An EPIRB is activated in a real emergency but was never registered with Ofcom/MCA. What is the practical consequence?

A. The 406 MHz signal is received by COSPAS-SARSAT but the MMSI/Hex ID returns no vessel information — Coastguard must spend time trying to identify the vessel before launching a full response, significantly delaying rescue

B. An unregistered EPIRB will not transmit — registration activates the beacon

C. The Coastguard treats all unregistered EPIRBs as test signals and does not respond

D. There is no practical difference — position is transmitted regardless of registration

A. To operate the radar system remotely

B. To broadcast weather forecasts to other vessels

C. To make telephone calls from the vessel to shore

D. To send a digitally coded distress alert containing the vessel's MMSI and position automatically to all DSC-equipped stations and the Coastguard

A. Maritime Mobile Service Identity — a unique 9-digit number identifying the vessel; without it a DSC distress alert cannot identify the vessel to rescuers

B. A GPS waypoint identifier used in coastal navigation

C. A VHF channel number allocated by Ofcom for distress use only

D. A vessel survey certificate number required by the MCA