Topic 45
Survival Craft Transceivers
- Survival craft transceivers may NOT communicate with: stations ashore and public coast stations.
- GMDSS survival craft equipment must operate on Ch-16.
- Required characteristics: Ch-16, watertight, permanently-affixed antenna.
- NOT true: "effective radiated power minimum 2.0 watts" — it is lower (0.25W minimum).
- NOT true: "Operation on Ch-13 is mandatory" — Ch-16 is mandatory, Ch-13 is not.
- NOT true: "Operates simplex on Ch-70" — Ch-70 is DSC only, not voice for survival craft.
7-45F1
With what other stations may portable survival craft transceivers NOT communicate?
- A. Communication between survival craft transceivers ashore and public coast stations.
- B. Communication between the ship and its survival craft.
- C. Communication between rescue units and survival craft.
- D. Communication between multiple survival craft and with aircraft.
Answer: A
7-45F2
Equipment for radiotelephony use in survival craft stations under GMDSS must have what capability?
- A. Operation on 457.525 MHz.
- B. Operation on Ch-16.
- C. Operation on 121.5 MHz.
- D. Operation on Ch-70.
Answer: B
7-45F3
Equipment for radiotelephony use in survival craft stations under GMDSS must have what characteristics?
- A. Permanently-affixed antenna, watertight, power 1W or 25W.
- B. Watertight, power a minimum of 1W, operation on CH-16, Ch-13 & Ch-70.
- C. Operation on Ch-16, watertight, permanently-affixed antenna.
- D. Operation on Ch-16, Ch-13 & Ch-70, power 1W, permanently-affixed antenna.
Answer: C
7-45F4
Which statement is NOT true regarding the requirements of survival craft portable two-way VHF radiotelephone equipment?
- A. Operation on Ch-16
- B. Antenna must be permanently-affixed.
- C. Simplex (single frequency) voice communications only.
- D. Effective radiated power should be a minimum of 2.0 Watts.
Answer: D
7-45F5
Which statement is NOT true regarding the requirements of VHF Survival Craft Transceivers?
- A. Operation on Ch-13 is mandatory.
- B. Effective radiated power should be a minimum of 0.25 Watts.
- C. Simplex (single frequency) voice communications only.
- D. Operation on Ch-16 is mandatory.
Answer: A
7-45F6
Which statement is NOT true regarding the requirements of survival craft portable two-way VHF radiotelephone equipment?
- A. Watertight to a depth of 1 meter for 5 minutes.
- B. Operates simplex on Ch-70 and at least one other channel.
- C. Effective radiated power should be a minimum of 0.25 Watts.
- D. The antenna is fixed and non-removable.
Answer: B
Topic 46
On-Scene Communications
- GMDSS on-scene communications: Ch-16 (primary).
- Ch-16 is required in all portable survival craft equipment as follow-on channel.
- Full on-scene frequencies: VHF Ch-16 and Simplex Telex Over Radio (SITOR) (NBDP) on 2174.5 kHz.
- NOT designated for on-scene: SITOR (NBDP) on 2182.0 kHz — 2182.0 is voice distress, not NBDP.
- On-scene: SITOR (NBDP) on 2174.5 kHz (not 2182.0).
- On-scene for vessels in distress and SAR aircraft: VHF Ch-16, 4125 kHz J3E, 3023 kHz J3E.
7-46F1
Which of the following has been designated for “On-scene” communications in GMDSS?
- A. Ch-24
- B. Ch-2182
- C. Ch-70
- D. Ch-16
Answer: D
7-46F2
Which of the following channels is designated as the VHF follow-on communications channel and is required in all portable survival craft equipment?
- A. Ch-16
- B. Ch-6
- C. Ch-13
- D. Ch-70
Answer: A
7-46F3
Which of the following frequencies have been designated for “On-scene” communications in the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System?
- A. VHF Ch-22
- B. VHF Ch-16 and SITOR (NBDP) on 2174.5 kHz.
- C. HF radiotelephone on 21.820 MHz.
