GMDSS & Distress Flashcards
(136 cards)
1
Q
GMDSS System:
What does GMDSS stand for?
A
Global Maritime Distress and Safety System
2
Q
GMDSS System:
What does MSI stand for?
A
Maritime Safety Information
3
Q
GMDSS System:
What function do shore facilities play in the GMDSS system?
A
They disseminate MSI and coordinate rescue efforts.
4
Q
GMDSS System:
What is MSI?
A
maritime safety information
is a category of essential safety related information transmitted via GMDSS
5
Q
GMDSS System:
Which chapter of SOLAS relates to GMDSS?
A
Chapter IV - Radio Communication
6
Q
GMDSS System:
A shipping container has been spotted floating in a shipping lane. What type of message should be sent?
A
Security (safety)
7
Q
GMDSS System:
How many sea areas are there?
A
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
8
Q
GMDSS System:
How is sea area A2 defined?
A
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
9
Q
GMDSS System:
Which 3 things should be noted in the GMDSS logbook each day?
A
- Position of vessel
- Completion of daily tests
- Masters signal
10
Q
GMDSS System:
Which volume of IAMSAR is carried onboard?
A
Volume III
11
Q
GMDSS System:
What will a newly embarked deck officer enter into the GMDSS logbook shortly after arriving onboard?
A
They will enter their name, general operation certificate (GOC) number into section B of the logbook.
12
Q
GMDSS System:
Which vessels are required to carry a cargo ship safety radio certificate?
A
All CARGO vessels over 300 GT on intl voyages
13
Q
GMDSS System:
Which vessels are required to carry a passenger ship safety certificate?
A
All passenger vessels on intl voyages regardless of tonnage
14
Q
GMDSS System:
What is Form R?
A
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
15
Q
GMDSS System:
What is an MMSI number?
A
A Maritime Mobile Service Identity number used to uniquely identify the vessel and enable calling using DSC equipment.
16
Q
GMDSS System:
Which certification would be required
For radio personnel onboard a large passenger vessel on transatlantic voyages?
A
GOC - General Operators Certificate
17
Q
GMDSS System:
Which certification would be required for radio personnel onboard a SOLAS vessel operating exclusively in Sea Area A1?
A
Restricted Operators Certificate
18
Q
GMDSS System:
Which two persons must be designated with regard to the GMDSS equipment?
A
Person responsible for emergency communication
Person responsible for maintenance
(Can be the same person)
19
Q
GMDSS System:
Does the person responsible for emergency communications determine whether to send a distress message?
A
No. All distress or urgency messages must be authorized by the master, although it is likely that the responsible person will transmit the message.
20
Q
GMDSS System:
When may non-GMDSS equipment be carried in lieu of GMDSS equipment
A
Never.
21
Q
GMDSS System:
Why must mobile phones not be relied upon for sending distress messages?
A
- 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.
22
Q
Principals of Radio Communications:
Which type of waves are used for long range transmission of HF?
A
Sky waves
23
Q
Principals of Radio Communications:
Why are ground waves able to travel further than line of sight?
A
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.
24
Q
Principals of Radio Communications:
Why are HF able to travel great distances?
A
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.
25
**Principals of Radio Communications:**
Which frequencies propagate at space waves?
VHF
26
**Principals of Radio Communications:**
What is a distress alert which includes the fact that the vessel is sinking called?
Designated Distress Alert
27
**Principals of Radio Communications:**
Which class of DSC equipment is fitted to SOLAS compliant vessels?
Class A
28
**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.
29
**Principals of Radio Communications:**
What is an alert?
The transmission of a distress priority message using DSC.
30
**Principals of Radio Communications:**
VHF Ch 16
Distress, urgency, safety and calling by voice
31
**Principals of Radio Communications:**
VHF Ch 70
Distress alerting, urgency, safety and routine calling by DSC.
32
**Principals of Radio Communications:**
2182 kHz
Distress, urgency and safety calling by voice on MF.
33
**Principals of Radio Communications:**
2187.5 kHz
Distress alerting, urgency and safety by DSC on MF.
34
**Principals of Radio Communications:**
406 MHz
Transmission of EPIRB position to shore via COSPAS-SARSAT satellites
35
**Principals of Radio Communications:**
121.5 MHz
Aircraft emergency frequency for homing onto an EPIRB
36
**Principals of Radio Communications:**
9 GHz
Frequency used by SART to create pulses on the screen of an X-Band radar.
37
**Principals of Radio Communications:**
When communicating on VHF ch 16, is this simplex or duplex communication?
Simplex.
