| AMVER | Atlantic Merchant Vessel Emergency Reporting |
| COMSAR | Sub-Committee on Radio communications and Search and Rescue |
| COSPAS-SARSAT | international satellite-based search and rescue system, established by Canada, France, the USA, and Russia. |
| EPIRB | Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon |
| GMDSS | Global Maritime Distress & Safety System |
| IMO |
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations which is responsible for measures to improve the safety of international shipping and to prevent marine pollution from ships. It currently has 163 Member States. IMO was established to adopt legislation. Governments are responsible for implementing it. |
| ISPS | International Ship & Port Facility Security Code. The International Maritime Organization s ISPS Code has introduced new maritime regulations to protect ports and international shipping against terrorism, by improving early detection and monitoring of potential threats. All ships over 500 gross tones are required to be equipped with a Ship Security Alert System (SSAS), which is capable of discreetly raising the alarm to the relevant authorities and tracking the vessel if the security of the vessel is compromised. Compliance with this code will become mandatory in July 2004. |
| MSR |
Maritime Search and Rescue |
| NAVTEX | international, automated system for instantly distributing maritime navigational warnings, weather forecasts and warnings, search and rescue notices and similar information to ships. |
| SARTs |
Search and Rescue Radar Transponders |
| SSAS | Ship Security Alert System |
