Which year is associated with the establishment of GMDSS by the IMO?

• A. 1988
• B. 1998
• C. 1980
• D. 1999

Answer: (A)

GMDSS was established by the IMO in 1988, when the International Maritime Organization adopted the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System as part of SOLAS to standardize and enhance distress and safety communications worldwide. This decision set up the unified framework of radio, satellite, and digital safety links that ships use for distress alerts and safety messages. While equipment and operational requirements were rolled out later, with full mandatory implementation tied to a later date (often cited around 1999), the key act of establishment happened in 1988. The other years don’t reflect the initial establishment: 1999 relates to when the system became mandatory for ships, 1998 isn’t the establishment year, and 1980 predates the decision.