38
**Principals of Radio Communications:**
What is the advantage of simplex communication for distress purposes?
All stations can hear all communications
39
**Principals of Radio Communications:**
Which method is being used if a vessel can receive and transmit at the same time?
Duplex.
40
**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
41
**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
42
**Principals of Radio Communications:**
Which satellite system commonly found onboard uses an omnidirectional antenna?
Inmarsat-C
43
**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
44
**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
45
**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
46
**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.
47
**Carriage requirements:**
How many SARTS are required onboard a 500gt vessel operating in sea area A1?
Two
48
**Carriage requirements:**
In which area of operation are small commercial vessels required to have a fixed VHF radio installed?
Categories 1-5
49
**Carriage requirements:**
Where can the carriage requirements for GMDSS equipment be found?
SOLAS Chapter IV (Radio-communications)
50
**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
51
**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
52
**Carriage requirements:**
How many EPIRB’s are carried on a vessel over 500gt operating exclusively in Sea Area A2?
One
53
**Carriage requirements:**
How many fixed VHF radios are required to be fitted to a large vessel in Sea Area A3?
Two
54
**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.
55
**Carriage requirements:**
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, radio telephony 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
56
**Carriage requirements:**
how is Sea Area A3 defined?
An area, excluding sea areas A1 and A2, within the coverage of a recognized mobile satellite service supported by the ship earth station carried onboard in which continuous alerting is available. This is up to about 76°N & S for vessels fitted with Inmarsat terminals and global for vessels fitted with Iridium terminals.
57
**Carriage requirements:**
In what latitude would you be operating if you are in are ma A4?
Above about 76° N & below 76° S
Outside of the footprint on Inmarsat satellites
58
**Carriage requirements:**
Which GMDSS routinely carried in Sea Area A3 does not meet the carriage requirements for Sea Area A4?
An Inmarsat terminal because Sea Area A4 is defined as being outside of the footprint of the Inmarsat constellation
59
**Carriage requirements:**
How many MF/HF radios must be carried in Sea Area A4
Two
60
**Carriage requirements:**
How is the requirement for an EGC receiver satisfied in Sea Area A4?
Through the Telex/NBDP functionality of the MF/HF radios
61
**Fixed Equipment:**
Which VHF channel is used for DSC?
Channel 70
62
**Fixed Equipment:**
What is squelch and how is it correctly adjusted?
The squelch control adjusts the sensitivity of the receiver. To correctly adjust the radio, it should be turned down until a crackling/hissing noise is heard and then turned back up until the noise stops but no further.
63
**Fixed Equipment:**
If the VHF DSC radio is not integrated with the vessels GNSS unit, how often must the vessels position be updated manually?
At least every four hours
64
**Fixed Equipment:**
Which series of publications can be referred to in order to determine the correct VHF channel on which to contact a coast station?
Admiralty List of Radio Signals (ALRS)
65
**Fixed Equipment:**
What is the approximate maximum range of VHF communications between large vessels?
The effective range of VHF transmission between large vessels is up to approximately 40nm
66
**Fixed Equipment:**
Which frequency is used for transmitting a DSC distress alert? MF
2187.5 kHz
67
**Fixed Equipment:**
What is the approximate range of MF transmissions?
150 - 200 nautical miles
68
**Fixed Equipment:**
Which frequency is used for distress-priority calling by radio telephony over MF?
2182kHz
69
**Fixed Equipment:**
Pressing and holding the red button on the radio set will send what type of distress alert?
Undesignated
70
**Fixed Equipment:**
On which frequency are international NAVTEX broadcasts made?
518kHz
71
**Fixed Equipment:**
(Gmdss)
Which message types are mandatory?
A - nav warnings
B - met warnings
D - SAR Info / piracy
L - Other information
72
**Fixed Equipment:**
Which publication can be referred to determine the correct station letter to input into the NAVTEX unit?
Volume V of the Admiralty List of Radio Signals (ALRS) which is entitled Global Maritime Distress and Safety System
73
**Fixed Equipment:**
What action must be taken by the OOW on receipt of a NAVTEX message?
The OOW must read the message and ascertain weather or not it relates to the vessel and its passage plane. If so, the master must be informed so that appropriate action can be taken.
74
**Fixed Equipment:**
What is the approximate range of NAVTEX
300 - 400 nautical miles
75
Which band of frequencies does NAVTEX transmit on?
Medium Frequency (MF)
76
**Fixed Equipment:**
How do the electromagnetic waves that are transmitted by HF radios propagate?
