Your examiner asks: "Describe the distress signals available under SOLAS and Annex IV of COLREGs, and what are the parachute rocket flare specifications?" Give a complete answer.

A. Parachute flares are red and burn for 10 seconds at 100 metres altitude. They are used for close-range signalling only.

B. The only SOLAS-approved distress signal is the EPIRB. Pyrotechnics are an optional supplement.

C. COLREGs Annex IV lists over 15 recognised distress signals including: orange smoke; parachute rocket flares; hand-held flares; SOS by light or sound; MAYDAY on radiotelephony; DSC on Ch 70; raising and lowering outstretched arms. Parachute rocket flare specification (LSA Code 3.1): burns red at minimum 30,000 candela for minimum 40 seconds; reaches minimum 300 metres height; descends by parachute at maximum 5 m/s. Hand-held red flare: burns red at 15,000 candela minimum for 60 seconds minimum. Orange smoke: produces orange-coloured smoke visible for minimum 3 minutes.

D. SOLAS requires three hand-held flares only. Parachute rockets are a voluntary addition and are not required under the LSA Code.

A. SOLAS III Reg 37: the muster list must show: each crew member's emergency station; duties assigned (firefighting, survival craft, medical); lifeboat or liferaft assigned; signals for mustering; instructions for passengers. Posted in conspicuous locations including the bridge, engine room, and crew accommodation. The muster list must be updated after any change in crew and before departure. Each crew member must be instructed in emergency duties before departure on first voyage.

B. The muster list only needs to show which lifeboat each crew member is assigned to. Detailed emergency duties are contained in the SMS and need not be on the muster list.

C. The muster list is a passenger-facing document and need not include engineering crew. It must be posted only in passenger accommodation areas.

D. Muster lists are produced by the company and sent to the vessel at the start of each voyage. The master has no responsibility for ensuring they are updated.

A. EPIRBs transmit directly to the nearest MRCC by satellite phone. Response time is typically 5-10 minutes from activation.

B. EPIRBs transmit on VHF Channel 16 and DSC Channel 70. They activate automatically when the vessel heels beyond 30 degrees.

C. There is only one type of EPIRB. It transmits on 406 MHz only and must be manually activated by the master. Automatic activation is not approved under SOLAS.

D. Category I EPIRB: float-free, auto-activating when submerged to 1-4m depth; also manual activation. Category II EPIRB: manual activation only (bracket-mounted). Both transmit on 406 MHz (digital distress alert with MMSI/vessel identity to Cospas-Sarsat) and 121.5 MHz (homing). On activation: the 406 MHz signal is received by Cospas-Sarsat satellites, decoded, and passed to an LEUT (Local User Terminal), then to an MCC (Mission Control Centre), then to an RCC (Rescue Coordination Centre) which initiates SAR. Position accuracy: Doppler shift gives approx 5km; if GNSS-linked EPIRB, position accuracy is within 100m.