GMDSS installation, annual testing and radio survey preparation
NAVION installs, services and annually verifies GMDSS radio stations on fishing vessels and commercial ships calling at ports in Busan, Vladivostok and China. We cover MF/HF and VHF DSC, Inmarsat-C and FleetBroadband, EPIRB, SART, NAVTEX, two-way portables, antennas, earth and reserve batteries. Work is planned around the port-call window and finished alongside wherever the parts allow.
Message us on TelegramGMDSS work in a port call is mostly verification, not installation. A vessel arriving in Busan with a radio survey due needs the station tested, the defects found, the parts fitted and the records in order before the pilot is ordered. We board with test equipment, spare hydrostatic release units, EPIRB and SART battery packs, coaxial connectors and the usual consumables, so the first visit finds the faults and, where the parts allow, closes them the same day instead of handing you a defect list for the next port.
What the job includes
- Annual GMDSS station test
- MF/HF DSC transmitter and tuner service
- VHF DSC set service and MMSI verification
- Inmarsat-C and FleetBroadband service
- EPIRB battery and hydrostatic release replacement
- SART and two-way VHF portable checks
- NAVTEX receiver check and reprogramming
- Antenna, feeder and earth inspection
- Reserve battery capacity and changeover test
- Radio survey preparation and defect rectification
Timing
- Annual GMDSS test, station in good order
- typically 4-8 hours alongside
- EPIRB or SART battery and HRU replacement
- typically 1-2 hours
- Reserve battery capacity and changeover test
- typically a full working day
- MF/HF or VHF DSC set replacement
- typically 1 day
- Survey preparation and defect list
- typically half a day
What we need from the vessel
- Gangway access and agent contact, with the vessel's berth area confirmed
- Ship's power available, and confirmation of whether live transmission on distress frequencies is permitted at the berth
- A radio operator or officer available to witness distress-alert and DSC function tests
- Equipment list with makes, models and serial numbers, plus MMSI, call sign and station licence
- Previous radio survey report and any outstanding defect list
- Access to the battery locker, antenna deck and radio room trunking, and a permit where work at height or hot work is needed
Documents issued
- Radio test report listing every item tested, readings taken and results
- Defect list with part numbers and lead times for anything not closed alongside
- Record of replaced batteries and hydrostatic release units with new expiry dates
- Entries prepared for the radio log and equipment records ahead of survey
Frequently asked
Can you do the annual GMDSS test during a normal port call?
Usually yes. A test on a station with no significant defects typically takes 4-8 hours alongside. What extends it is battery capacity testing, which needs a full discharge and recharge cycle, and antenna or feeder work that requires access at height or a hot-work permit. Send the equipment list and arrival time and we will say honestly what fits in your window.
Do you replace EPIRB batteries and hydrostatic release units?
Yes. We check the beacon's battery and HRU expiry dates, self-test the unit, verify the coding against the vessel's MMSI or hex ID, and replace the battery pack and HRU where they are expired or due. Give us the beacon make and model in advance so the correct parts are on the shelf before the vessel arrives.
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Read moreAnnual checks and documentation
GMDSS annual test, EPIRB and SART checks, VDR test support, bridge equipment verification. Written check report before the surveyor attends.
Read moreBook a GMDSS test or radio survey preparation in Busan
Send the vessel name, ETA, equipment makes and models and what is due — annual test, survey preparation or a defect. We reply with what closes alongside and what needs parts ordered ahead.