IEC 61097-15:2012

Overview

IEC 61097-15:2012 - Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) Part 15 - defines the operational and performance requirements, methods of testing and required test results for the Inmarsat FB500 ship earth station (SES). The standard addresses equipment capable of transmitting and receiving distress and safety communications and general radiotelephony (voice) as required by SOLAS (Regulation IV/10.1 and 14.1). It is part of the IEC 61097 series and incorporates relevant IMO performance and priority-access (voice pre-emption) requirements.

Key facts:

• Applies to Inmarsat FB500 SES for GMDSS voice communications.
• Includes minimum operational/performance requirements, testing methods and required results.
• Reflects IMO Resolutions MSC.130(75), A.1001(25) and A.694(17).
• Type-approval responsibility for Inmarsat FB500 is vested with Inmarsat (see standard and Annex C).

Key topics and technical requirements

• Distress and safety operation: Procedures and capability to initiate/receive distress alerts and distress-priority calls, including dedicated local and remote distress buttons.
• Voice pre-emption (priority access): Requirements for pre-empting lower-priority calls to enable distress communications in line with IMO A.1001(25).
• Operational and performance tests: Defined methods of testing (test arrangements, measurement uncertainties, standard tests) and mandatory test results to demonstrate compliance.
• Power supply and survivability: Tests for behaviour during power interruptions and required operational resilience.
• Interfaces and interoperability: Requirements for digital and analogue interfaces consistent with IEC 61162 series and shipboard integration.
• Prevention of identity alteration: Measures to ensure SES identity cannot be altered in service.
• Installation and reception of MSI: Annex A covers installation considerations; Annex B discusses reception of maritime safety information (MSI); Annex C lists Inmarsat type-approval tests.

Practical applications and who uses this standard

IEC 61097-15:2012 is essential for stakeholders involved in maritime safety communications:

• Equipment manufacturers - design and type-approval testing of Inmarsat FB500 units.
• Test laboratories and certification bodies - perform compliance testing against specified methods and required test results.
• Shipbuilders and integrators - ensure correct installation and interface compliance on vessels.
• Flag administrations, classification societies and maritime regulators - evaluate conformity to SOLAS/GMDSS carriage requirements.
• Ship operators and fleet managers - verify equipment meets distress, safety and priority-access functionality.

This standard ensures that Inmarsat FB500 ship earth stations meet international performance, safety and testing expectations for GMDSS voice communications.

Related standards and references

• IMO Resolutions MSC.130(75), A.1001(25), A.694(17)
• IEC 60945 (maritime general requirements)
• IEC 61162 series (digital interfaces)
• ISO/IEC 17025 (testing laboratory competence)
• Inmarsat BGAN System Definition Manual

Keywords: IEC 61097-15:2012, GMDSS, Inmarsat FB500, ship earth station, SOLAS, voice pre-emption, distress communications, methods of testing and required test results.