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FCC GMDSS practice questions

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Question 1Distress, Urgency and Safety Communications Procedures

On VHF Channel 16, which spoken signal indicates that a station is transmitting a distress call?

  1. PAN PAN, spoken three times
  2. MAYDAY, spoken three times Correct answer.
  3. SILENCE FINI, spoken once
  4. SECURITE, spoken three times

Explanation

The distress signal in radiotelephony is MAYDAY, repeated three times at the start of a distress call. It has absolute priority over all other transmissions and announces that a station is in grave and imminent danger and requires immediate assistance.

Question 2Distress, Urgency and Safety Communications Procedures

Which frequency pair is used for DSC distress alerts on MF/HF and for subsequent distress radiotelephony?

  1. 8414.5 kHz for DSC and 8291 kHz for radiotelephony
  2. 2182 kHz for DSC and 2187.5 kHz for radiotelephony
  3. 2187.5 kHz for DSC and 2182 kHz for radiotelephony Correct answer.
  4. 4125 kHz for DSC and 4125 kHz for radiotelephony

Explanation

2187.5 kHz is the MF DSC distress and safety calling frequency, while 2182 kHz is the associated MF radiotelephony distress frequency. A DSC alert on 2187.5 kHz is normally followed by distress traffic on 2182 kHz.

Question 3Distress, Urgency and Safety Communications Procedures

A vessel is in grave and imminent danger and the master decides to transmit a distress alert by DSC. Which alert format should be selected?

  1. Group
  2. Individual station
  3. All ships
  4. Distress Correct answer.

Explanation

The distress priority format is used for a distress alert and is transmitted to all stations, giving it absolute priority. Selecting any other format would not correctly signal the distress nature of the call to the receiving stations.

Question 4Distress, Urgency and Safety Communications Procedures

Immediately after transmitting a DSC distress alert on VHF, what should the station do on Channel 16?

  1. Reduce transmitter power and repeat the DSC alert twice
  2. Switch to Channel 13 and call the nearest coast station
  3. Wait 5 minutes for acknowledgement before any voice transmission
  4. Transmit the distress call and message by radiotelephony Correct answer.

Explanation

After a VHF DSC distress alert, the station follows with the distress call and message by radiotelephony on Channel 16. This provides the spoken details that a DSC alert cannot convey, such as the nature of the distress and assistance required.

Question 5Distress, Urgency and Safety Communications Procedures

In a distress message, which item tells receiving stations the number of persons on board and any other information that may assist rescue?

  1. The identification of the station in distress
  2. The date and time group in UTC
  3. The distress information section after the position Correct answer.
  4. The MAYDAY relay prefix

Explanation

The distress message structure ends with any information that may facilitate rescue, such as the number of persons on board, whether lifeboats are launched, and the type of assistance required. This section follows the position report.

Question 6Distress, Urgency and Safety Communications Procedures

Which spoken proword is used by a coast station to impose silence on stations interfering with distress traffic?

  1. SEELONCE DISTRESS
  2. PRUDONCE
  3. SILENCE FINI
  4. SEELONCE MAYDAY Correct answer.

Explanation

SEELONCE MAYDAY is spoken by the station controlling the distress traffic to impose radio silence on all stations interfering with that traffic. It is normally followed by the identity of the controlling station.

Question 7Distress, Urgency and Safety Communications Procedures

A vessel observes another vessel in distress but is not itself in distress. How should it transmit a distress alert on behalf of the other vessel?

  1. Using the PAN PAN call on Channel 16
  2. Using the SECURITE call on the DSC distress frequency
  3. Using an ordinary routine call to the nearest coast station
  4. Using the MAYDAY RELAY call with the distress priority Correct answer.

Explanation

A station that is not itself in distress but is relaying a distress alert uses the MAYDAY RELAY call, transmitted with distress priority. The relay station identifies itself and the station in distress and passes the details it holds.

Question 8Distress, Urgency and Safety Communications Procedures

Which item must appear in the distress call before the distress message is transmitted?

