The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has issued an updated edition of its Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) Handbook, providing revised operational guidance for vessels operating within Australia’s maritime area of responsibility.
The new handbook has been substantially revised to focus on the practical information required for GMDSS operations in Australian waters, rather than serving as a textbook for GMDSS training courses. It replaces the previous, 11th edition published in January 2018.
The update incorporates regulatory changes adopted by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and implemented through Australian regulations up to and including 1 January 2026. It also reflects relevant changes adopted by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) through its World Radiocommunication Conferences and implemented under Australian regulations over the same period.
The revised handbook also consolidates information specific to GMDSS operations within the Australian area of responsibility, providing operators with a more focused reference for compliance and day-to-day maritime communications.
The GMDSS was introduced in 1992 to ensure a reliable, automated and global maritime distress and safety system was established. Using modern technology, the GMDSS introduced satellite communications, and digital techniques to terrestrial systems in the MF, HF and VHF bands. This allowed distress alerts to be transmitted and received automatically over short and long distances, and for that alerts to contain critical information about location and identify of the vessel in distress.
Carriage requirement
The handbook is a carriage requirement under Marine Order 27 – Safety of navigation and radio equipment. It provides practical guidance for vessel operators, masters and radio operators on GMDSS operations within the Australian area of responsibility.
What operators and ship owners need to do
If your vessel is required to carry the Australian GMDSS Handbook under Marine Order 27, you must now ensure the August 2026 edition is available onboard. Operators may choose to carry the handbook electronically or as a printed copy, provided carriage arrangements comply with the requirements of Marine Order 27.
AMSA says the handbook has been revised to acknowledge the foundational GMDSS knowledge held by qualified operators. It is now focused on providing practical operational guidance for GMDSS operations within the Australian area of responsibility, rather than serving as a textbook.
Download the textbook: gmdss-handbook-2026