- D. SITOR (NBDP) on 2177.0 kHz and VHF Ch-16.
Answer: B
7-46F4
Which of the following frequencies has NOT been designated for GMDSS “On-scene” or SAR communications?
- A. VHF Ch-16
- B. MF radiotelephony on 2182.0 kHz
- C. SITOR (NBDP) on 2182.0 kHz
- D. HF radiotelephony on 4125.0 kHz
Answer: C
7-46F5
“On-scene" communications would best be represented by?
- A. Using Inmarsat-C "hot-key" function
- B. Sending DSC alert on VHF Ch-70
- C. SITOR (NBDP) on 2174.5 kHz
- D. SITOR (NBDP) on 4125.0 kHz
Answer: C
7-46F6
For “On-scene” communications, vessels in Distress and SAR Aircraft should use?
- A. VHF Ch-70, 4125 kHz J3E, 5680 kHz J3E
- B. VHF Ch-70, 4125 kHz J2B, 5680 kHz J3E
- C. VHF Ch-16, 4125 kHz F1B, 3023 kHz J3E
- D. VHF Ch-16, 4125 kHz J3E, 3023 kHz J3E
Answer: D
Topic 47
Distress Actions & COSPAS-SARSAT Limitations
- When embarking survival craft: switch on EPIRB and SART immediately and leave on.
- Vital in polar SAR: COSPAS/SARSAT (satellites cover poles) and HF voice for follow-on.
- FALSE: "EPIRB position is always transmitted" — older non-GPS EPIRBs rely on Doppler, not transmitted position.
- FALSE: COSPAS-SARSAT "may be used to transmit public correspondence" — it is distress/SAR only.
- 406 MHz EPIRB alert transmits: unique hexadecimal ID number.
- FALSE: "EPIRB position and Hex ID passed instantaneously to RCC" — there is processing delay.
7-47F1
Which action should the GMDSS radio operator take in a Distress situation when embarking in survival craft?
- A. EPIRB and SART switched on manually prior to embarking; remain aboard vessel in Distress.
- B. Notify RCC (Rescue Coordination Center) through VHF DSC in portable equipment.
- C. Switch on EPIRB and SART immediately and leave on.
- D. Communicate via Inmarsat-C from the survival craft.
Answer: C
7-47F2
Which of these would be vital to a GMDSS SAR situation in polar regions?
- A. GOES satellites to receive Distress Alerts and HF Voice for follow-on and SAR activity.
- B. GOES satellites to receive Distress Alerts and Inmarsat Voice for follow-on and SAR activity.
- C. Inmarsat satellites to receive Distress Alerts and HF Voice for follow-on and SAR activity.
- D. COSPAS/SARSAT satellites to receive Distress Alerts and HF Voice for follow-on and SAR activity.
Answer: D
7-47F3
Which statement is FALSE regarding the COSPAS-SARSAT system?
- A. The position of the EPRIB is always transmitted in the outgoing transmission (unless the unit is a GPIRB).
- B. Signals received by low altitude, near-polar orbiting satellites are relayed to a ground receiving station (LUT).
- C. Doppler shift is used to locate the position of the EPIRB.
- D. EPIRBs are satellite beacons used as alerting & homing devices.
Answer: A
7-47F4
Which statement is FALSE regarding the COSPAS-SARSAT system?
- A. EPIRBs are satellite beacons used as alerting/locating devices.
- B. May be used to transmit public correspondence.
- C. Locates Distress beacons transmitting on 406 MHz.
- D. Doppler shift is used to locate the beacons.
Answer: B
7-47F5
What information is transmitted by a 406 MHz EPIRB alert?
- A. Vessel position and nature of Distress.
- B. A unique Hexadecimal I.D. number.
- C. Vessel name and identification.
- D. Vessel MMSI number and position.
Answer: B
7-47F6
Which statement is FALSE regarding the COSPAS-SARSAT system and EPIRB operations?
- A. The EPIRB’s position is calculated by the satellite or LUT and later passed to the MCC.