  1. The nature of the distress
  2. The identity of the station in distress Correct answer.
  3. The number of persons on board
  4. The type of assistance required

Explanation

The distress call consists of MAYDAY three times, THIS IS, and the identity of the station in distress repeated once. The remaining details belong to the distress message that follows the call.

Question 9Distress, Urgency and Safety Communications Procedures

A DSC distress alert transmitted on 2187.5 kHz is not acknowledged. What does the operator do next?

  1. Switch off the DSC controller and use only VHF Channel 16
  2. Transmit the distress alert on additional HF DSC frequencies and follow with the voice distress message Correct answer.
  3. Repeat the same alert on 2187.5 kHz every 30 seconds indefinitely
  4. Immediately abandon the vessel without further transmissions

Explanation

If no acknowledgement is received, the station may extend the alert to other DSC distress frequencies, such as HF channels, and then transmit the distress call and message by radiotelephony. This improves the chance of reaching a station able to coordinate assistance.

Question 10Distress, Urgency and Safety Communications Procedures

What is the correct spoken form of the urgency signal in radiotelephony?

  1. MAYDAY, repeated three times
  2. PAN PAN, repeated three times Correct answer.
  3. SECURITE, repeated three times
  4. URGENCE, repeated twice

Explanation

The urgency signal is PAN PAN, spoken three times at the start of an urgency call. It indicates a station has a very urgent message concerning the safety of a vessel or person but is not in grave and imminent danger.

Question 11Distress, Urgency and Safety Communications Procedures

A vessel's engine has failed and it is drifting toward a rocky shore, but there is no immediate danger to life. Which signal best describes this situation?

  1. PAN PAN Correct answer.
  2. SECURITE
  3. SILENCE
  4. MAYDAY

Explanation

A vessel not in immediate danger to life but requiring urgent assistance uses the urgency signal PAN PAN. The situation is serious enough to need prompt help but does not meet the grave and imminent danger test for MAYDAY.

Question 12Distress, Urgency and Safety Communications Procedures

Which spoken proword precedes the transmission of a safety message concerning a drifting mine?

  1. SILENCE MAYDAY
  2. SECURITE, repeated three times Correct answer.
  3. MAYDAY, repeated three times
  4. PAN PAN, repeated three times

Explanation

Safety messages, such as navigational or meteorological warnings, are announced with the safety signal SECURITE spoken three times. The message then follows on a working frequency.

Question 13Distress, Urgency and Safety Communications Procedures

On which VHF channel is a safety message normally announced after an initial SECURITE announcement on Channel 16?

  1. A working channel such as Channel 06 or 13, as directed Correct answer.
  2. Channel 70, using voice
  3. Channel 09, with no further announcement
  4. Channel 16, immediately after the announcement

Explanation

After announcing with SECURITE on Channel 16, the station transmits the safety message on a working channel and directs listeners to that channel. This keeps Channel 16 clear for distress and calling traffic.

Question 14Distress, Urgency and Safety Communications Procedures

What should a station do upon receiving a DSC distress alert from a vessel in its vicinity?

  1. Acknowledge the alert and monitor the distress frequency for the voice message Correct answer.
  2. Ignore the alert unless addressed individually
  3. Switch to Channel 13 and wait for the vessel to call
  4. Immediately transmit its own MAYDAY call

Explanation

A station receiving a distress alert should acknowledge it, if appropriate, and keep watch on the associated radiotelephony frequency for the distress call and message. It then offers assistance as required by the situation.

Question 15Distress, Urgency and Safety Communications Procedures

Which piece of information is contained in a DSC distress alert but not in the following radiotelephony distress message?

  1. The number of persons on board
  2. The time of the alert in UTC Correct answer.
  3. The assistance required
  4. The nature of the distress

Explanation

The DSC distress alert includes the time in UTC, the station identity, the position, and the nature of the distress. The voice message repeats the position and adds details such as persons on board and assistance required.

