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DECK
OPERATIONAL
COMPETENCE #
6
RESPOND TO A DISTRESS SIGNAL
AT SEA
1. What is the smallest area containing all possible survivors and search object locations?
A. Possibility area
B. Expanding square
C. Dangerous semi-circle
D. Containment area
Ans: A

2. You are trying to rescue survivors from a wrecked vessel on fire. You should approach
.

A. at a speed of at most one-half that of the wrecked vessel

B. to windward of the wrecked vessel
C. at a speed of at least that of the wrecked vessel
D. to leeward of the wrecked vessel
Ans: B

3. What is the action that a GMDSS Radio Operator should take when a DSC distress alert is
received?
A. The operator should immediately set continuous watch on the radiotelephone
frequency that is associated with the frequency band on which the distress
alert was received.
B. No action is necessary, as the DSC control unit will automatically switch to
the NBDP follow-on communications frequency.
C. The Operator should immediately set continuous watch on VHF channel 70.
D. The Operator should immediately set continuous watch on the NBDP
frequency that is associated with the frequency band on which the distress
alert was received.

Ans: A

4. If there are a number of survivors in the water after abandoning ship, they should .
A. form a raft by lashing their life preservers together
B. form a small circular group to create a warmer pocket of water in the center of
the circle
C. tie themselves to the unit so they won't drift with the current
D. send the strongest swimmer to shore for assistance
Ans: B

5. Which action should be taken on receipt of a GMDSS Distress alert?

A. Silence the alarm.
B. Listen for any follow up voice/TELEX transmission on the appropriate
frequency.
C. All of the above
D. Read the display screen and/or printout.
Ans: C

6. How is "radio silence" imposed?

A. By the Coast Earth Station (CES) controlling the Distress communications on
that frequency
B. It is imposed by the Public Correspondence Station (PCS) controlling the
distress communications on that frequency or channel
 C. It is imposed by the High Seas Service (HSS) controlling the distress
communications on that frequency or channel
D. By the On Scene Coordinator (OSC)
Ans: D

7. What is the fundamental purpose for imposing radio silence?

A. To ensure that a distressed vessel will have a "window" twice each hour for
transmitting routine messages
B. To ensure that only voice communications can be effected on the distress
frequency or channel
C. To ensure that interference to proprietary communications is minimized
 D. To ensure that interference on a particular frequency or channel to
communications concerning emergency traffic is minimized
Ans: D

8. Which step should be taken, if possible, when the vessel must be abandoned because of a
distress situation?
A. No additional steps are needed as the SART and EPIRB will both
automatically float free and operate properly.
B. Place the SART and EPIRB in the "ON" position and secure them to the
survival craft.
C. Alert the U.S. Coast Guard by using the survival craft's portable INMARSAT
unit.
D. Program the SART and EPIRB to transmit the vessel's location and situation.
Ans: B

9. Which of the following signals, used or exhibited either together or separately, indicate distress
and need of assistance? i. the radiotelegraph alarm signal ii. A continuous sounding with any
fog-signaling apparatus iii. Rockets of shells, throwing green
A. I and II only
B. I only
C. I and III only
D. I, ii and iii
Ans: A

10. Which signal is recognized as a distress signal?

A. International Code Signal "PAN" spoken over the radiotelephone
B. A smoke signal giving off orange colored smoke
C. Directing the beam of a searchlight at another vessel
D. A whistle signal of one prolonged and three short blasts
Ans: B

11. What does the DSC control unit do if the GMDSS Radio Operator fails to insert updated
information when initiating a DSC distress alert?
A. It will abort the transmission and set off an audible alarm that must be
manually reset.
B. It will initiate the DSC distress alert but, as no information will be transmitted,
rescue personnel will not be able to identify the vessel, its position or its
situation.
C. It will initiate the DSC distress alert and default information will automatically
be transmitted.
D. . It will initiate the DSC distress alert, but any station receiving it will have to
establish contact with the distressed vessel to determine its identity, position
and situation.
Ans: C

12. What is the smallest area containing all possible survivors and search object locations?
A. Containment area
B. Possibility area
C. Expanding square
D. Dangerous semi-circle
Ans: B

