Whitehorse | GMDSS Flashcards
What does GMDSS stand for?
Global Maritime Distress and Safety System
What does MSI stand for?
Maritime Safety Information
What function do shore facilities play in the GMDSS system?
They disseminate MSI and coordinate rescue efforts.
What is Maritime Safety Information and how is it transmitted?
MSI is a category of essential safety-related information transmitted via GMDSS EGC
What chapter of SOLAS relates to GMDSS?
Chapter IV - Radiocommunications
A shipping container has been spotted floating in a shipping lane. What type of message should be sent?
Safety - Securite
How many sea areas are there?
Four
How is sea area A2 defined?
An area, excluding Sea Area A1, within radiotelephony range of at least one Coast Station with continuous monitoring of MF DSC 2187.5 kHz
What type of message and signal apply when ‘A vessel or person is threatened by grave and imminent danger and requires immediate assistance’?
The type of message is ‘Distress’ and the signal is MAYDAY
How many types of radio messages are there - what are they?
Four - distress, urgency, safety and routine
Which three things should be noted in the GMDSS log book?
Position of vessel, completion of daily tests and Masters signature
Which volume of IAMSAR is carried onboard vessels?
Volume three
What will a newly embarked deck officer enter into the GMDSS log book shortly after arriving onboard?
They will enter their name and General Operator’s Certificate (GOC) number into Section B of the GMDSS log book
Which vessels are required to carry a Cargo Ship Safety Radio Certificate?
All cargo vessels over 300GT on international voyages.
Which vessels are required to carry a Passenger Ship Safety Certificate?
All passenger vessels on international voyages, regardless of tonnage.
What is Form R?
Form R is the Record of Equipment. It is attached to the Cargo Ship Safety Radio Certificate and details the radio equipment carried onboard the vessel.
What is an MMSI number?
Maritime Mobile Service Identity number is used to uniquely identify the vessel and enable calling using DSC equipment.
Which certification would be required for radio personnel onboard a large passenger vessel on transatlantic voyages?
A GOC - General Operators Certificate
Which certification would be required for radio personnel onboard a SOLAS vessel operating exclusively in Sea Area A1?
An ROC - Restricted Operators Certificate.
Which two persons must be designated with regard to the GMDSS equipment and communications?
A person responsible for emergency communications and the person responsible for maintenance. They may be the same person.
Does the person responsible for emergency communications determine whether to send a distress message?
No. All distress or urgency messages must be authorised by the Master, although it is likely that the responsible person will transmit the message.
When may non-GMDSS equipment be carried in lieu of GMDSS equipment?
Never.
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.
Which type of waves are used for long-range transmission of HF?
Sky Waves.
Why are ground waves able to travel further than line of sight?
The part of the wave that is touching the ground slows due to diffraction and therefore bends downwards. This keeps the wave in contact with the ground and allows it to follow the curvature of the earth.
Why is HF able to travel great distances?
Sky waves are alternately refracted downwards by ionised layers in the ionosphere and upwards again by earth’s surface causing them to ‘bounce’ large distances beyond the horizon.
Which frequencies propagate as space waves?
VHF
What is a DSC distress alert called which includes the nature of the distress?
A designated distress alert.
Which class of DSC equipment is fitted to SOLAS compliant vessels?
Class A
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.
What is an alert transmitted from DSC equipment?
The transmission of a distress-priority message using DSC.
What is VHF Ch. 16 used for?
Distress, urgency, safety and calling by voice
What is VHF Ch. 70 used for?
Distress alerting, urgency, safety and routine calling by DSC
What is MF 2182kHz used for?
Distress, urgency and safety calling by voice on MF
What is 2187.5kHz used for?
Distress alerting, urgency and safety calling by DSC on MF.
What is 406MHz used for?
Transmission of EPIRB position to shore via COSPAS-SARSAT satellites.
What is 121.5MHz used for?
Aircraft emergency frequency for homing onto an EPIRB.
What is 9GHz used for?
Frequency used by SARTs
What is the VHF channel used for Safety of navigation?
VHF Ch 13
When communicating on VHF Ch 16, is this simplex or duplex communication?
Simplex.
What is an advantage of simplex communications for distress purposes?
All stations can hear all communications.
Which method is being used if a vessel can receive and transmit at the same time?
Duplex.
Which type of antenna uses an Antenna Tuning Unit to increase the effective wavelength of the physical antenna?
MF/HF antenna.
Where must radio antenna be fitted to maximise range?
As high on the vessel as possible, clear of obstructions and away from sources of interference.
Which satellite system commonly found onboard uses an omni-directional antenna?
Inmarsat-C
On which frequencies must you listen first before transmitting and the working must not exceed one minute?
VHF Ch 16 & 2182kHz
How quickly may a vessel re-transmit a DSC routine call if no acknowledgment?
After no less than 5 minutes. Further attempts must wait at least 15 minutes.
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.
What does ‘station calling’ mean?
It is used as a response when the identity of the station calling you is unknown.
If you are on a vessel over 500GT which is equipped for Sea Area A1, how many SARTs would you expect to find onboard?
Two (one for vessel under 500GT)
In which areas of operation are small commercial vessels required to have a fixed VHF radio installation?
Categories 1 to 5
Where can the carriage requirements for GMDSS equipment be found?
SOLAS, Chapter IV - Radio Communications
A large vessel operating in Sea Area A1 is required to carry which piece of equipment to enable the reception of MSI in text form?
A NAVTEX receiver.
What portable GMDSS equipment is required to be carried on yachts 500GT and over?
EPIRB, 2 x SARTs (one for less then 500GT), 3 x handheld VHF radios (2 for less then 500GT)
What additional piece of equipment must you have to operate in Sea Area A2?
A MF radio capable of DSC, radiotelephony and telex.
How many EPIRBs are carried on a vessel over 500GT operating exclusively in Sea Area A2?
One.
Which type of vessel is required to carry an air-band radio?
Passenger vessels.
How many fixed VHF radios are required to be fitted to a large vessel in Sea Area A3?
Two
What are the two additional pieces of equipment carried under the Satellite Option (Alternative A) in Sea Area A3?
A Ship Earth Station and an EGC receiver. The latter requirement is normally satisfied through carriage of an additional Inmarsat terminal.
What are the two additional pieces of equipment carried under the HF Option (Alternative B) in Sea Area A3?
An MF/HF radio (capable of DSC, radiotelephony and Telex/NBDP) and an EGC receiver. The latter requirement may be satisfied through carriage of an Inmarsat terminal or by using the Telex/NBDP functionality of the MF/HF radio.
How is Sea Area A3 defined?
An area, excluding sea areas A1 and A2, within the coverage of a recognised mobile satellite service supported by the Ships Earth Station carried on board in which continuous alerting is available. This is up to 76 degrees N & S for vessels fitted with Inmarsat terminals and global for vessels fitted with Iridium terminals.