Question 1

An examiner asks what "EGC" stands for in the context of GMDSS and what it is used for. What is the correct answer?

Accepted Answer

EGC stands for "Enhanced Group Calling" — it is an Inmarsat service (typically received via a SafetyNET or FleetNET receiver) that allows Maritime Safety Information (MSI), such as navigational and meteorological warnings, SAR information, and other urgent safety messages, to be automatically broadcast to all ships, or to ships in a defined geographical area (e.g. a NAVAREA), without requiring the ship to request or tune in specially Enhanced Group Calling (EGC) is part of the Inmarsat satellite system and underpins the SafetyNET service, which is one of the principal means of broadcasting Maritime Safety Information (MSI) under the GMDSS — including navigational warnings, meteorological warnings and forecasts, ice warnings, and SAR-related broadcasts. Ships fit an EGC receiver (often integrated with their Inmarsat-C terminal) which can be programmed to receive broadcasts relevant to the NAVAREA(s) the ship is operating in, ensuring the bridge team automatically receives safety-critical information without having to actively search for it. As Master, you are responsible for ensuring the EGC receiver is correctly configured for the current ocean region/NAVAREA and that received messages are reviewed, logged, and acted upon as part of the ship's GMDSS log book.

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SAR authorities to quickly verify activations (genuine or false) and contact the vessel/owner — unregistered or out-of-date beacons slow down the SAR response and waste resources.