WPC GMDSS ROC (India) study plan

Map the GMDSS functional requirements (alerting, SAR coordination, locating, MSI, general radiocommunications, bridge-to-bridge) to the specific equipment that satisfies each one in Sea Areas A1 to A4.

State from memory the carriage requirements for a vessel in each sea area, listing which of VHF/DSC, MF/HF DSC, Inmarsat, NAVTEX, EPIRB and SART must be carried.

Rank the three priority levels (distress, urgency, safety) and give two example situations for each that a ROC holder would actually transmit.

Recite the distress transmission sequence for DSC alert followed by RT distress call and message, and identify which parts must never be omitted.

Explain how an MMSI is structured (MID, ship station identity, group and coast station forms) and derive the correct 9-digit number for a given vessel and flag.

Demonstrate the DSC distress alert entry steps on a simulated or training set, including selection of the distress nature and the position/time data.

Describe the correct response to a received DSC distress alert both as a coast station and as a ship, including the 5-minute acknowledgement delay rule for ship stations.

Distinguish distress, urgency and safety DSC calls by category, format and the frequency/channel used, and explain when an all-ships call is appropriate.

Outline DSC watchkeeping obligations on VHF Channel 70 and MF/HF 2187.5 kHz, including the prohibition on voice traffic on those channels.

Transmit the full distress, urgency and safety radiotelephony procedures aloud, in the correct order, using MAYDAY, PAN PAN and SECURITE with the correct prowords.

Explain the purpose and correct use of the prowords and phrases used in distress traffic, including MAYDAY RELAY, SEELONCE MAYDAY, SEELONCE DISTRESS, PRU-DONCE and SILENCE FINI.

Operate a VHF set to select simplex and duplex channels, adjust squelch and volume, and explain which channels are for distress, safety, intership and port operations.

Compare VHF, MF and HF propagation and state the expected range of each, including the role of HF frequencies by day and night and the use of the 8 MHz band.

Explain the on-scene communication duties of the ship coordinating a distress, including assuming control and imposing silence.

List the Inmarsat services used in the GMDSS and match each to its function: distress alerting, shore-to-ship MSI via SafetyNET, and general communications.

Describe how to initiate a distress alert through an Inmarsat terminal, including the role of the distress button, the LES/RCC path and the follow-on radiotelephony or telex communication.

Explain what NAVTEX is, how a message is structured (station, message type, serial number), and how the receiver selects stations and message types.

Identify the NAVTEX message categories relevant to safety and state which must never be rejected, including navigational warnings, meteorological warnings and SAR information.

Describe how SafetyNET (EGC) delivers MSI to areas outside NAVTEX coverage and how to ensure the terminal is configured to receive the correct area and message types.

Explain how a 406 MHz EPIRB works, including registration, the role of the COSPAS-SARSAT system, and the correct manual and automatic activation and testing procedure.

Describe the operation of a SART and an AIS-SART, including activation, the range on a ship's radar or AIS display, and the correct response by a vessel proceeding to a distress position.

Explain the correct actions after a false distress alert on DSC, on radiotelephony and on an EPIRB, including the cancellation message and notification of the coast station.

State what must be entered in the radio log for distress, urgency and safety traffic, watchkeeping, tests and equipment failures, and how long records are retained.

Describe the daily, weekly and monthly equipment checks and the correct entry for each in the log.

Explain the licensing framework for a ship station, including the ship station licence, the operator certificate held by the ROC holder and the requirement to carry documents on board.

State the watchkeeping obligations for VHF Channel 16 and the DSC channels, and the rules on secrecy of communications and prohibited transmissions.

Identify the main causes of radio interference and describe how to recognise and report harmful interference.

Describe the battery arrangements for GMDSS equipment, including the required capacity and the difference between the emergency source and the reserve source of energy.

Carry out a basic fault-finding sequence for a dead VHF set: check power supply, fuse, antenna connection and SWR, and decide when to report rather than repair.

Work through mixed distress scenarios (fire, abandon ship, man overboard, EPIRB activation, received DSC alert from another vessel) and select the correct equipment and procedure for each.

Practise relaying a distress alert from another vessel, including when relaying is permitted and when it is not.

Demonstrate the SAR coordination communications sequence, including acknowledgement, assumption of control and handover to a coast station.

Explain the interaction between DSC alerting, Inmarsat alerting and EPIRB/SART locating in a single distress event, and the order in which they are used.

Revise every domain using a spaced-repetition pass, spending the most time on the three heaviest domains (2, 3 and 4).

Complete a full-length timed mock examination under exam conditions and mark it against the answer key.

Re-study every question answered incorrectly in the mock and write the correct fact for each in your own words.

Recite the distress, urgency and safety procedures and the sea area carriage table from memory without prompts.