🔍 Key Concepts

• GMDSS (Global Maritime Distress and Safety System) inspection requirements for compulsory vessels • Which U.S. agency is normally responsible for inspecting radio stations on ships • Difference between annual inspections, monthly tests, and any extra requirements for certain Sea Areas (A1, A2, A3, A4)

💭 Think About

• First, decide which agency is legally responsible for inspecting ship radio stations in the U.S. for GMDSS compliance—FCC or Coast Guard? • Then, think about whether monthly onboard checks by the ship’s own personnel can ever fully replace a formal outside annual inspection. • Consider whether the inspection interval changes when a vessel trades beyond Sea Areas A1 and A2, or whether the requirement stays the same for all GMDSS Sea Areas.

✅ Before You Answer

• Verify which agency the Ship Radio Station License and GMDSS inspections are associated with in U.S. practice (FCC vs. USCG). • Check whether regulations allow waiving the formal annual inspection if the ship’s own GMDSS maintainer does monthly checks. • Confirm if any rule actually specifies a second, six‑month inspection based on operating outside Sea Areas A1 and A2.