13. When can routine communications be resumed when radio silence has been imposed?
A. If, in the Master's opinion, communications on that frequency will interfere
with emergency communications
B. After determining that geographic distance from the distress situation will
prohibit any other signal from interfering with emergency communications
C. After determining that the frequency or channel appears to be no longer in
use
D. Routine communications can resume after the Rescue Coordination Center
transmits a message on the frequency or channel being used for emergency
communications stating that such traffic has concluded.
Ans: D

14. What is the most appropriate action for a GMDSS Radio Operator to take in a distress situation
where immediate help is needed, but the vessel is not sinking nor needs to be abandoned?
A. Switch off EPIRB and SART manually.
 B. Notify the RCC (Rescue Coordination Center) through VHF FM on Channel
13.
C. Transmit Distress call by activating the radiotelegraph automatic alarm signal.
D. Transmit Distress call by MF/HF, VHF or INMARSAT.

Ans: D

15. If a GMDSS radio operator initiates a DSC distress transmission but does not insert a
message, what happens?
A. The transmission is not initiated and "ERROR" is indicated on the display
readout.
B. The receiving station will poll the DSC unit of the vessel in distress to
download the necessary information
C. The transmission will be made with "default" information provided
automatically.
D. The transmission is aborted and an alarm sounds to indicate this data must
be provided by the operator.
Ans: C

16. Which action should you take after sending a false Distress alert on VHF?

A. Make a voice announcement to cancel the alert on Ch-22A.

B. Make a voice announcement to cancel the alert on Ch-16.
C. Make a voice announcement to cancel the alert on Ch-13.
Ans: C

17. An airplane should NOT send which signal in reply to a surface craft?
A. Flashing Morse T
B. Opening and closing the throttle
C. Rocking the wings
D. Flashing the navigational lights off and on
Ans: B

18. Which equipment is not a source of locating signals?

A. Survival craft VHF transceivers that provide a beacon on 121.5 MHz
B. EPIRB's that transmit on 406 MHz
C. COSPAS-SARSAT EPIRBs
D. SARTs operating on 9 GHz
Ans: A

19. When should you use distress flares and rockets?

A. Only when there is a chance of their being seen by rescue vessels
B. At half-hour intervals
C. At one-hour intervals
D. Immediately upon abandoning the vessel
Ans: A

20. When sending a DSC call, the vessel's .

A. MMSI will indicate its ocean region
B. None of the above
C. position will automatically be sent if the vessel is sending a "Distress Hot Key"
alert
D. position will automatically be sent
Ans: C

21. What is meant by the term "radio silence"?

A. Stations remaining off the air to safeguard proprietary information
B. Two three-minute silent periods, at 15 and 45 minutes after the hour, that
provide a transmitting "window" for distressed vessels to transmit distress
alerts using J3E
C. Communications on a distress frequency or channel is banned for 24 hours
following the cessation of the distress traffic
D. Stations not directly involved with the on-going Distress communications may
not transmit on the distress frequency or channel
Ans: D

22. An airplane should NOT send which signal in reply to a surface craft?
A. Opening and closing the throttle
 B. Rocking the wings
C. Flashing the navigational lights off and on
D. Flashing Morse T
Ans: A

23. When should you use distress flares and rockets?

A. Immediately upon abandoning the vessel
B. Only when there is a chance of their being seen by rescue vessels
C. At half-hour intervals
D. At one-hour intervals
Ans: B

24. When carrying out a parallel track search pattern, the course of the search units should
normally be which of the following?
A. In the same direction as the anticipated drift
B. In the opposite direction of the anticipated drift
C. Perpendicular to the line of anticipated drift
D. Downwind
Ans: A

25. You suspect that a crewmember has fallen overboard during the night and immediately
execute a Williamson turn. What is the primary advantage of this maneuver under these
circumstances?
A. You will be on a reciprocal course and nearly on the track-line run during the
night.
B. The turn provides the maximum coverage of the area to be searched.
C. The turn enables you to reverse course in the shortest possible time.
D. You have extra time to maneuver in attempting to close in on the man for
rescue.
Ans: A

