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Coast Radio Stations
GMDSS has terrestrial radio stations, along the coast of all of the countries that shipping lanes are nearby. Used mostly for transferring and monitoring distress information by voice or text communication.

History of Coast Radio Stations
It was Guglielmo Marconi who invented and patented the Marine Radio in 1896. Because of this cutting-edge technology, ships would now be able to communicate using Morse code. Then on December 23, 1900, a Canadian named Reginald Fessenden discovered that it was possible to broadcast a voice transmission over a radio wave. (recording of the first voice broadcast) This breakthrough enabled ship to ship and ship to shore voice communication. Because of the high demand and need for the ability to communicate without landlines, Costal Stations were built in the early 1900’s. The Marconi Wireless Corporation (Wiki Link) began building coast stations around the world. These coast stations were used to relay a variety of messages via radio and land-line across the world. During war time, many of these coast stations were used specifically for military communication. Throughout the year, many of these shore stations would be acquired by large corporations. Coast stations quickly began to evolve and their need was more than evident. Companies were able to communicate with vessels, and passengers were able to conduct business and call ashore. Ships were able to communicate weather, navigation, and traffic information, but most important was the ability to communicate a situation of distress.

Function and Operation
Initially Coast Radio Stations used radio telegraphy to sent and transmit Morse code signals from and to vessels underway, as well as Long-range ship-to-ship communications. Ships could dial into the designated radio frequency for a certain Coast Radio Station or a designated common radio communication frequency on a vessel to communicate with a certain shore station or a vessel. Later with the advent of satellite communications, as well as the ability to automate the systems reduced the need for Coast Radio Stations around the world. Coast Radio Stations are generally characterized by type of stations based on their services. The following are some examples of Coast Radio Stations and their function:

Public coast stations VHF public coast stations were established to serve port and coastal areas using 156-162 MHz band frequencies that are allocated internationally for maritime service, and generally provide short-range communications for vessels not more than 30 nautical miles from shore. High seas public coast stations may use low frequency (.100-.160 MHz), medium frequency (.405-.525 and 2 MHz), and high frequency (HF) (4, 6, 8, 12, 16, 18/19, 22, and 25/26 MHz) band frequencies to serve vessels on the high seas, often hundreds or even thousands of miles from land.

Automated Maritime Telecommunications System (AMTS) stations The AMTS service was established in 1981 as an alternative to traditional VHF public coast service, primarily to meet the specialized needs of tugs, barges, and other commercial vessels on inland waterways. AMTS stations, which use 217/219 MHz frequencies, were intended primarily to provide public correspondence service to such vessels, but in an integrated manner not readily available from individual VHF public coast stations.

Private coast stations They not common carriers -- they cannot charge for communications services. Instead, they provide information to associated vessels. Only those entities that provide some sort of service to vessels or control a bridge or waterway may become a private coast station licensee. Some common uses of private coast stations include: marinas, radio repair shops, bridges, locks, and yacht clubs.

Marine utility stations They are hand-held radios operating at ten watts or less. Marine utility stations provide similar types of services to vessels as are provided by private coast stations. The station operates under the rules applicable to ship stations when the unit is aboard a vessel, and under the rules applicable to private coast stations when the unit is on land.

Alaska public fixed stations They provide communications for safety and public correspondence like public coast stations, but they serve Alaskan communities exclusively. Also provide point-to-point and coast-to-ship communications in Alaska. They are not common carriers and may not charge for service.

Radar stations On land are used mostly to locate and track vessels in coastal and inland waters. Some radars also serve as navigational fixes for vessels in their range.

Radiobeacons/RACONS They emit a constant radio signal from fixed locations on land, like lighthouses, or from buoys in the water, for navigational reference.

Communications and Identifying
Station identification must be included on every transmission. The ship and shore station are referred to by name. The actual on-shore station is named after geographical location of the antenna followed by "radio". USCG Coast stations are named after the area in which they control. Eventually the GMDSS introduced Maritime Mobile Service Identity(MMSI). This type of identification allowed to show country code as well as what type of vessel/station the transmission was being sent by. Different frequencies allow for different stations to receive and transmit from ship-to-shore. . With DSC calling, distress signaling has become more detailed with exact problem and single stations being transmitted to.



Problems
In the United States, Radio Coast Stations have become a thing of the past. Land Earth Stations and Rescue 21 are the becoming the new normal for communicating for all ship-to-shore communications. Some private companies have still found a use for communicating through Coast Stations. Throughout the rest of world though, Radio Coast Stations are still constantly being used to communicate with offshore ships.