Question 16Distress, Urgency and Safety Communications Procedures

What does the proword SILENCE FINI indicate?

  1. That a station must stop transmitting for 10 minutes
  2. That distress traffic has ended and normal working may resume Correct answer.
  3. That a distress alert has just been transmitted
  4. That a safety message will follow on Channel 16

Explanation

SILENCE FINI is spoken to indicate that distress traffic has ended and that radio silence imposed for that traffic is lifted. Stations may then resume normal working.

Question 17Distress, Urgency and Safety Communications Procedures

Which statement correctly describes the distress priority of a MAYDAY call?

  1. It has the same priority as a safety message
  2. It has priority only over routine traffic on the same channel
  3. It has absolute priority over all other transmissions Correct answer.
  4. It ranks below urgency traffic from a coast station

Explanation

Distress traffic has absolute priority over all other transmissions, including urgency and safety traffic. All stations hearing a distress call must cease transmissions that could interfere.

Question 18Distress, Urgency and Safety Communications Procedures

A coast station wishes to acknowledge a distress message received from a vessel. Which call does it use?

  1. SECURITE, followed by the distress frequency
  2. MAYDAY RELAY, followed by its own identity
  3. MAYDAY, followed by the identity of the station in distress Correct answer.
  4. PAN PAN, followed by its own identity

Explanation

A station acknowledging a distress message calls the station in distress using MAYDAY followed by its identity. This confirms that the distress message has been received and that assistance is being coordinated.

Question 19Distress, Urgency and Safety Communications Procedures

What is the correct action for a station that hears a distress call but is unable to assist?

  1. Continue to monitor the distress frequency and record the details Correct answer.
  2. Acknowledge the distress message as if it were able to assist
  3. Leave the frequency immediately and resume routine traffic
  4. Transmit its own MAYDAY to attract attention

Explanation

A station that cannot assist should continue to monitor the distress frequency and record the details of the distress traffic. Remaining silent on the frequency helps the stations that can assist and keeps the channel clear.

Question 20Distress, Urgency and Safety Communications Procedures

Which frequency is designated for VHF DSC distress and safety alerts?

  1. Channel 16
  2. Channel 13
  3. Channel 06
  4. Channel 70 Correct answer.

Explanation

VHF Channel 70 is reserved exclusively for DSC and carries no voice traffic. Distress, urgency, and safety alerts are sent on Channel 70, with voice follow-up on Channel 16.

Question 21Distress, Urgency and Safety Communications Procedures

A vessel's DSC controller receives a distress alert with a nature of distress shown as 'fire'. What does this indicate?

  1. The station is sending a routine position report
  2. The station is testing its DSC equipment
  3. The station in distress has reported a fire on board Correct answer.
  4. The station is relaying a navigational warning

Explanation

The nature of distress field in a DSC distress alert uses coded values, and the code for fire tells receiving stations the type of emergency. This helps rescuers prepare the appropriate response.

Question 22Distress, Urgency and Safety Communications Procedures

What is the correct order of the distress message after the MAYDAY call and station identity?

  1. Assistance required, position, other information, nature of distress
  2. Other information, position, nature of distress, assistance required
  3. Position, nature of distress, assistance required, other information Correct answer.
  4. Nature of distress, assistance required, position, other information

Explanation

The distress message gives the position, the nature of the distress, the assistance required, and any other information useful to rescue. This order lets receiving stations quickly locate the vessel and understand the emergency.

Question 23Distress, Urgency and Safety Communications Procedures

Which spoken phrase indicates that a station is about to transmit an urgency message?

  1. PAN PAN, this is, followed by the station identity Correct answer.
  2. MAYDAY, this is, followed by the station identity
  3. SECURITE, this is, followed by the station identity
  4. SILENCE FINI, this is, followed by the station identity

Explanation

The urgency call begins with PAN PAN spoken three times, followed by THIS IS and the identity of the calling station. The urgency message then follows.