By sky waves
77
**Fixed Equipment:**
What is skip distance? (HF)
The zone in which the transmission from HF radios will not be picked up at ground level
78
**Fixed Equipment:**
Why are different frequencies used to transmit on HF at night or during the day?
Because UV radiation from the sun affects the amount of refraction which will occur when the HF electromagnetic waves hit the ionosphere and thus affects the distance covered by each bounce
79
**Fixed Equipment:**
How many HF bands are there?
Five
4MHz
6MHz
8MHz
12MHz
16MHz
80
**Fixed Equipment:**
What does EGC stand for?
Enhanced Group Calling
81
**Fixed Equipment:**
What is safetyNet?
It is the Inmarsat system which uses satellites to disseminate MSI to vessels
82
**Fixed Equipment:**
How many Inmarsat ocean regions are there?
Four
AOR E - Atlantic Ocean Region East
AOR W - Atlantic Ocean Region West
IOR - Indian Ocean Region
POR - Pacific Ocean Region
83
**Fixed Equipment:**
What are the three components of a satellite system?
Mobile segment
Space segment
Ground segment
84
**Fixed Equipment:**
Which messages is it mandatory to receive via EGC?
NAVAREA and METAREA warnings for the current area, ship-to-shore distress alerts, messages relating to SAR, navigation, weather and piracy
85
**Fixed Equipment:**
What is safetyCast?
It is the Iridium system which uses satellite to disseminate MSI to vessels.
86
**Fixed Equipment:**
How often should the MF DSC be tested with a coast station?
Weekly
87
How often should an internal test of DSC equipped radio equipment be carried out?
Daily
88
**Fixed Equipment:**
How often should the antennas be visually inspected?
Monthly
89
**Fixed Equipment:**
What should occur during daily battery test?
The battery charger should be switched off and the voltage monitored to ensure that it doesn’t start to drop
90
**Fixed Equipment:**
How is the weekly external DSC test for VHF radios normally carried out on large vessels?
Vessels that are equipped with two or more VHF DSC radios will normally conduct the external DSC weekly test by sending a transmission from one unit to the other and back again.
91
**Portable Equipment:**
What does the squelch adjust?
The sensitivity of the receiver
92
**Portable Equipment:**
Why do portable radios have a lower range than fixed units?
They are lower powered and use smaller antennas. Furthermore, a portable VHF radio is likely to be used at a lower hight than the antenna of the fixed unit.
93
**Portable Equipment:**
What is the minimum required battery life of portable VHF radios?
Eight hours
94
**Portable Equipment:**
What is the battery life of a radar SART once activated?
8 hours
95
**Portable Equipment:**
On which frequency do radar SARTs transmit?
9GHz (the same as X band radar)
96
**Portable Equipment:**
What will appear on the X band radar when a vessel is very close to an activated SART?
Concentric circles
97
**Portable Equipment:**
Why must SARTs be mounted as high as possible in the survival craft?
To maximize their range
98
**Portable Equipment:**
Why should the crew turn off their vessel’s radar before abandoning ship?
To prevent unintended activation of their SART, which will drain the battery
99
**Portable Equipment:**
What do AIS SART’s transmit?
Lat & Long via the built in GNSS receiver
100
**Portable Equipment:**
All AIS SARTs have an MMSI number beginning with which three digits?
970
101
**Portable Equipment:**
On what frequency do EPIRBs emit the homing signal?
121.5MHz
102
**Portable Equipment:**
What is the name of the satellite constellation that transmits EPIRB signals to shore?
COSPAS / SARSAT
103
**Portable Equipment:**
On what frequency does the EPIRB communicate with COSPAS SARSAT Satellites?
406MHz
104
**Portable Equipment:**
From 2022, new EPIRBs are required to be fitted with which two additional features?
GNSS received and AIS transponder
105
**Portable Equipment:**
What is the battery life of an EPIRB once activated?
48 hours
106
**Portable Equipment:**
EPIRBs must be able to be activated in which two ways?
Float free activated automatically when in contact with water, in addition to having the facility to be activated manually
107
**Portable Equipment:**
How is the position of the EPIRBs which are not fitted with a GNSS received determined?
By triangulation using Doppler shift as satellites pass overhead. This process can take several hours
108
**Sending & receiving distress messages:**
Which flag signal indicates distress?
November / Charlie
109
**Sending & receiving distress messages:**
Which series of characters in Morse Code indicates distress?
SOS (three short, three long, three short)
110
**Sending & receiving distress messages:**
What is the phrase used for imposing silence on a distress working channel?
SEELONCE
111
**Sending & receiving distress messages:**
What is the mnemonic used to help remember the components of a distress message?
