RYA SRC Distress and Urgency Calls 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: After sending a DSC distress alert, on which channel should you immediately follow up with a voice MAYDAY call?
- Channel 16 (Correct answer)
- Channel 70
- Channel 67
- Channel 6
Correct answer: Channel 16
After a DSC distress alert on Ch 70, you must immediately switch to Ch 16 and transmit a voice MAYDAY call.
Question 2: What is the correct procedure if you hear a MAYDAY call but the coast guard does not appear to have received it?
- Transmit a MAYDAY RELAY on behalf of the vessel in distress (Correct answer)
- Wait 5 minutes then retransmit the original MAYDAY
- Call the vessel directly on a working channel
- Send a DSC urgency alert to the coastguard
Correct answer: Transmit a MAYDAY RELAY on behalf of the vessel in distress
If the coastguard has not acknowledged the MAYDAY, any vessel that hears it should transmit a MAYDAY RELAY to alert rescue services.
Question 3: How is a MAYDAY RELAY call prefixed when transmitted by a third party?
- MAYDAY RELAY spoken three times (Correct answer)
- MAYDAY spoken three times then RELAY
- PAN PAN RELAY spoken three times
- SECURITE RELAY spoken three times
Correct answer: MAYDAY RELAY spoken three times
A relay distress call is introduced with the words 'MAYDAY RELAY' repeated three times before the call.
Question 4: Which authority has the right to impose silence on all stations during a distress situation?
- The coastguard or rescue coordination centre (Correct answer)
- The vessel in distress
- Any vessel within VHF range
- The harbour master of the nearest port
Correct answer: The coastguard or rescue coordination centre
The coastguard or rescue coordination centre can impose radio silence using the signal SEELONCE MAYDAY on Ch 16.
Question 5: What phrase is used to indicate that radio silence may be relaxed during a distress incident?
- PRUDONCE (Correct answer)
- SEELONCE FEENEE
- SECURITE
- SILENCE FINI
Correct answer: PRUDONCE
PRUDONCE (from French 'prudence') is broadcast to indicate that restricted working may resume but caution is still needed.
Question 6: A vessel reports a crew member with a suspected broken leg. Which type of call should be made?
- PAN PAN (Correct answer)
- MAYDAY
- SECURITE
- No call needed; proceed to port
Correct answer: PAN PAN
A medical emergency that is serious but does not immediately threaten the vessel or life warrants a PAN PAN urgency call.
Question 7: When cancelling a PAN PAN after the situation is resolved, which channel should the cancellation be broadcast on?
- Channel 16 and any working channel used (Correct answer)
- Channel 70 only
- Channel 67 only
- No cancellation is needed for PAN PAN
Correct answer: Channel 16 and any working channel used
A PAN PAN cancellation must be broadcast on Ch 16 and any other channel on which the urgency call was made.
RYA SRC Distress and Urgency Calls 3
After sending a DSC distress alert, on which channel should you immediately follow up with a voice MAYDAY call?