Question 24Distress, Urgency and Safety Communications Procedures

Which situation justifies the use of the distress signal rather than the urgency signal?

  1. A vessel has a minor engine fault and can proceed slowly
  2. A vessel needs a weather forecast for the next day
  3. A vessel has lost its anchor and is drifting in open water
  4. A person has fallen overboard and is missing in darkness Correct answer.

Explanation

A person missing overboard in darkness constitutes grave and imminent danger to life, which meets the test for the distress signal MAYDAY. The other situations are serious or routine but do not meet that threshold.

Question 25Distress, Urgency and Safety Communications Procedures

A station controlling distress traffic has concluded the operation. Which transmissions are used to end the distress traffic?

  1. MAYDAY, followed by the controlling station identity
  2. PAN PAN, followed by the controlling station identity
  3. SEELONCE MAYDAY, followed by the controlling station identity
  4. SILENCE FINI, followed by the controlling station identity Correct answer.

Explanation

When distress traffic has ended, the controlling station transmits SILENCE FINI to lift radio silence and then advises that normal working may resume. SEELONCE MAYDAY is used to impose silence, not to end it.

Question 26Distress, Urgency and Safety Communications Procedures

Which radiotelephony proword is used to acknowledge a distress message and indicate that the sender of the acknowledgement is taking charge of the distress traffic?

  1. SEELONCE MAYDAY
  2. MAYDAY
  3. ROGER
  4. RECEIVED MAYDAY Correct answer.

Explanation

The proword RECEIVED MAYDAY is the standard acknowledgement of a distress message and signals that the acknowledging station is assuming control of the distress traffic. It is distinct from ROGER, which is a general receipt proword, and from SEELONCE MAYDAY, which imposes silence.

Question 27Distress, Urgency and Safety Communications Procedures

A ship station hears a distress alert on VHF Channel 16 from a vessel that is clearly within its area. What is the first radiotelephony action it should take?

  1. Wait for at least five minutes for a coast station to respond.
  2. Contact the nearest coast station by telephone to confirm the alert.
  3. Acknowledge by transmitting RECEIVED MAYDAY followed by its own identity. Correct answer.
  4. Transmit a MAYDAY RELAY on behalf of the distressed vessel.

Explanation

A ship station in the vicinity of a distress should acknowledge the distress message by radiotelephony, using RECEIVED MAYDAY and its identity, so the distressed station knows assistance is coming. It should then take charge of the distress traffic until a coast station or rescue coordination centre assumes control.

Question 28Distress, Urgency and Safety Communications Procedures

Which spoken phrase is used to announce that a station is about to transmit a safety message?

  1. PRU-DONCE
  2. MAYDAY
  3. SECURITE Correct answer.
  4. PAN PAN

Explanation

The safety signal SECURITE (spoken SAY-CURE-E-TAY) announces a safety message concerning navigation or meteorological warnings. PAN PAN is the urgency signal, MAYDAY is the distress signal, and PRU-DONCE is a French proword for caution, not the international safety signal.

Question 29Distress, Urgency and Safety Communications Procedures

A vessel has lost steering and is drifting in a busy shipping lane with no immediate danger to life. Which signal should be used for the initial transmission?

  1. PAN PAN Correct answer.
  2. SECURITE
  3. MAYDAY
  4. SILENCE MAYDAY

Explanation

The urgency signal PAN PAN is used when a vessel is in difficulty but there is no immediate danger to life or the vessel. Loss of steering in a shipping lane is a classic urgency situation requiring assistance but not distress priority.

Question 30Distress, Urgency and Safety Communications Procedures

Which frequency band is designated for maritime distress and safety radiotelephony in the MF band?

  1. 4125 kHz
  2. 2182 kHz Correct answer.
  3. 8414.5 kHz
  4. 156.8 MHz

Explanation

2182 kHz is the international MF radiotelephony distress and safety frequency. 156.8 MHz is VHF Channel 16, 8414.5 kHz is a HF DSC frequency, and 4125 kHz is an HF radiotelephony distress frequency rather than the MF one.

