IMO-Certified GMDSS Survival Craft Radio for Emergency Marine Operations
The Icom GM1600 is an IMO-certified GMDSS portable survival craft VHF radio engineered to meet the strictest international maritime safety requirements. Compliant with IMO resolutions A.694(17) and MSC149(77), the GM1600 is designed specifically for emergency lifeboats and survival craft, providing reliable 2-way VHF communication when it matters most. With exceptional cold-weather performance (8+ hours operation at -20°C), highly visible safety yellow construction, rugged environmental resistance, and the BP-234 primary lithium battery for long-term storage readiness, the GM1600 is the professional choice for commercial vessels, passenger ships, offshore platforms, and any SOLAS-compliant maritime operation. USCG approved and FCC certified. Free shipping included.
Key Features
- IMO-Certified GMDSS Survival Craft Radio: Fully compliant with IMO resolutions A.694(17) and MSC149(77) for GMDSS portable survival craft radios. Meets all international maritime safety requirements for emergency communication equipment on lifeboats and life rafts. Essential for SOLAS-compliant vessels including passenger ships, cargo vessels, fishing boats, and offshore platforms.
- Extreme Environmental Durability: Rigorously tested to survive the harshest survival craft conditions including temperature extremes, thermal shock, severe vibration, and drop resistance from 1 meter height. After passing all environmental tests, the GM1600 retains full 1 meter depth waterproof construction. Built to function reliably in emergency situations where standard marine radios would fail.
- BP-234 Primary Lithium Battery: High-capacity 9.0V 3300mAh primary lithium battery provides superior low-temperature performance. Delivers more than 8 hours of operating time even at -20°C (-4°F) under duty cycle Tx:Rx:Standby = 6:6:48. Designed for long-term storage readiness in survival craft with minimal self-discharge, ensuring the radio is ready when emergency strikes.
- 2W RF Output Power: Transmits at 2 watts high power or 1 watt low power on emergency marine VHF frequencies (156.300–156.875 MHz). Provides reliable emergency communication range for survival craft to communicate with rescue vessels, coast guard, and nearby ships during emergency situations.
- Highly Visible Safety Yellow Construction: Bright yellow housing ensures maximum visibility in emergency situations, making the radio easy to locate in survival craft, life rafts, or if dropped in water. The high-visibility color is a critical safety feature for emergency equipment that may need to be found quickly in low-light or chaotic conditions.
- Large Keypad with Positive Button Action: Oversized buttons with positive tactile feedback allow reliable operation even while wearing gloves, in rough seas, or during high-stress emergency situations. Large 16 button for instant Channel 16 emergency access. CALL button for quick call channel selection. Design optimized for emergency use by crew members under stress.
- Wide Viewing Angle LCD Display: High-contrast LCD with wide viewing angle remains readable in bright sunlight, darkness, and from multiple viewing angles. Large digits clearly show channel number, battery status, and radio settings. Bright LED indicator on top panel provides additional visual status confirmation.
- One-Touch Emergency Channel Access: Dedicated 16 button provides instant access to Channel 16 (156.800 MHz) - the international emergency and hailing channel. Separate CALL button for quick access to designated call channel. Critical for emergency situations requiring immediate distress calling or response to rescue coordination.
Technical Specifications
- Frequency Coverage: Tx/Rx 156.300–156.875 MHz (GMDSS survival craft frequencies)
- Channels: USA version or GEN (General/International) version available
- Power Output: 2W (High), 1W (Low) selectable
- Type of Emission: 16K0G3E (FM)
- Waterproof Rating: 1 meter depth (tested and certified after environmental testing)
- Battery Life: More than 8 hours at -20°C with BP-234 (Tx:Rx:Standby = 6:6:48 duty cycle)
- Current Drain: 1.0A (transmit at 2W), 0.7A (transmit at 1W), 200mA (receive max audio)
- Sensitivity: USA: 0.25 µV typical (at 12dB SINAD) | GEN: -2dBµ typical emf (at 20dB SINAD)
- Dimensions: 65 x 145 x 44 mm (2.6 x 5.7 x 1.7 inches) without projections
- Weight: 385g (13.6 oz) with BP-234 battery
- Operating Temperature: USA: -20°C to +60°C (-4°F to +140°F) | GEN: -20°C to +55°C (-4°F to +131°F)
- Power Supply: 7.5V DC nominal (BP-234 primary lithium battery)
- Antenna Impedance: 50Ω (SMA fixed-type connector)
- Drop Resistance: 1 meter drop tested per IMO requirements
- Certifications: IMO A.694(17), IMO MSC149(77), FCC Part 80, USCG approved, SOLAS compliant
IMO Compliance & GMDSS Certification
The GM1600 is specifically engineered and certified to meet IMO resolutions A.694(17) and MSC149(77) which establish the performance standards for survival craft portable two-way VHF radiotelephone apparatus. These stringent international standards require the radio to survive extreme environmental testing including temperature cycling, thermal shock, vibration, drop testing from 1 meter, humidity exposure, and salt spray - and then still maintain full waterproof integrity and operational functionality. The GM1600 passes all these tests and retains 1 meter waterproof construction afterward, ensuring it will function reliably when deployed in actual emergency situations. This certification is mandatory for SOLAS-compliant vessels and essential for commercial maritime safety operations.
BP-234 Primary Lithium Battery for Long-Term Readiness
The included BP-234 is a 9.0V 3300mAh primary (non-rechargeable) lithium battery specifically designed for GMDSS survival craft radios. Unlike rechargeable batteries that lose charge during storage, the BP-234 maintains its capacity for years of storage in survival craft, ensuring the radio is ready for immediate use in emergencies. The lithium chemistry provides exceptional performance at extreme low temperatures - delivering more than 8 hours of operation even at -20°C (-4°F), which is critical for cold-water survival situations in Arctic, North Atlantic, or winter conditions. The duty cycle testing (6% transmit, 6% receive, 88% standby) reflects realistic emergency usage patterns where the radio is primarily listening for rescue coordination but must transmit distress calls and position reports when needed.
