The Manual for Use by the Maritime Mobile and Maritime Mobile-Satellite Services is published in accordance with Article 20 (No. 20.14) of the Radio Regulations and results from studies carried out in the ITU-R since 2008. Volume 1 provides descriptive text of the organization and operation of the GMDSS and other maritime operational procedures, while Volume 2 contains the extracts of the regulatory texts associated with maritime operations.

2020 edition now available in CD or paper formats. Advanced English-only CDs exceptionally without the ITU hologram. Multi-lingual CDs include the ITU hologram on the back cover of the CD jacket. Each purchased copy should be registered by the end-user with a quick scan of the QR code on the jacket's back cover.

Paper editions in each of the 6 official ITU languages now also available.