# Is GMDSS outdated?
**URL:** https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/is-gmdss-outdated/60259
**Category:** Professional Mariner Forum
**Created:** [August 6, 2021, 1:00pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/is-gmdss-outdated/60259 "2021-08-06T13:00:36Z")
**Posts on this page:** 8
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@ombugge](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/ombugge)
#### Post date: [August 6, 2021, 1:00pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/is-gmdss-outdated/60259/1 "2021-08-06T13:00:36Z")
> **[Maritime safety alert report published - Splash247](https://splash247.com/maritime-safety-alert-report-published/)**
>
> Inmarsat has published a new report, The Future of Maritime Safety, which contains a detailed analysis of Global Maritime Distress and Safety Services (GMDSS) alerts from vessels, suggesting that reactive red button GMDSS safety services are already...
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### Author:  [@tugsailor](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/tugsailor)
#### Post date: [August 6, 2021, 2:16pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/is-gmdss-outdated/60259/2 "2021-08-06T14:16:34Z")
Yes. It’s out dated, a waste of time, and a source of unnecessary aggravation.
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### Author:  [@powerabout](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/powerabout)
#### Post date: [August 6, 2021, 2:34pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/is-gmdss-outdated/60259/3 "2021-08-06T14:34:18Z")
Yes, needs to move to local cell systems on your vessel and you dial 911 on your phone.
Local cell computer adds the vessel data and your good to go.
An industry insider told me this years ago.
Change in the IMO?
The silly old farts cant even use computers so what chance to change?
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### Author:  [@CoastalTrader](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/CoastalTrader)
#### Post date: [August 10, 2021, 1:25pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/is-gmdss-outdated/60259/4 "2021-08-10T13:25:08Z")
I think it was outdated almost from its inception. I’ve always thought the system should have been PC based. Easy and intuitive.
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### Author:  [@yacht\_sailor](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/yacht_sailor)
#### Post date: [August 10, 2021, 1:33pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/is-gmdss-outdated/60259/5 "2021-08-10T13:33:45Z")
VERY outdated. For HF especially there are vastly better protocols assuming we still even need HF-DSC. Meanwhile _every single distress call_ I hear on VHF has the rigamarole of where are you who are you etc. etc. and I have had the DSC distress alert go off exactly one time in about a decade and that was an accidental button push 🙄
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### Author:  [@powerabout](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/powerabout)
#### Post date: [August 11, 2021, 3:26am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/is-gmdss-outdated/60259/6 "2021-08-11T03:26:31Z")
VHF and HF DSC goes off lots in asia, mostly from Vietnam and China
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### Author:  [@cmakin](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/cmakin)
#### Post date: [August 11, 2021, 12:13pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/is-gmdss-outdated/60259/7 "2021-08-11T12:13:06Z")
Well, when you consider how long radiotelegraph stations were on vessels (into the late 90s). . . there is a certain amount of inertia in bringing new technology to the maritime industry. Not surprising with how quickly technology evolves now, and the timeline of getting systems approved by global regulators. . . .
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### Author:  [@Kennebec\_Captain](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Kennebec_Captain)
#### Post date: [August 11, 2021, 12:20pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/is-gmdss-outdated/60259/8 "2021-08-11T12:20:21Z")
The way I read the linked article in the OP it has nothing to do with the equipment on the ship but rather how the data collected is to be used. Perhaps someone is being paid to do some “big data” wizardry or some such.