MIPNANOO
112
**Sending & receiving distress messages:**
Who is a distress priority call addressed to?
Unlike urgency and safety messages, distress messages are automatically addressed to all stations, so the phrase ALL STATIONS is redundant
113
**Sending & receiving distress messages:**
What is a DSC transmission relating to a distress called?
An alert
114
**Sending & receiving distress messages:**
How is an accidental distress alert by Inmarsat/Iridium cancelled?
By sending a distress priority message to the same LES through which the accidental alert was sent
115
**Sending & receiving distress messages:**
What should a vessel do upon receiving a DSC urgency-priority announcement?
Tune to the indicated frequency, listen to the message and respond accordingly. They should not acknowledge receipt by DSC.
116
**Sending & receiving distress messages:**
Which mnemonic is used to help remember the correct format for urgency messages?
PIPNANOO
Pan pan x3
Identification (name, call sign, MMSI)
Position
Nature of urgency
Assistance required
Number of persons onboard
Other information
Over
117
**Sending & receiving distress messages:**
Which piece of information is sent during a safety call but not during an urgency call?
The frequency or channel on which the safety message will be transmitted
118
**Sending & receiving distress messages:**
Which word is used to identify a safety-priority message?
Securite
119
**Sending & receiving distress messages:**
What is the difference between a call and a message?
A call is intended to draw other vessels attention to the transmission whereas a message contains important information relating to the situation.
120
**Sending & receiving distress messages:**
By what method should a vessel acknowledge a DSC alert if appropriate to do so?
By radiotelephony (voice) you only
121
**Sending & receiving distress messages:**
Why must a vessel not acknowledge a DSC distress alert by DSC, unless specifically instructed to by a coast station.
Acknowledging a DSC alert will stop the alert and May mean the vessel does not receive the assistance it requires. Silencing an alert to stop the alarm locally is different from acknowledging it.
122
**Sending & receiving distress messages:**
When would a vessel transmit a mayday relay?
When they sight a distressed party who are unlikely to be able to send their own distress message.
123
**Sending & receiving distress messages:**
A vessel which receives a VHF DSC alert in sea area A1 should wait how long before acknowledging by radiotelephony?
5 minutes
124
**Sending & receiving distress messages:**
A vessel which receives a MF DSC alert in sea area A3 should wait how long before acknowledging by radiotelephony?
They should set watch on 2182 kHz and acknowledge by RT immediately
125
**Sending & receiving distress messages:**
If a vessel does not hear a response from a coast station within 5 minutes of receiving a VHF DSC distress alert while in sea area A1, what should they do?
1. Make an entry in the GMDSS logbook
2. Acknowledge the distress by radiotelephony only
3. Relay the distress message to the appropriate coast station by any available means
4. Proceed at best speed to the position of the vessel in distress
126
**Non-GMDSS Equipment and Methods:**
How does the PLB (personal location beacon) communicate with a COSPAS SARSAT satellite?
On 406 MHz
127
**Non-GMDSS Equipment and Methods:**
Which system does a PAB (position AIS beacon) use to alert other vessels?
AIS - Automated Identification System
128
**Non-GMDSS Equipment and Methods:**
Why can strobe flares not be carried as a substitute for pyrotechnics on vessels to which the requirements of SOLAS, Chapter V (radio telecommunications) apply
They have not received approval and, therefore, vessels carrying strobe flares instead of pyrotechnics would simple not be meeting the GMDSS carriage requirements.
129
**Non-GMDSS Equipment and Methods:**
You see a blue and white flag with a triangular cutout, what does this mean?
Alpha - I have a diver down, keep well clear of me
130
**Non-GMDSS Equipment and Methods:**
How is Morse code used to aid identification of key navigation marks?
They may be fitted with RACONS (radar transponders) which create Morse code patterns of dots and dashes on a vessels radar screen
131
**Non-GMDSS Equipment and Methods:**
What is the Morse code signal for distress?
SOS
- - - — — — - - -
132
**Power supply & back-up:**
Within what time frame must an emergency generator start and be online?
45 seconds
133
**Power supply & back-up:**
On passenger vessels, for how many hours must the emergency generator provide power?
36 hours
134
**Power supply & back-up:**
On cargo vessels, for how many hours must the emergency generator provide power?
18 hours
135
**Power supply & back-up:**
If an emergency generator is not fitted, for how long must the battery back-up provide power to the GMDSS equipment?
Six hours
136
**Power supply & back-up:**
If an emergency generator is fitted, for how long must the battery back-up provide power to the GMDSS equipment?
For one hour more than the required period for the emergency generator
