🔍 Key Concepts

• Digital Selective Calling (DSC) distress alerting and relay procedures in GMDSS • When a ship should relay a received distress alert versus when the coast station will handle it • Difference between a DSC distress alert, acknowledgement, and subsequent distress traffic on radiotelephony or NBDP

💭 Think About

• Ask yourself: In GMDSS, who has primary responsibility for coordinating distress traffic: an individual ship or the coast station/rescue coordination center? • Think about what could happen if every ship relayed every DSC distress they received. Would that help or cause congestion and confusion on the distress frequency? • Consider the role of a DSC acknowledgement. Under what specific condition is a ship expected to take further action if no acknowledgement is received after some time?

✅ Before You Answer

• Verify which option mentions all distress alerts and decide if that would be operationally safe and efficient in a busy sea area. • Check which choice connects relays to the absence of a DSC acknowledgement from a coast station or other responsible authority. • Make sure the option you choose matches ITU and GMDSS guidance that aims to avoid unnecessary repetition of distress alerts while still ensuring that an unacknowledged distress is not ignored.