GMDSS

Question 1

What are the GMDSS sea areas?

Answer 1

1. A1 - Approx 25Nm from shore stations (VHF)
2. A2 - Approx 150Nm from shore stations (MF/HF)
3. A3 - Outside shore station VHF/MF support - (INMARSAT MES)
4. A4 - Polar Regions (INMARSAT MES)

Question 2

How do you initiate a mayday?

Answer 2

1. DSC alert on VHF/MF/HF
2. Make a mayday call

MAYDAY x 3
This is….x3
Call Sign x 1
MMSI x 1

3. Make a mayday message

MAYDAY
Call sign/Ship Name/MMSI
Location
Nature of Distress
Assistance Required
POB
Conditions
Over

Question 3

What do you do when receiving a VHF/MF distress alert in sea area A1 or A2?

Answer 3

1. Set listening watch on Ch16/2182
2. Wait 30 seconds for coast station to acknowledge
3. Acknowledge by voice
4. Wait for 5 minutes. If no response, no distress traffic and DSC call is repeating, acknowledge and inform coast station by any means

Question 4

When can you relay a distress message?

Answer 4

1. ONLY when a HF distress alert is received.
2. After listening for distress traffic for 5 minutes
3. Only with the masters authorization
4. Only to coast stations

Question 5

What do you do when receiving a VHF distress alert in sea area A2 or A3?

Answer 5

1. Acknowledge verbally immediately because the coast station will not receive it
2. If no response, no distress traffic and DSC alert continues, acknowledge DSC after 5 minutes
3. inform coast station by any means

Question 6

What do you do when receiving a MF distress alert in sea area A3?

Answer 6

1. Acknowledge immediately verbally as shore station will not receive it
2. If no response, no distress traffic and DSC call continues, wait 5 minutes and acknowledge call. inform coast station by any means.

Question 7

What do you do when you receive a HF DSC alert?

Answer 7

1. Never acknowledge as a coast station will receive it.
2. Listen for distress traffic for 5 minutes.
3. If no distress traffic, relay to coast station by distress alert relay on HF and inform RCC.

Question 8

What are the primary VHF channels?

Answer 8

Ch 6 - Primary intership and SAR
Ch 8 - Secondary Intership
Ch 13 - Ship to Ship / Safety of navigation
Ch 15 and 17 - Onboard communication
Ch 16 - Distress/Urgency/Safety
Ch 70 - DSC

Question 9

Where can i find Navigational Warnings?

Answer 9

1. NAVTEX for coastal warnings
2. EGC - INMARSAT Safety NET and IRIDIUM Safetycast
3. UKHO website
4. Coastal warnings by VHF and MF radio

Question 10

Where can i get updated weather information?

Answer 10

1. Met Office website
2. Local port information
3. NAVTEX
4. EGC
5. VHF and MF radio broadcasts
6. Various weather apps/websites and subscription services