Question 1

You need to send a distress alert because the vessel is taking on water faster than the pumps can cope. Which message format and channel/priority is correct?

Accepted Answer

A "Mayday" distress call on Channel 16 / DSC distress alert, giving position, nature of distress and assistance required Grave and imminent danger requiring immediate assistance (e.g. uncontrolled flooding) requires a Mayday distress call / DSC distress alert — Pan-Pan is for urgency without immediate danger to life, and Securité is for navigational safety information.

Question 2

True or False: An EPIRB should be registered with the relevant national authority, and the registration details kept up to date so that a false alarm can be quickly resolved or a real activation correctly attributed.

Accepted Answer

True True. EPIRB registration links the unique beacon ID to vessel and contact details, allowing SAR authorities to quickly verify activations (genuine or false) and contact the vessel/owner — unregistered or out-of-date beacons slow down the SAR response and waste resources.

Question 3

Your vessel's DSC (Digital Selective Calling) VHF set transmits a distress alert accidentally during testing. What must be done immediately?

Accepted Answer

Immediately cancel/notify the false alert by sending a DSC "all ships" distress cancellation and/or contacting the relevant coastguard/rescue coordination centre by voice on a working channel to confirm there is no actual emergency, to prevent an unnecessary SAR response False distress alerts can trigger a real SAR response and divert resources. Procedures require prompt cancellation and direct voice contact with the coordinating authority to confirm the alert was false — silence or switching off the set makes the situation worse.

GMDSS Practice Questions