GMDSS & Distress Flashcards
GMDSS System:
What does GMDSS stand for?
Global Maritime Distress and Safety System
GMDSS System:
What does MSI stand for?
Maritime Safety Information
GMDSS System:
What function do shore facilities play in the GMDSS system?
They disseminate MSI and coordinate rescue efforts.
GMDSS System:
What is MSI?
maritime safety information
is a category of essential safety related information transmitted via GMDSS
GMDSS System:
Which chapter of SOLAS relates to GMDSS?
Chapter IV - Radio Communication
GMDSS System:
A shipping container has been spotted floating in a shipping lane. What type of message should be sent?
Security (safety)
GMDSS System:
How many sea areas are there?
There are four sea areas which will require different communication methods due to there distance from land.
A1 = VHF
A2 = MF
A3 = HF and Inmarsat
A4 = HF and Iridium
GMDSS System:
How is sea area A2 defined?
An area excluding sea area A1, within radio telephone range of at least one coast station with continuous monitoring of MF DSC on2187.5 kHz
GMDSS System:
Which 3 things should be noted in the GMDSS logbook each day?
- Position of vessel
- Completion of daily tests
- Masters signal
GMDSS System:
Which volume of IAMSAR is carried onboard?
Volume III
GMDSS System:
What will a newly embarked deck officer enter into the GMDSS logbook shortly after arriving onboard?
They will enter their name, general operation certificate (GOC) number into section B of the logbook.
GMDSS System:
Which vessels are required to carry a cargo ship safety radio certificate?
All CARGO vessels over 300 GT on intl voyages
GMDSS System:
Which vessels are required to carry a passenger ship safety certificate?
All passenger vessels on intl voyages regardless of tonnage
GMDSS System:
What is Form R?
Form R is a record of equipment. It is attached to the Cargo Ship Safety Radio Certificate and details the radio equipment carried onboard the vessel
GMDSS System:
What is an MMSI number?
A Maritime Mobile Service Identity number used to uniquely identify the vessel and enable calling using DSC equipment.
GMDSS System:
Which certification would be required
For radio personnel onboard a large passenger vessel on transatlantic voyages?
GOC - General Operators Certificate
GMDSS System:
Which certification would be required for radio personnel onboard a SOLAS vessel operating exclusively in Sea Area A1?
Restricted Operators Certificate
GMDSS System:
Which two persons must be designated with regard to the GMDSS equipment?
Person responsible for emergency communication
Person responsible for maintenance
(Can be the same person)
GMDSS System:
Does the person responsible for emergency communications determine whether to send a distress message?
No. All distress or urgency messages must be authorized by the master, although it is likely that the responsible person will transmit the message.
GMDSS System:
When may non-GMDSS equipment be carried in lieu of GMDSS equipment
Never.
GMDSS System:
Why must mobile phones not be relied upon for sending distress messages?
- Because they have limited or no signal even a short distance offshore and
- even when there is signal do not alert vessels in the vicinity.
Principals of Radio Communications:
Which type of waves are used for long range transmission of HF?
Sky waves
Principals of Radio Communications:
Why are ground waves able to travel further than line of sight?
The park of the wave that is touching the ground slows due to refraction and therefore bends downward. This keeps the wave in contact with the ground and allows it to follow the curvature of the earth.
Principals of Radio Communications:
Why are HF able to travel great distances?
Sky waves are alternately refracted downward by the ionized layers in the ionosphere and upwards again by the earths surface causing them to bounce large distances beyond the horizon.
Principals of Radio Communications:
Which frequencies propagate at space waves?
VHF
Principals of Radio Communications:
What is a distress alert which includes the fact that the vessel is sinking called?
Designated Distress Alert
Principals of Radio Communications:
Which class of DSC equipment is fitted to SOLAS compliant vessels?
Class A
Principals of Radio Communications:
What are the advantages of using DSC to transmit distress messages?
DSC transmissions are digital which means that they have a greater range and suffer less from interference. They are also received by DSC radio equipment which is always listening and will then sound an alarm to alert the OOW.
Principals of Radio Communications:
What is an alert?
The transmission of a distress priority message using DSC.
Principals of Radio Communications:
VHF Ch 16
Distress, urgency, safety and calling by voice
Principals of Radio Communications:
VHF Ch 70
Distress alerting, urgency, safety and routine calling by DSC.
Principals of Radio Communications:
2182 kHz
Distress, urgency and safety calling by voice on MF.
Principals of Radio Communications:
2187.5 kHz
Distress alerting, urgency and safety by DSC on MF.
Principals of Radio Communications:
406 MHz
Transmission of EPIRB position to shore via COSPAS-SARSAT satellites
Principals of Radio Communications:
121.5 MHz
Aircraft emergency frequency for homing onto an EPIRB
Principals of Radio Communications:
9 GHz
Frequency used by SART to create pulses on the screen of an X-Band radar.
Principals of Radio Communications:
When communicating on VHF ch 16, is this simplex or duplex communication?
Simplex.
Principals of Radio Communications:
What is the advantage of simplex communication for distress purposes?
All stations can hear all communications
Principals of Radio Communications:
Which method is being used if a vessel can receive and transmit at the same time?
Duplex.
Principals of Radio Communications:
Which type of antennas use an ATU (antenna tuning unit) to increase the effective wavelength of the physical antenna?
MF/HF Antenna
Principals of Radio Communications:
Where must radio antennas be fitted to maximize range?
As high as possible on the vessel, clear of obstructions and away from sources of interference
Principals of Radio Communications:
Which satellite system commonly found onboard uses an omnidirectional antenna?
Inmarsat-C
Principals of Radio Communications:
On which frequencies must you listen first before transmitting and the working must not exceed one minute?
VHF Ch 16 and 2182 kHz
Principals of Radio Communications:
How quickly may a vessel retransmit a DSC routine call if no acknowledgement is received?
After no less than 5 minutes, further attempts must wait at least 15 minutes
Principals of Radio Communications:
What number is required to enable a vessel to send a DSC call to another vessel?
The MMSI number of the vessel to be called
Principals of Radio Communications:
What does STATION CALLING mean?
It is used as a response when the identity of the station calling you is unknown.
Carriage requirements:
How many SARTS are required onboard a 500gt vessel operating in sea area A1?
Two
Carriage requirements:
In which area of operation are small commercial vessels required to have a fixed VHF radio installed?
Categories 1-5
Carriage requirements:
Where can the carriage requirements for GMDSS equipment be found?
SOLAS Chapter IV (Radio-communications)
Carriage requirements:
A large vessel operating in Sea Area A1 is required to carry which pice of equipment to enable the reception of MSI in text form?
NAVTEX
Carriage requirements:
What additional peace of equipment must you have to operate in Sea Area A2?
MF radio capable of DSC, radio telephony and telex
Carriage requirements:
How many EPIRB’s are carried on a vessel over 500gt operating exclusively in Sea Area A2?
One
Carriage requirements:
How many fixed VHF radios are required to be fitted to a large vessel in Sea Area A3?
Two
Carriage requirements:
What are two additional pieces of equipment carried under the satellite option (Alternative A) in Sea Area A3?
A Ship Earth Station (maritime mobile satellite service) and an EGC receiver. The latter requirement is normally satisfied through carriage of an additional Inmarsat terminal.