Communication Systems

Communication systems carry distress alerts, alarms, radio traffic, telephone calls and data on a drilling unit or offshore vessel, and link it to shore. The Category covers GMDSS radios, marine and on-board radios, satellite terminals, PA and general alarm, intercom and telephone systems, and the network equipment that ties them together, whether used, unused surplus or refurbished.

How the sub-Categories divide

Sub-Category	What it carries	Main rules
Emergency communication (GMDSS)	Distress, search and rescue, safety broadcasts	SOLAS IV, MODU Code chapter 11
VHF and UHF radio systems	Vessel traffic, deck and crane radio	ITU Radio Regulations, IEC 60079 for handhelds
Intercom and PA systems	General alarm, announcements, internal calls	SOLAS III, LSA Code, class rules
Satellite communication (VSAT)	Broadband to shore	Satellite operator approvals, ITU
Data communication	Networks between systems and to shore	IEC 61162, IACS E26 and E27

Safety equipment or operational equipment

Start by asking whether a surveyor will look at the item. GMDSS radios, the general alarm and public address system, internal emergency communication and helideck radio are safety equipment. They need type approval, appear on the unit's safety certificate or record of equipment, and a surveyor tests them. VSAT, crew networks and most handheld radios are operational. Your own capacity and cost targets drive those choices, though anything fitted in a hazardous area still needs Ex certification.

Mobile offshore drilling units follow chapter 11 of the 2009 MODU Code, which IMO resolution MSC.506(105) rewrote from 1 January 2024. It sets the radio equipment each unit carries, and it now also holds the survival craft radio provisions moved there from chapter 10. Self-propelled units also meet SOLAS chapter IV as cargo ships. Flag states and class societies add their own rules on top.

Standards across the group

IEC 60945 sets environmental and EMC tests for shipborne radio and navigation equipment.
The IEC 61097 series sets the GMDSS equipment tests, one part per item.
IEC 60079 governs equipment in hazardous areas, and ATEX or IECEx certificates prove it.
The EU Marine Equipment Directive wheel mark, or class type approval, shows the approval on a used unit.
IACS unified requirements E26 and E27 set cyber resilience rules for ships contracted for construction on or after 1 July 2024.

Integration questions that cut across the group

Identity. Radios with digital selective calling and EPIRBs carry the previous unit's MMSI, and an authorised agent may need to reprogram them.
Licensing. Your flag administration licenses the ship station, and local regulators license radio links in their waters.
Power. Safety communication must run from the emergency source and a reserve battery, so check supply voltage and battery arrangements.
Interfaces. Fire and gas systems trigger the general alarm, radios patch into the PA, and almost everything now rides on the unit's network.

Antenna layout is the other shared constraint. VHF whips, MF/HF aerials, satellite radomes, radar scanners and microwave dishes compete for the same mast and deck space. Each new antenna needs clearance from the others to avoid interference and blocking, and a radiation hazard zone where crews cannot stand. Before you add a used terminal, check where it will sit on your antenna plan.

What matters when sourcing it used

Radios and network gear age through support, not wear. Check these before anything else:

OEM support, spares and firmware for the model.
Type approval for anything a surveyor will test.
Airtime, modem and software licences, which normally stay with the previous owner.
Frequency bands and channel plans for the region where you will work.
Battery expiry on handhelds, EPIRBs and SARTs, which runs out whatever the unit's condition.
Ex marking and certificates for anything going into a classified zone.

Unused surplus from a newbuild or a cancelled upgrade gives current models with no hours. Used equipment suits a like-for-like spare in a system already approved on board, since no new design approval is needed. GMDSS units with a fresh report from an approved service agent take the risk out of the next radio survey. Naventr can put your licence and battery questions to the Seller before you make an offer.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What communication equipment does an offshore drilling unit need?

A drilling unit needs GMDSS radios for its sea area, a general alarm and PA system, internal emergency communication and, with a helideck, aeronautical radio. Chapter 11 of the 2009 MODU Code, SOLAS chapter IV for self-propelled units, the flag state and class set the exact list.

Does satellite airtime transfer with a used terminal?

No, airtime and service contracts belong to the account holder, not the hardware. Set up your own service, and expect some terminals to need the provider to reactivate or reprogram them. Ka-band VSAT terminals may only work on the network they were approved for.

Can used GMDSS equipment pass a radio survey?

Yes, if it is a type-approved model still accepted under the modernised GMDSS rules, reprogrammed with your identity, and fitted with in-date batteries and release units. The surveyor tests it on board, so ask for the last survey and service reports.

Do IACS E26 and E27 apply to used communication equipment?

E26 and E27 apply to ships contracted for construction on or after 1 July 2024, and any equipment in scope on those ships must meet E27. Older units can use them as guidance. Check your class society's rules for your unit type before fitting used network or communication equipment.

What certificates does communication equipment in a hazardous area need?

Equipment in a hazardous area needs an ATEX or IECEx certificate matching the zone, gas group and temperature class. Check the marking on the unit against the certificate and your hazardous-area drawing, and use only approved batteries and accessories.

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