Rendering Assistance, IAMSAR VOL III and Equipment Checks

Question 1

What is IAMSAR VOL III?

Answer 1

• IAMSAR = International Aeronautical Maritime Search and Rescue
• VOL III is for mobile facilities e.g. ships/aircraft

Provides information to assist in performing a search and rescue

• Type of search patterns e.g. expanding square, vectors (by one ship) or parallel (by two ships)
• Drift patterns of different objects
• Distances of search patterns depending on what you’re looking for
• Care of survivors
• On-scene comms
• Initial action by assisting craft

Provides information on the role of the on-scene co-ordinator

• How to co-ordinate a search and rescue op
• Communications
• Planning and conducting a search
• It is mandatory to be carried on ships (in paper form)

Question 2

Responding to an emergency on VHF?

Answer 2

GMDSS Response

• Log details of the DSC distress alert
• Inform Master
• Listen for follow up MADAY call & message
• Sign on Radio Watch
• Wait a short while for a coast station to acknowledge
• If no response acknowledge by voice
• If no reply or no working heard
• Relay ashore by any means
• Acknowledge by DSC if authorised by the coast station

Actions After

• Alter course and make best speed to the incident
• Muster crew and inform them of the plan
• Feed, water and rest the crew before the vessel is on the scene
• Maintain comms with relevant parties

Question 3

When would you not respond to an emergency?

Answer 3

• Endangering own crew
• Not required by MRCC
• If you are very far away and cannot render immediate assistance

Question 4

Responding to an emergency on VHF when you are in sea area A2?

Answer 4

• Log details of the DSC distress alert
• Inform Master
• Listen for follow up voice message
• Sign on Radio Watch
• Acknowledge immediately by voice
• If no response or no working heard
• Relay ashore by any means

Question 5

Responding to an emergency on HF?

Answer 5

• Log details of the DSC distress alert
• Inform Master
• Listen for follow up voice message
• Sign on Radio Watch
• Listen for 5 minutes for the Coast Station acknowledgement or distress working
• If no acknowledgement by Coast Station by voice or DSC and no working heard
• Relay ashore by any means

This is because you could be very far away from the vessel in distress therefore unable to respond with immediate assistance

Question 6

Define each sea area?

Answer 6

A1 = Area within VHF RT range of at least one CS
A2 = Area outside of A1 within range of at least one MF RT CS
A3 = Area outside of A2 within range of at least one SAT-C satellite
A4 = An area outside A1, A2, A3. HF is used in these areas

Question 7

You see a distress rocket flare on your starboard bow, what are your actions?

Answer 7

• Inform the Master
• Switch to CH16 for any mayday signal
• If no response or no working heard
• Send a MAYDAY relay

Question 8

What are the GMDSS daily tests?

Answer 8

• VHF self-test
• MF self-test
• Battery voltage test
• Printer paper

Question 9

What the GMDSS weekly tests?

Answer 9

• VHF DSC routine call to a ship
• MF DSC test call to a CS
• Reserve power tested

Question 10

What the GMDSS monthly tests?

Answer 10

• EPIRB’s, condition and self-test
• SART, condition and self-test
• Check the condition of all batteries, ventilation, hydrometer readings
• Aerials
• Survival craft VHF