- B. The EPIRB transmits a unique Hex I.D. and vessel position that may be passed to the RCC.
- C. The EPIRB’s position and Hex I.D. is passed instantaneously to the RCC.
- D. The EPIRB transmits a unique Hex I.D. that is passed to the RCC if it cannot be determined by the MCC to be inadvertent.
Answer: C
Topic 48
Pre-Distress Preparation & Inmarsat Distress
- Prior to distress: all listed good practices should be done — "all of these answers" is correct.
- Detailed distress message content: vessel name/call sign, POB, all means of communication.
- Best for simultaneous long-range + on-scene: MF-HF SSB transmitters on voice follow-on frequencies.
- NOT true about Inmarsat distress: "USCG coast stations receive alert and immediately notify RCC" — the Land Earth Station (LES) routes it.
- Best resources for planning: ALRS Volume 5, NGA Pub 117, ITU List of Coast Stations.
- Inmarsat hot-key alerts: the LES programmed in the Distress Alert Update menu determines which Rescue Coordination Center (RCC) receives the alert. The Network Coordination Station (NCS) routes if LES is unavailable.
7-48F1
What actions should the GMDSS radio operator take prior to any potential Distress situation?
- A. Create a table or chart of all the DSC coast stations that might be used during the vessel’s itinerary.
- B. All of these answers are good operational practice and should be consistently done.
- C. Prepare a detailed Distress message file on both satellite & MF-HF SITOR (NBDP) equipment containing all information needed in a Distress so it will be available for last-minute editing.
- D. Ensure all LES choices are correct and then updated properly as the vessel transits different SAR jurisdictions.
Answer: B
7-48F2
What information should be contained in a detailed Distress message that was not transmitted by an initial Distress “hot-key” alert?
- A. Vessel position, course & speed and the nature of Distress.
- B. The distress vessel’s IMN and position at the time of alert.
- C. Vessel name & call sign, POB and all potential means to communicate with the vessel.
- D. Vessel name & call sign, distress vessel’s IMN & vessel position.
Answer: C
7-48F3
Which GMDSS equipment is best suited to simultaneous long-range communications with an RCC/coast station and OSC vessels or SAR aircraft?
- A. MF-HF SITOR (NBDP) transmitters using telex follow on frequencies.
- B. Inmarsat Signals routed via the RCC to the SAR vessels & aircraft under their control.
- C. VHF transmitters to reach SAR aircraft and OSC vessels as well as the RCC/coast station.
- D. MF-HF SSB transmitters using voice follow-on frequencies.
Answer: D
7-48F4
Which statement is NOT true regarding an Inmarsat Distress Alert?
- A. USCG coast stations will receive the alert and immediately notify the correct RCC.
- B. The operator selection of LES will determine which associated RCC will receive the alert.
- C. If the operator selects an invalid or inoperative LES code the NCS for that service will intercept the call and reroute the alert.
- D. If the LES choice is not updated properly the Distress Alert might be routed to a non-optimum RCC, introducing delays and confusion into the Distress situation.
Answer: A
7-48F5
What are the best resources for researching and planning equipment setups and updates prior to any potential Distress situation?
- A. NGA Pub. 117, ALRS Volume 5 or manufacturer’s equipment manuals.
- B. ALRS Volume 5, FCC Part 80 or ITU List of Coast stations.
- C. ITU List of Coast stations, IMO GMDSS handbook, FCC Part 80.
- D. ALRS Volume 5, NGA Pub, 117 or ITU List of Coast stations.
Answer: D
7-48F6
Which statement is true regarding Inmarsat “hot-key” Distress Alerts?
- A. The LES programmed by the watch officers into the Distress Alert Update menu determines which RCC will receive your initial Distress Alert.
- B. The vessel’s position is checked against the SAR jurisdictions and the proper LES updated as the vessel changes NAVAREAS.
- C. The GPS position updates the Distress Alert Update menu to the correct LES choice to ensure proper communications with an RCC.
- D. The Distress Alert defaults are set correctly by the manufacturer and then automatically updated.
Answer: A