Question 1

Under COLREGS/GMDSS procedures, a vessel receiving a distress signal by any means (visual, sound, or radio) that is also experiencing an equipment failure preventing normal communication has no obligation to assist if it cannot immediately confirm the distress via DSC.

Accepted Answer

False False. The obligation to render assistance to a vessel or person in distress (SOLAS Ch V, and reinforced by GMDSS distress-signal recognition procedures including Rule 37/Annex IV signals) does not depend on the receiving vessel's own equipment status — any means of confirming or responding to a genuine distress situation should be used, and equipment failure affecting one communication method does not remove the duty to assist by whatever means remain available.

Question 2

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 3

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SAR authorities to quickly verify activations (genuine or false) and contact the vessel/owner — unregistered or out-of-date beacons slow down the SAR response and waste resources.