 is the Australian MID;

and
01000 is the individual ship number

Typical Australian recreational vessel MMSI - 503000100

where:
503 is the Australian MID;
and
000100 is the individual ship number

Coast Station MMSI - 005030001

where:
503 is the Australian MID; and
0001 is the individual Coast Station number

SAR aircraft MMSI - 111503123

where:
503 is the Australian MID; and
123 is the individual aircraft number

Hand held radio with DSC MMSI - 850312345

where:

503 is the Australian MID; and

12345 is the individual radio number

Typical DSC man overboard beacon - 972450001

where:
972 is the DSC MoB code;
45 is the manufacturer code
and
0001 is the individual beacon number

MMSI databases
The ITU operate an international web-based data base of MMSI's, known as
the Maritime Mobile Access and Retrieval System (MARS).
The Australian MMSI list may be found here.

DSC

equipment

GMDSS DSC equipment is normally comprised of a stand alone control unit, with an
alpha-numeric display screen and a keyboard on which to compose messages.

Typical VHF DSC controller - note display screen and keyboard.

The control unit controls the actions of the DSC modem (modulator demodulator).
The modem is interfaced to a DSC watchkeeping receiver - this receiver is fixed tuned
to either the VHF DSC channel (ch. 70), the 2 MHz DSC channel, or the HF DSC
channels.
HF DSC watchkeeping receivers are designed to scan the 6 MF/HF DSC channels in
rapid
sequence
(2
seconds
or
less).
DSC watchkeeping receivers are fitted with their own dedicated antennas.
The DSC modem decodes all calls on the frequency to which the watchkeeping
receiver is tuned. If calls are received addressed to all ships, or to the particular ship
on which the DSC system is fitted, the DSC controller sounds an alarm, and displays
the decoded information on the alpha-numeric display.

MF/HF DSC operator control unit

To transmit a DSC call, a GMDSS operator enters the required commands to identify
the station (or stations) with which communication is desired, the priority
(DISTRESS, URGENT, SAFETY or ROUTINE) and the purpose of the call.
Once the call is composed, the CALL button is pressed on the DSC controller, and the
information is sent to the associated transmitter for transmission.
All DSC systems provide complete remote control of the associated transmitter - the
selected DSC frequency information is fed to the transmitter over a serial control link
from
the
DSC
controller.
The whole process is automated - the DSC system instructs the transmitter to change
to the required DSC channel, the transmitter changes channel and (in the case of
MF/HF systems) tunes its antenna system. The transmitter then signals a ready
command to the DSC controller, which sends the information for broadcasting. The
entire
process
takes
only
3
to
5
seconds.
DSC controllers are also required to be interfaced to GPS receivers for automatic
updating of position and time information. This information is automatically

included

in

distress

calls.

DSC controllers are also required to be equipped with a DISTRESS button, which
allows the transmission of a distress call with minimum delay. The button is required
to be protected by a cover, and also can only be activated after "2 separate and
independent actions".
Videos of DSC traffic being received and sent on Coast Station equipment
may be found here.

OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES
The official guide to DSC procedures is contained in ITU recommendation ITU-R
M.541-9. The complete text of the recommendation may be found here.
IMO have issued a circular which contains further clarifications on DSC procedures:
IMO Comsar Circular 25 - Procedure for responding to distress alerts by ships.
(dated March 15th 2001 - includes flow chart.)

IMO DSC flow charts

The IMO have issued flow charts to provide guidance to users of DSC systems:
(These files require Adobe Acrobat reader)
IMO flow chart - Actions on receipt of a VHF DSC call
IMO flow chart - Actions on receipt of a MF DSC call
IMO flow chart - Actions on receipt of a HF DSC call