GROL Basic Radio Law and Operating 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Transmission of false distress signals is prohibited and violators may be required to:
- Pay for search and rescue costs only
- Lose their FCC license only
- Pay for SAR costs, face fines up to $10,000, and/or imprisonment (Correct answer)
- Issue a public apology
Correct answer: Pay for SAR costs, face fines up to $10,000, and/or imprisonment
False distress signals expose the responsible party to recovery of SAR costs, civil fines up to $10,000 per violation, and criminal prosecution.
Question 2: A ship radiotelephone station license is issued to:
- The licensed operator of the vessel
- The owner or operator of the ship (Correct answer)
- The captain only
- The FCC district office
Correct answer: The owner or operator of the ship
The ship station license is issued to the owner or operator (not the individual radio operator) of the vessel.
Question 3: What is the primary purpose of the SECURITE signal?
- To announce a vessel in distress
- To request urgent medical assistance
- To announce an important navigational or meteorological warning (Correct answer)
- To request a radio check
Correct answer: To announce an important navigational or meteorological warning
SECURITE (pronounced 'say-cure-ee-tay') is the international safety signal used to announce important navigational or meteorological warnings.
Question 4: Under FCC rules, a GROL licensee operating a ship station may:
- Operate any land-based transmitter
- Operate only ship station transmitters (Correct answer)
- Operate broadcast transmitters with additional endorsement
- Operate any FCC-licensed transmitter without restriction
Correct answer: Operate only ship station transmitters
The GROL authorizes the holder to operate ship station transmitters; operating broadcast or other transmitters may require different licenses.
Question 5: When is a ship radio operator required to use plain language rather than codes?
- At all times
- Only during distress communications
- During distress, urgency, and safety communications (Correct answer)
- Only when communicating with the Coast Guard
Correct answer: During distress, urgency, and safety communications
FCC rules and international regulations require plain language for all distress, urgency, and safety communications to ensure clarity.
Question 6: What is the maximum allowed transmitter power for a ship VHF station on most channels?
- 1 watt
- 5 watts
- 25 watts (Correct answer)
- 50 watts
Correct answer: 25 watts
Ship VHF stations are generally limited to 25 watts on most channels, with a minimum of 1 watt required on Channel 16.
Question 7: Who has ultimate authority over the radio station aboard a vessel at sea?
- The licensed radio operator
- The FCC enforcement officer
- The ship's master (captain) (Correct answer)
- The vessel owner
Correct answer: The ship's master (captain)
The ship's master has ultimate responsibility and authority over all operations aboard, including the radio station.
GROL Basic Radio Law and Operating 3
Transmission of false distress signals is prohibited and violators may be required to: