Question 1

With propulsion gone and the shore closing fast, you need to raise the alarm. What's the fastest way to get the coastguard responding with your position?

Accepted Answer

Press the DSC distress button on VHF channel 16 — it sends your vessel identity and GPS position to the coastguard and all DSC-equipped vessels in one action Sandy's real distress calls were made on VHF channel 12 — a local working channel, not monitored by the coastguard. The coastguard wasn't alerted until a member of the public called 7 minutes after grounding. DSC on channel 16 would have reached the coastguard immediately, with GPS position attached.

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SAR authorities to quickly verify activations (genuine or false) and contact the vessel/owner — unregistered or out-of-date beacons slow down the SAR response and waste resources.