26. The key to rescuing a man overboard is .

A. good communication
B. a dedicated crew
C. good equipment
D. well-conducted drills
Ans: D

27. Which statement is FALSE, concerning the Williamson turn?

A. In a large vessel (VLCC) much of the headway will be lost thereby requiring
little astern maneuvering.
B. When the turn is completed, the vessel will be on a reciprocal course and
nearly on the original track line.
C. The initial actions are taken at well defined points and reduce the need for
individual judgment.
D. The turn will return the vessel to the man's location in the shortest possible
time.
Ans: D

28. What is the colour of the smoke signal used by life-saving stations or rescue units indicating
that distress signals are observed in daylight?
A. Orange
B. Yellow
C. Blue
D. Green
Ans: A

29. A man is reported missing in the morning and was last seen after coming off the mid-watch.
What type of return to the tract line steamed during the night?
A. Williamson
B. Racetrack
C. 180 degrees turn
D. Anderson
Ans: A
30. Several merchant ships are arriving at the scene of a distress incident. One of the them must
assume the duties of the Coordinator Surface Search (CSS). Which of the following
statements is TRUE?
A. CSS duties are always assumed by passenger vessels, dry cargo vessels, or
tankers in that order of precedence.
B. The CSS must be established by mutual agreement between the ships
concerned.
C. A tank vessel should never be assigned CSS duties unless only tank vessels
are present.
D. The first vessel to arrive at the distress incident is designated as the CSS.
Ans: B

31. The most probable position of the object of a search at any given time is the .
A. datum position
B. incident position
C. reported position
D. dead-reckoning position
Ans: A

32. The Coordinator Surface Search (CSS) in a SAR situation should display by night
.

A. deck lights forward and aft

B. a white light over two red lights
C. a red light, white light, and blue light in a vertical line
D. a distinctive signal promulgated by the CSS
Ans: D

33. You are proceeding of the area of reported distress. When you arrived at the reported position,
the vessel in distress is not sighted. What type of search should be conducted?
A. sector search
B. expanding square
C. track crawl
D. initial search
Ans: B

34. The Coordinator Surface Search in a SAR situation should display by day .
A. the code flags FR
B. a black ball over a black diamond shape
C. code flag Quebec over a black ball
D. two black diamond shapes in a vertical line
Ans: A

35. What colour flare is used to signal a highly dangerous landing place ?
A. Red
B. Blue
C. Orange
D. Yellow
Ans: A

36. When carrying out a parallel track search pattern, the course of the search unit normally be
which of the following?
A. in the same direction as the anticipated drift
B. in the opposite direction of the anticipated drift
C. perpendicular to the line of anticipated drift
D. downwind
Ans: A

37. An airplane wants a vessel to change course and proceed towards a vessel in distress. The
actions of the aircraft to convey this message will NOT include .
A. circling the vessel at least once
B. heading in the direction of the distress location
C. flashing the navigation lights on and off
D. crossing ahead and rocking the wings
Ans: C

38. You are approaching a distressed vessel which is on fire in order to remove survivors. Your
approach should be
 A. from the bow
B. from the low side
C. to leeward of the distressed vessel
D. to windward of the distressed vessel

Ans: D

39. You are using a racetrack turn to recover a man overboard. The vessel is first steadied when
how many degrees away from the original heading?
A. 60° to 70°
B. 90°
C. 135°
D. 180°
Ans: D

40. In a racetrack turn, to recover a man over board the vessel is steadied for the second time
after a turn of how many degrees from the original heading?
A. 60 degrees
B. 35 degrees
C. 180 degrees
D. 360 degrees
Ans: C

41. What is the signal used by a life saving station or rescue unit indicating that distress signals
are observed at night time ?
A. 3 White star rockets
B. 2 Blue star rockets
C. 3 Yellow star rockets
D. 1 Green star rocket
Ans: A

42. A man was sighted as he fell overboard. After completing a Williamson turn, the man is not
sighted. What type of search should be conducted?
A. Expanding circle
B. Sector search
C. Parallel track pattern
D. Datum-drift search
Ans: B

43. You should conduct a sector search under which of the following circumstances?
A. the search target is sighted and then lost
B. more than one vessel is available for the search
C. the search object is a target that will be readily detected by radar
D. an aircraft is available to assist a surface vessel
Ans: A