Coast Station
Any radio station onshore. When the Coast Station handles 'Public
Correspondence' (paid) radio traffic, that station may be referred to as a
'Coast Radio Station'Commander Surface Search (CSS)
A term previously used in a SAR operation (see also On Scene Co-
ordinator - OSC)
COMSAR/Circ. 21
An IMO 'Communications - Search And Rescue' circular highlighting
DSC operating procedures, which differ slightly from the strict radio
regulations procedures - and that are designed to minimise interference
to distress traffic, and confusion, caused by 'DSC Acknowledgements'
and 'DSC Distress Relays' being sent when circumstances suggest that
they should not have been sent.
Cospas-Sarsat
An international organisation that provides a satellite EPIRB monitoring
and reporting service.
Direct Wave
'Line of Sight' propagation - used at VHF and above.Distress
When a ship (or other mobile unit) is in 'grave and imminent danger'
and requires 'immediate assistance' - that unit is said to be in Distress
(see Appendix I for more complete explanation).
DMG
Distress Message Generator - a special file in an Inmarsat terminal (A,
B or C) for storing a distress message prior to connection with a RCC.
DSC
Digital Selective Calling - an alerting technique for use with marine
VHF radio, and MF IHF SSB Radio.
EGC
The Inmarsat 'Enhanced Group Call' broadcast service, comprising the
SafetyNET and the FleetNET services.
EPIRB
An 'Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon' - a device for
transmitting a distress alert, so that the distress position can be made
known.
210 THE NAUTICAL INSTITUTE