Question 31Distress, Urgency and Safety Communications Procedures

What does the proword SEELONCE FEENEE indicate?

  1. A station is imposing silence during distress traffic.
  2. Distress traffic has ended and normal working may resume. Correct answer.
  3. The distress message is being relayed.
  4. An urgency message is about to be transmitted.

Explanation

SEELONCE FEENEE (from the French silence fini) is transmitted by the station controlling distress traffic to indicate that distress traffic has ended and normal working may resume. SEELONCE MAYDAY is the corresponding proword for imposing silence.

Question 32Distress, Urgency and Safety Communications Procedures

A station receives a DSC distress alert on 2187.5 kHz from a vessel. What does this alert indicate?

  1. The vessel is transmitting an urgency alert.
  2. The vessel is requesting a routine radio check.
  3. The vessel is in distress and requires immediate assistance. Correct answer.
  4. A safety message concerning navigation is being broadcast.

Explanation

A DSC distress alert on 2187.5 kHz indicates that the transmitting vessel is in distress and requires immediate assistance. The alert has distress priority and is followed by a distress message on the associated radiotelephony frequency, 2182 kHz.

Question 33Distress, Urgency and Safety Communications Procedures

Which spoken phrase correctly delivers the urgency signal in radiotelephony?

  1. SECURITE repeated three times
  2. PAN PAN repeated three times Correct answer.
  3. PAN PAN spoken once
  4. MAYDAY repeated three times

Explanation

The urgency signal in radiotelephony is PAN PAN repeated three times, followed by the station addressed and the station transmitting. Repeating the signal three times is required to ensure it is recognised as an urgency call.

Question 34Distress, Urgency and Safety Communications Procedures

Which information must appear in the distress message immediately after the station identity?

  1. The position of the vessel in distress. Correct answer.
  2. The name of the vessel's owner.
  3. The vessel's next port of call.
  4. The vessel's cargo manifest and crew list.

Explanation

After the distress call and station identity, the distress message begins with the distress signal, name, and position of the vessel. Position is essential so that rescue assets can be directed to the scene. Cargo, owner, and destination are not part of the distress message.

Question 35Distress, Urgency and Safety Communications Procedures

A vessel's DSC distress alert on 2187.5 kHz is not acknowledged by any station after a short interval. What should the operator do?

  1. Switch to VHF Channel 16 and broadcast a MAYDAY RELAY.
  2. Turn off the DSC controller and wait for a coast station to call.
  3. Retransmit the DSC distress alert repeatedly on 2187.5 kHz.
  4. Transmit a distress message by radiotelephony on 2182 kHz. Correct answer.

Explanation

If a DSC distress alert is not acknowledged, the operator should transmit a distress message by radiotelephony on the associated frequency, 2182 kHz, using the MAYDAY procedure. This ensures the distress is heard even if the DSC alert was not received or acknowledged.

Question 36Distress, Urgency and Safety Communications Procedures

A coast station receives a distress message and wishes to impose silence on interfering stations. Which transmission should it make?

  1. PAN PAN
  2. SILENCE FINI
  3. SEELONCE MAYDAY Correct answer.
  4. SEELONCE FEENEE

Explanation

SEELONCE MAYDAY is transmitted by the station controlling distress traffic to impose silence on all stations interfering with the distress traffic. SEELONCE FEENEE ends distress traffic, and SILENCE FINI is not the correct proword for imposing silence.

Question 37Distress, Urgency and Safety Communications Procedures

A vessel hears a distress call but is unable to provide assistance. What is the correct action?

  1. Acknowledge the distress and inform the distressed vessel that assistance cannot be given. Correct answer.
  2. Impose silence on other stations until a coast station responds.
  3. Transmit a MAYDAY RELAY on behalf of the distressed vessel.
  4. Ignore the call and continue on passage.

