GMDSS

Question 1

Receipt of a Distress Message, VHF in Mid-Atlantic

Answer 1

Receipt of a Distress Message, VHF in Mid-Atlantic
1. Listen to Ch 16 listen for comms. and immediately acknowledge receipt of message establish voice communications.
2. Gather the following information from the craft in distress if possible: a. Position and nature of distressed craft.
b. Distressed craft’s identity, call sign, and name.
c. Number of POBs. 
d. Nature of the distress or casualty. 
e. Type of assistance required.
3. Consider Mayday relay by voice.
4. Proceed to the casualty as best speed.
5. Establish coms with CRS and other vessels proceeding to the distress.
6. Prepare for assisting the casualty.
7. X band radar for SART.
8. Additional look outs with binoculars.
9. Prep rescue boat.
10. Medical station.

Question 2

Receipt of a Distress Message, VHF in Area A1 (Solent)

Answer 2

1. Listen to Ch 16 listen for comms. and defer for a short time to allow coast stations to answer.
2. Acknowledge receipt of message establish voice communications.
3. Gather the following information from the craft in distress if possible: 
a. Position and nature of distressed craft.
b. Distressed craft’s identity, call sign, and name. c. Number of POBs.
d. Nature of the distress or casualty.
e. Type of assistance required.
4. Consider Mayday relay by voice.
5. Proceed to the casualty as best speed.
6. Establish comms. with CRS and other vessels proceeding to the distress.
7. Prepare for assisting the casualty.
8. X band radar for SART.
9. Additional look outs with binoculars.
10. Prep rescue boat.
11. Medical station.

Question 3

Receipt of a Distress Message, MF in Mid Atlantic

Answer 3

1. Tune to Ch 2182 listen for comms. and immediately acknowledge receipt of message establish voice communications.
2. Gather the following information from the craft in distress if possible: a. Position and nature of distressed craft.
b. Distressed craft’s identity, call sign, and name.
c. Number of POBs. 
d. Nature of the distress or casualty. 
e. Type of assistance required.
3. Consider Mayday relay by voice.
4. Proceed to the casualty as best speed.
5. Establish coms with CRS and other vessels proceeding to the distress.
6. Prepare for assisting the casualty.
7. X band radar for SART.
8. Additional look outs with binoculars.
9. Prep rescue boat.
10. Medical station.

Question 4

What is GMDSS

Answer 4

Global Maritime Distress Safety System

Internationally set of safety procedures, types of equipment, communication protocols used to increase safety and make it easier to rescue distressed ships, boats and aircraft.

Question 5

What is NAVTEX

Answer 5


Navtex is an international, automated system distributing maritime safety information (MSI)
navigational warnings,
weather forecasts and warnings,
search and rescue notices and similar information to ships.

Printing radio receiver is installed on the bridge and checks each incoming message to see if it has been received during an earlier transmission, The frequency of transmission of these messages is 518 kHz in English.

Question 6

MAYDAY

Answer 6

MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MADAY
THIS IS ROE ROE ROE CALL SIGN MMSI
MAYDAY

THIS IS ROE CALL SIGN MMSI
MY POSITION IS
NATURE OF DISTRESS
I REQUIRE IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE
PERSONS ON BOARD
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
OVER

Question 7

MAYDAY RELAY

Answer 7

MAYDAY RELAY, MAYDAY RELAY, MADAY RELAY
THIS IS ROE, ROE, ROE, CALL SIGN MMSI

MAYDAY NAME CALL SIGN MMSI

THIS IS ROE CALL SIGN MMSI
MY POSITION IS
NATURE OF DISTRESS
I REQUIRE IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE
PERSONS ON BOARD
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
OVER

