Distress, Urgency and Safety Flashcards
One of the guidelines when choosing an High Frequency (HF) band for a specific range, is?
During daytime conditions when the ionosphere is very dense a higher frequency band is used for a specific communication.
The equipment that transmits on 406 MHz is?
International requirements specify
406 MHz for COSPAS-SARSAT EPIRBs.
A VHF DSC Distress Alert, unless acknowledged or reset, will automatically repeat after
A VHF DSC Distress Alert, unless acknowledged or reset,
will automatically repeat after
3.5 to 4.5 minutes.
The main purpose of transmissions on 518 kHz is for
NAVTEX English-language reception
In Marine VHF radio operation, ‘capture effect’ causes VHF receivers to?
‘lock-on’ to the strongest signal, rejecting all others
The preferred frequency/channel to cancel a false DSC Distress Alert sent on 12577 kHz is?
12 MHz RT (voice) Distress frequency (12290 kHz).
A full specific gravity check of a liquid lead acid battery should be carried out ?
Monthly
The propagation path used by HF signals, from the SSB radio, to achieve long-range communications, is
Sky wave
The function of a Search and Rescue Transponder is to?
You answered: indicate the position of a Distress incident/survivors on X-band/3cm/9GHz radar
The propagation path used by Inmarsat equipment is?
The Inmarsat system utilizes the space wave for communication. This is a direct signal that passes through the atmosphere to the satellite.
A SART may be triggered when receiving a signal from?
3cm/X-band radar
The propagation path for signals from a VHF radio, under normal atmospheric conditions, would be?
direct wave (line of sight)
The preferred frequency/channel to cancel a false DSC Distress Alert sent on Ch.70 is?
VHF Ch16
The print out of a Navtex self test shows a signal test pass but a noise test fail. Immediate action should be taken to?
Read and follow the manufacturers manual
The manufacturers operating manual generally gives a list of fault conditions and how to remedy them.
Vessels trading in area A3 fitted with MF/HF DSC must keep continuous watch on?
MUST keep continuous watch on - VHF Ch.70, 2187.5 kHz, 8414.5 kHz plus one other HF distress frequency.
If a MF/HF transceiver indicates a fault condition, you should?
Read and follow the manufacturers operating guide.
The manufacturers operating manual generally gives a list of fault conditions and how to remedy them.
The propagation path taken by a radio signal on VHF Ch.16 is?
Direct wave ( line of sight )
When you are very close to a distress position, the SART signals on the radar would
change from arcs to circles
When choosing an HF band for a specific range, one of the guidelines is
To use a higher frequency band by day ; and a lower by night
EPIRBs should not be transferred from one vessel to another unless the?
EPIRB’s registration details are changed
MF/HF DSC equipment should be tested?
All DSC equipment should be tested DAILY, by using internal test.
Sky-wave propagation is an important feature of 24-hour communication on what frequency ?
8414.5 kHz
MMSIs starting with 00 indicate ?
Coast guard stations
What is a LUT?
Local user terminal
RT test signals for transmitter adjustment should normally last?
Test signals for transmitter adjustment should normally be limited to
TEN SECONDS
The main purpose of transmissions on 2174.5 kHz is for?
is for MF telex Distress, Urgency and Safety messages.
The propagation path for MF NAVTEX signals during daylight is?
Ground wave
When approaching the location of a SART, IMO guidance for setting X-Band radar anti-clutter controls suggests?
IMO guidance is to set anti-clutter rain control as NORMAL to break up areas of rain; and anti-clutter sea control to MINIMUM - but users should beware of losing other targets
How often should you test - SART, EPIRB and handheld VHF sets
A MONTHLY check of SART, EPIRB and handheld VHF sets are requirements as per international regulations. This ensures equipment will be operational for use during an emergency.
The preferred frequency to transmit a distress message using telex on MF is?
2174.5 KHz
Define “seelonce mayday”?
is a demand that the channel only be used by the vessel/s and authorities involved with the distress.
“Seelonce mayday” has been called over the radio if your not involved with the distress what are your listening for to be said to resume normal communications?
Seelonce Feenee
Your vessel is in Sea Area A1 and is in grave and imminent danger and requires immediate assistance, you should initially transmit a?
Your vessel is in distress in Sea Area A1 thus you must initially transmit a
DSC Distress Alert on Ch.70.
This would be followed by an RT distress call and message on Ch.16.
MMSIs starting with 99 indicate ?
Fixed ATN’s
A VHF DSC Distress Alert Relay should be sent on?
By international agreement Ch.70 is the DSC VHF distress-alerting channel, this would include distress alert relay transmissions.
MMSIs starting with 970 indicate ?
Numerical ID’s for AIS-SART’s
Ground-wave propagation is an important feature of communications on
2182 kHz.
The propagation path used by satellite EPIRB equipment is?
At the frequencies used by EPIRBs e.g. 406 MHz the main propagation path is by the direct wave or line of sight.
EPIRBs should be tested without using the satellite system at intervals not to exceed once a?