Explanation

A station that hears a distress call but cannot assist should still acknowledge it and inform the distressed vessel that assistance is not available. This prevents the distressed vessel from waiting for help that will not arrive and allows other stations to respond.

Question 38Distress, Urgency and Safety Communications Procedures

Which proword is used by a station to indicate that it has received a transmission satisfactorily?

  1. WILCO
  2. STANDBY
  3. OVER
  4. ROGER Correct answer.

Explanation

ROGER means that the transmission has been received satisfactorily. WILCO means the message has been received and will be complied with, OVER invites a reply, and STANDBY indicates a pause before replying.

Question 39Distress, Urgency and Safety Communications Procedures

A vessel's master decides to abandon ship. Which signal should be transmitted to indicate grave and imminent danger?

  1. PAN PAN
  2. SECURITE
  3. SEELONCE MAYDAY
  4. MAYDAY Correct answer.

Explanation

Abandoning ship indicates grave and imminent danger to the vessel and persons on board, which justifies the distress signal MAYDAY. PAN PAN is for urgency situations without immediate danger to life, and SECURITE is for safety messages.

Question 40Distress, Urgency and Safety Communications Procedures

Which statement correctly describes the priority of a MAYDAY call relative to other communications?

  1. It has priority over all other communications except those concerning safety of life at sea. Correct answer.
  2. It has the same priority as urgency traffic.
  3. It has lower priority than a safety message from a coast station.
  4. It has priority only over routine traffic.

Explanation

Distress traffic has absolute priority over all other communications, with the sole exception of communications concerning safety of life at sea. Urgency, safety, and routine traffic must all give way to distress traffic.

Question 41Distress, Urgency and Safety Communications Procedures

Which item is included in a DSC distress alert but is not normally part of the following radiotelephony distress message?

  1. The vessel's MMSI.
  2. The position of the vessel.
  3. The nature of the distress. Correct answer.
  4. The time of the alert.

Explanation

A DSC distress alert includes the nature of distress selected from a standard list, such as fire or flooding. The subsequent radiotelephony distress message normally gives the vessel's name, position, nature of distress, and assistance required, but the nature is not always repeated in the same coded form.

Question 42Distress, Urgency and Safety Communications Procedures

A station controlling distress traffic has concluded the rescue operation. Which transmissions are used to end the distress traffic?

  1. SEELONCE FEENEE, followed by a brief description of the operation Correct answer.
  2. SECURITE followed by SEELONCE MAYDAY
  3. PAN PAN followed by SILENCE FINI
  4. MAYDAY followed by SEELONCE MAYDAY

Explanation

Distress traffic is ended by transmitting SEELONCE FEENEE, followed by a brief description of the operation, such as the name of the distressed vessel and the assistance given. This informs all stations that normal working may resume.

Question 43Distress, Urgency and Safety Communications Procedures

Which VHF channel is used for initial distress, urgency, and safety radiotelephony calls?

  1. Channel 13
  2. Channel 70
  3. Channel 6
  4. Channel 16 Correct answer.

Explanation

VHF Channel 16 is the international radiotelephony distress, urgency, and safety frequency. Channel 70 is the VHF DSC channel, Channel 6 is used for inter-ship safety communications, and Channel 13 is the bridge-to-bridge navigation channel.

Question 44Distress, Urgency and Safety Communications Procedures

A vessel sends a DSC distress alert with the nature of distress shown as 'flooding'. What does this indicate?

  1. The vessel has lost propulsion.
  2. The vessel has collided with another vessel.
  3. The vessel is taking on water and may sink. Correct answer.
  4. The vessel is on fire.

Explanation

The nature of distress 'flooding' indicates that the vessel is taking on water and may sink, which is a grave and imminent danger. The nature of distress code helps rescue coordination centres prepare the appropriate response.

Question 45Distress, Urgency and Safety Communications Procedures

A vessel in distress has transmitted a MAYDAY call but its radiotelephony transmitter then fails. Another vessel nearby has heard the call. What should the nearby vessel do?

