🔍 Key Concepts

• GMDSS distress procedures and the role of ship stations vs. coast stations • The responsibility of the Master (or person in charge) when a distress alert is received • Difference between distress, urgency, and safety (navigational warnings) traffic priorities

💭 Think About

• Ask yourself: when a ship receives a DSC or other distress alert, what is the very first obligation on board before any external transmissions are made? • Consider who is formally responsible for deciding what action the ship will take after receiving a distress alert. • Think about which type of traffic (distress, urgency, safety, routine) has the highest priority, and where navigational hazard warnings fall in that order.

✅ Before You Answer

• Verify which option mentions informing the Master/person responsible and how quickly that must be done. • Check whether GMDSS procedures require ships to immediately transmit acknowledgements/relays, or whether that is normally coordinated first by a coast station/RCC. • Confirm that distress traffic has absolute priority, and compare where navigational hazard (safety) messages fit in the priority list.