A MONTHLY check of an EPIRB is a requirement as per international regulations. More frequent testing may reduce battery life that needs to be preserved for use in emergencies.
DSC equipment operating on VHF Ch.70 should be tested?
Daily by means of an internal test
Your vessel has sighted a hazard to shipping in GMDSS Sea Area A1. Your initial announcement to other vessels should be a Ch70 DSC?
Safety Call addressed to All Stations
Line-of-sight propagation would mainly involve?
AIS-SARTs, EPIRBs and the Inmarsat system all utilize the VHF or UHF bands.
These bands use ‘direct’ or ‘space’ wave (line of sight) communication.
The correct format for an RT URGENCY Call to ‘Clyde Coastguard’ is?
PAN PAN (x3)
Clyde Coastguard (x3)
This is Nonsuch (x3)
Call sign, MMSI
An EPIRB signal indicates?
The EPIRB signal indicates that one or more persons may be in distress; they MAY no longer be onboard their vessel; and that primary distress alerting systems may have failed.
You are in GMDSS Sea Area A2 and have received a MF DSC Distress Alert you should
Wait a short period,
then acknowledge by RT on 2182 kHz. Note.
An MRCC would acknowledge the distress ship by DSC to stop repetitions of the original alert. Ships do NOT normally acknowledge by DSC when in range of a DSC coast station operating on the same frequency.
The preferred frequency/channel for two-way voice communication with survival craft during SAR operations is?
The preferred frequency/channel for two-way communication with survival craft during SAR operations is VHF Ch.16.
COSPAS-SARSAT EPIRB coverage is?
GMDSS sea areas Al, A2, A3 and A4 (global)
Communications through the Inmarsat system are by
The space wave for communication. This is a direct signal that passes through the atmosphere to the satellites
The battery voltage of the GMDSS radio installation should be checked?
A DAILY voltage test is a requirement as per international regulations. The results of the daily onload/offload voltage test must be entered into GMDSS logbook.
After receiving a VHF DSC Distress Alert Relay from an MRCC, you should?
After receiving a VHF DSC Distress Alert Relay from an MRCC you should listen for a
MAYDAY RELAY message on Ch.16
A meteorological warning should be preceded by the RT signal?
“ SECURITE SECURITE SECURITE”
The designated frequency/channel for Bridge-to-Bridge RT Safety of Navigation exchanges is?
VHF Ch13
When making RT test signals for transmitter adjustment, the call should include?
All RT test signals for transmitter adjustment must include the IDENTIFICATION OF THE STATION making the test as per international regulations.
The communications most affected by antenna height are
Transmission range at VHF depends on line of sight, therefore the higher the antenna is mounted the greater the range of the transmission.
Your vessel is in GMDSS Sea Area A1 and you have sighted an unlit buoy. To warn other ships, you should transmit a VHF DSC?
After contacting vessels in an A1 area by initially transmitting a Safety announcement on
Ch.70 DSC, you would then transmit a RT Safety call and message addressed to All Stations on Ch.16 warning them of the danger.
COSPAS-SARSAT EPIRBs use polar orbiting satellites and?
COSPAS-SARSAT EPIRBs use polar orbiting satellites
and the data is downloaded to a Local User Terminal (LUT) and then passed to an MRCC.
MMSIs starting with 111 indicate ?
SAR aircrafts
The main path of propagation for 24-hour communication on an 8 MHz radio frequency is?
8 MHz is a radio frequency in the HF band.
The main path of 24-hour propagation for this band is the SKY WAVE
MF DSC equipment should be tested?
As required by international regulations, MF DSC equipment should be tested WEEKLY by contacting a coast station.
An on-load test of the radio batteries can be done by operating the transmitter on full power and with the battery charger?
The test should be conducted with the battery charger switched OFF.
Results of test are entered into GMDSS logbook.
An on-load test gives an indication that the radio battery is in good condition and has sufficient capacity to power the installation in an emergency.
Difference between MF/HF DSC and VHF?
MF/HF will need you to provide a radius around the centre of the vessel in distress/urgency/
VHF doesn’t need this information
The main propagation path for 24-hour communications on an MF radio frequency is?
Ground wave
When approaching the location of a SART, IMO guidance for using X-band radar suggests that range is set to?
The 6-12nm range helps distinguish the line of SART response dots from other targets
The main purpose of RT (voice) transmissions on 2182 kHz is for?
is for communications concerning Distress, Urgency and Safety.
What is a MRCC
Marine rescue coordination center
The main purpose of transmissions on 406 MHz is for
The main purpose of transmissions on 406 MHz is for EPIRB satellite position fixing.
You are in Sea Area A1 and require medical assistance from Aberdeen Coastguard. You should initially transmit a VHF DSC?
Urgency Call addressed to Aberdeen Coastguard’s MMSI
The correct format for an RT SAFETY call is?
SECURITE (x3)
All Stations (x3)
this is Nonsuch (x3)
Call sign MMSI
IMO recommends that, when deploying a Search and Rescue Transponder (SART), it should be?
Placed upright as high as possible above sea level