  1. Transmit a MAYDAY RELAY on behalf of the distressed vessel. Correct answer.
  2. Wait for a coast station to relay the distress message.
  3. Transmit a PAN PAN on behalf of the distressed vessel.
  4. Transmit a SECURITE message warning other vessels to keep clear.

Explanation

When a vessel in distress cannot transmit its own distress message, another station may relay it using the MAYDAY RELAY procedure. The relay includes the distress signal, the identity of the relaying station, and the details of the distressed vessel.

Question 46Distress, Urgency and Safety Communications Procedures

A coast station acknowledges a distress message from a vessel and takes charge of the distress traffic. Which proword should other stations use to indicate that they have ceased transmissions that could interfere with the distress traffic?

  1. ROGER MAYDAY
  2. SEELONCE FEENEE Correct answer.
  3. SILENCE FINI
  4. SEELONCE MAYDAY

Explanation

Stations that have been interfering with distress traffic acknowledge the instruction to impose silence by transmitting SEELONCE FEENEE, indicating that they will maintain silence. SEELONCE MAYDAY is the instruction itself, issued by the controlling station.

Question 47Distress, Urgency and Safety Communications Procedures

A vessel receives a DSC distress alert on 2187.5 kHz followed by a distress message on 2182 kHz. The vessel is unable to proceed to the scene. What is the most appropriate action?

  1. Transmit a MAYDAY RELAY on behalf of the distressed vessel.
  2. Remain silent so that other stations can respond without interference.
  3. Acknowledge the distress message and inform the distressed vessel that assistance cannot be provided. Correct answer.
  4. Switch off the radio and log the alert for later reporting.

Explanation

A station that cannot assist should still acknowledge the distress message and inform the distressed vessel that assistance is not available, so that the vessel knows not to expect help from that station. This also allows the controlling station to coordinate other assets.

Question 48Distress, Urgency and Safety Communications Procedures

A vessel's DSC controller receives a distress alert with a nature of distress shown as 'abandoning ship'. What is the most appropriate interpretation?

  1. The vessel has a medical emergency on board.
  2. The vessel is requesting a routine radio check.
  3. The vessel has lost its anchor and is drifting.
  4. The vessel is preparing to abandon ship and persons are in grave and imminent danger. Correct answer.

Explanation

The nature of distress 'abandoning ship' indicates that the vessel is preparing to abandon ship and that persons are in grave and imminent danger. Rescue coordination should treat this as a high-priority distress requiring immediate response.

Question 49Distress, Urgency and Safety Communications Procedures

A station controlling distress traffic wishes to impose silence on interfering stations. After transmitting SEELONCE MAYDAY, what should the controlling station do?

  1. Transmit SEELONCE FEENEE to end the distress traffic.
  2. Continue to control the distress traffic and permit stations assisting the distressed vessel to transmit. Correct answer.
  3. Cease all transmissions and wait for other stations to respond.
  4. Transmit a PAN PAN to warn other stations to keep clear.

Explanation

After imposing silence with SEELONCE MAYDAY, the controlling station continues to control the distress traffic and permits stations assisting the distressed vessel to transmit. SEELONCE FEENEE is only used when the distress traffic has ended.

Question 50Distress, Urgency and Safety Communications Procedures

Which statement correctly describes the relationship between a DSC distress alert and the subsequent radiotelephony distress message?

  1. The DSC alert and the radiotelephony distress message are transmitted simultaneously on the same frequency.
  2. The DSC alert replaces the need for any radiotelephony distress message.
  3. The radiotelephony distress message is transmitted before the DSC alert.
  4. The DSC alert is followed by a radiotelephony distress message on the associated frequency. Correct answer.

Explanation

A DSC distress alert is normally followed by a radiotelephony distress message on the associated frequency, such as 2182 kHz after an alert on 2187.5 kHz. The radiotelephony message provides details such as position and nature of distress that assist rescue coordination.