Question 8

Explain the difference between a barograph and barometer

Question 9

What’s a Hygrometer and how can you use it to predict fog

Question 10

What’s a precision aneroid barometer

Question 11

What’s a precision aneroid barometer

Question 12

Sea Fog

Answer 12

When warm moist air flows over a relatively cold sea surface which cools it below its dewpoint, sea or advection fog is formed. This is the main type of fog experienced at sea; it may form and persist with moderate or even strong winds. It is often shallow so that mastheads of ships may protrude above it, and at times its base is a few feet above sea level with a clear layer below the fog.
In temperate and high latitudes, sea fog is most common in spring and early summer when sea temperature is at its lowest. It is particularly frequent and prevalent where the prevailing winds transport warm moist air over areas of cold water or over the major cold ocean currents.
Parts of the world in which sea fog is prevalent includes the British Isles, especially the SW approaches to the English Channel in spring and early summer.

Question 13

Lad fog

Answer 13

Over low-lying land on clear nights (conditions for maximum radiation), radiation fog forms, especially during winter months. This fog is thickest during the latter part of the night and early part of the day. Occasionally it drifts out to sea but is found no further than 10–15 miles offshore as the sea surface temperature is relatively high which causes the water droplets to evaporate.

Question 14

Source of weather information

Answer 14

• Own Ship.
• VHF.
• SafetyNET information via Inmarsat and Marine Safety Information via NAVTEX as 
part of the GMDSS. This includes meteorological warnings and forecasts, with 
virtually worldwide coverage on Inmarsat.
• Local or national forecasts posted in the marina.
• SatC.
• Weather Fax.
• Internet.

Question 15

Tell me how you would react in a TRS

Question 16

Are you on which side of the TRS

Question 17

Describe a synoptic weather chart

Question 18

Passage of a low, create as 4 flash cards

Question 19

Local weather to your area of cruising, the mistral for example

Question 20

DAILY WEEKLY AND MONTHLY CHECKS

Answer 20

Daily
- Internal Test all DSC equipment.
- Battery state of charge (voltmeter).
- Printers (including NAVTEX).
- Check adequate supply of paper.
- Radio log Checked and signed by master.

Weekly
- Test DSC with a local Coast Station.
- Test call on 2187.5 kHz - should receive a DSC acknowledgement.
- Emergency source of energy when not a battery (eg. a generator).
- hand-held VHF radios (not on Ch16) (but without using the sealed lithium battery).

Monthly
- EPIRBs - Self-test
Battery expiry date, and expiry date of hydrostatic release.
Security, cleanliness and integrity of stowage.

-SARTS
Using inbuilt battery, test against radar.
Check also for security and signs of damage.
Battery expiry date.
Batteries Condition (off-load/on-load comparison).
Connections (clean, tight, corrosion free).
Compartment clean/ventilation.
Antennas and insulators - condition
Security of leads/fixings.
Insulators free of salt/carbon deposits and no ‘tracking

** Enter the results of all tests in the Radio Log **

Question 21

GMDSS Minimum Requirements (Solas)

Answer 21

Vessel over 300 GT
• 1 VHF radio DSC on channel 70, and RT on channels 16, 13 and 6.
• 1 SART if under 500 GRT, 2 SARTs if over 500 GRT.
• 2 portable VHF for use in survival craft if under 500 GRT, three if
over 500 GRT.
• A NAVTEX receiver, if engaged on voyages i where aNAVTEX service is provided.
• An Inmarsat EGC receiver, if engaged on voyages Inmarsat coverage where MSI services are not provided by NAVTEX or HF.

Question 22

GMDSS depends on area of operation

Answer 22

• Area A1 coverage one VHF coast station DSC alerting is available, 20-30 miles, or line-of-sight, from coasts.
• Area A2 excludes A1 but is within coverage of a shore-based MF coast station, i.e. approx. 100 miles.
• Area A3 excludes A1 and A2 but is within coverage of an INMARSAT geostationary satellite in which continuous alerting is available. 76° N/S
• Area A4 excludes Areas A1, A2 and A3 but covers the remaining sea areas of the world, i.e. mainly the Polar regions.