Ship Driver Emergency Procedures and Distress Signals 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the international distress signal for a vessel in peril?
- Continuous sounding of the fog horn
- Mayday transmitted three times on VHF Channel 16 (Correct answer)
- Three short whistle blasts
- Flying a yellow flag
Correct answer: Mayday transmitted three times on VHF Channel 16
Mayday is the international radiotelephony distress signal — spoken three times on VHF Channel 16 — indicating grave and imminent danger requiring immediate assistance.
Question 2: What do three red parachute flares signal?
- You need a pilot aboard
- You are in distress and require immediate assistance (Correct answer)
- You are entering a restricted zone
- Navigation lights have failed
Correct answer: You are in distress and require immediate assistance
Three red parachute flares (or three red hand flares) are internationally recognized visual distress signals indicating a vessel requires immediate help.
Question 3: What is the first action when someone falls overboard?
- Call the Coast Guard immediately
- Throw a flotation device to the person (Correct answer)
- Reduce throttle to idle
- Sound five short blasts
Correct answer: Throw a flotation device to the person
Throwing a flotation device immediately gives the person in the water something to hold onto while you take further action and maneuver the vessel.
Question 4: What does EPIRB stand for and when is it activated?
- Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacon; activated when vessel is in distress (Correct answer)
- Electronic Position Identification and Rescue Buoy; activated at all times
- Emergency Proximity Identification Radio Broadcast; activated in restricted waters
- None of the above
Correct answer: Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacon; activated when vessel is in distress
An EPIRB (Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacon) transmits a distress signal with GPS coordinates to satellite when activated during an emergency.
Question 5: What is a Pan-Pan call used for?
- Routine port entry notification
- Urgency situation — safety concern but not immediate life threat (Correct answer)
- Weather broadcast
- Requesting a bridge opening
Correct answer: Urgency situation — safety concern but not immediate life threat
Pan-Pan is an urgency signal indicating a serious but not immediately life-threatening situation, such as a medical issue or non-critical mechanical failure.
Question 6: Which VHF channel is designated as the primary distress and calling channel?
- Channel 22A
- Channel 9
- Channel 16 (Correct answer)
- Channel 13
Correct answer: Channel 16
VHF Channel 16 is the international distress, safety, and calling channel; all vessels equipped with VHF must monitor it while underway.
Ship Driver Emergency Procedures and Distress Signals 1
What is the international distress signal for a vessel in peril?