Extreme Environmental Durability Testing
Before the GM1600 can be certified for survival craft use, it must pass rigorous environmental testing that simulates the worst conditions a survival craft radio might encounter. This includes temperature extremes from -20°C to +55/60°C, rapid thermal shock cycling, severe vibration simulating rough seas, repeated drops from 1 meter height onto hard surfaces, prolonged humidity exposure, and corrosive salt spray testing. Only after passing all these destructive tests does Icom verify that the radio still maintains 1 meter waterproof integrity and full operational functionality. This level of testing far exceeds standard marine radio requirements and ensures the GM1600 will work when lives depend on it.
High-Visibility Safety Design
The GM1600's bright yellow housing is not just cosmetic - it's a critical safety feature mandated for survival craft equipment. In emergency situations, especially at night, in rough seas, or in survival craft with limited lighting, the high-visibility yellow color makes the radio easy to locate quickly. If the radio is dropped in the survival craft or falls overboard and floats nearby, the yellow color aids in rapid retrieval. The bright LED indicator on the top panel provides additional visual confirmation of radio status, visible even from above when the radio is lying flat. These visibility features can make the difference between successful communication and missed rescue opportunities.
Emergency-Optimized Controls
The GM1600's interface is specifically designed for emergency use by crew members who may be under extreme stress, suffering from cold exposure, seasickness, or operating in rough seas. The large keypad with oversized buttons provides positive tactile feedback that works even with gloved hands or numb fingers. The dedicated 16 button provides instant one-touch access to Channel 16 (156.800 MHz) - the international distress, urgency, and safety frequency monitored by coast guards and rescue coordination centers worldwide. The separate CALL button allows quick access to the designated inter-ship channel for coordinating with rescue vessels. This simplified, purpose-built interface eliminates confusion during emergencies when every second counts.
Operational Features
- Dedicated Channel 16 Button: Instant one-touch access to international emergency frequency
- CALL Button: Quick access to designated call channel for inter-ship communication
- Hi/Lo Power Selection: 2W high power for maximum range, 1W low power for battery conservation
- Large LCD Display: High-contrast display with wide viewing angle readable in all conditions
- Top-Panel LED Indicator: Bright LED provides visual status confirmation
- Positive-Action Keypad: Oversized buttons work with gloves in emergency conditions
- Simplified Interface: Emergency-optimized controls reduce confusion under stress
- Battery Status Display: Clear indication of remaining battery capacity
- Channel Up/Down Buttons: Large arrow buttons for easy channel selection
- Compact Survival Craft Design: Fits easily in survival craft radio storage brackets
SOLAS Compliance & Commercial Maritime Requirements
The International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) requires that certain vessels carry approved survival craft radios meeting IMO specifications. The GM1600's certification under IMO A.694(17) and MSC149(77) makes it suitable for SOLAS-compliant installations on passenger ships, cargo vessels over 300 gross tons, fishing vessels, offshore supply vessels, research vessels, and offshore platforms. Maritime safety regulations and classification societies require that survival craft radios be inspected, tested, and maintained according to specific schedules. The GM1600's robust construction and proven reliability make it the professional choice for meeting these regulatory requirements.
What's Included (Basic Survival Craft Package)
- Icom GM1600 GMDSS Survival Craft VHF Radio (Yellow)
- BP-234 Primary Lithium Battery Pack (9.0V, 3300mAh) for survival craft use
- BC-173 Desktop Charger (for optional BP-252 rechargeable battery - not included)
- BC-147SA/SE AC Adapter (varies by version)
- MB-103Y Yellow Alligator-Style Belt Clip
- FA-S61V Antenna
- Neck Strap
- Owner's Manual with IMO Compliance Documentation
- Free Shipping
Ideal For
The Icom GM1600 basic survival craft package is specifically designed for commercial vessels, passenger ships, cargo ships, fishing vessels, offshore platforms, research vessels, tugboats, offshore supply vessels, and any SOLAS-compliant maritime operation requiring IMO-certified survival craft communication equipment. Perfect for lifeboats, life rafts, and survival craft where the radio will be stored long-term with the BP-234 primary battery and must be ready for immediate emergency use. Essential for maritime safety managers, ship operators, offshore facility managers, and vessel owners who must meet GMDSS and SOLAS regulatory requirements for survival craft radios.
Optional Accessories for Extended Capability
While this package includes the essential BP-234 primary battery for survival craft compliance, optional accessories are available for on-board use. The BP-252 rechargeable Li-ion battery (7.2V 1000-1050mAh) can be used for regular on-board communication and safety drills, reserving the BP-234 for actual emergency survival craft deployment. Additional belt clips (MB-86 swivel type), leather belt hangers (MB-96F fixed, MB-96N swivel), and VOX headset (for on-board training use) are available separately. The included BC-173 charger can charge the optional BP-252 battery in approximately 10 hours.
About Icom
Icom Incorporated has been a global leader in marine communication since 1954. With over 70 years of innovation in radio technology, Icom is renowned for engineering excellence, rugged reliability, and certified safety equipment. Trusted by commercial maritime operators, passenger ship lines, coast guards, offshore energy companies, and maritime safety organizations worldwide, Icom radios are built to perform in the most demanding and life-threatening conditions. The GM1600's IMO certification represents Icom's commitment to meeting the highest international standards for maritime safety equipment.
