VTS Communication Procedures 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under what circumstance may a VTS operator transmit on Channel 16 rather than the designated VTS working channel?
- Whenever the working channel is experiencing interference
- During distress, urgency, or safety communications that require broad alerting (Correct answer)
- When contacting vessels that have not yet entered the VTS area
- When the vessel requests communication in its native language
Correct answer: During distress, urgency, or safety communications that require broad alerting
Channel 16 is reserved for distress, urgency, and safety traffic; VTS operators may use it when the nature of the communication requires alerting all vessels in the area.
Question 2: A vessel transmits 'MAYDAY RELAY' followed by a distress message. What does this indicate?
- The vessel itself is in distress and relaying its own position to multiple stations
- A third party is relaying a distress message on behalf of a vessel in distress (Correct answer)
- The vessel is conducting a scheduled safety drill requiring VTS acknowledgment
- The vessel is requesting a relay of routine traffic through the VTS
Correct answer: A third party is relaying a distress message on behalf of a vessel in distress
MAYDAY RELAY is used by a station relaying a distress message originating from another vessel that may not be able to communicate directly.
Question 3: What is the correct format for a VTS position report when a vessel gives its bearing and distance from a landmark?
- Distance first, then true bearing, then landmark name
- Landmark name, then true bearing FROM the landmark, then distance (Correct answer)
- Latitude and longitude converted from the bearing and distance
- Bearing in magnetic, distance in nautical miles, landmark last
Correct answer: Landmark name, then true bearing FROM the landmark, then distance
Standard VTS position reports state the reference point (landmark), followed by the true bearing FROM that point to the vessel, then the distance in nautical miles.
Question 4: The urgency signal in radiotelephony is:
- MAYDAY spoken three times
- PAN-PAN spoken three times (Correct answer)
- SECURITE spoken three times
- DANGER spoken three times
Correct answer: PAN-PAN spoken three times
PAN-PAN (pronounced 'pahn-pahn'), spoken three times, is the international urgency signal indicating a serious situation concerning the safety of a vessel or person.
Question 5: A VTS operator must log all radio communications. Which of the following is the MOST critical element to record?
- The operator's personal assessment of the vessel's competency
- Date, time, channel, vessel identity, and content of the communication (Correct answer)
- The vessel's port of registry and classification society
- Weather conditions at the time of the communication
Correct answer: Date, time, channel, vessel identity, and content of the communication
Communication logs must capture who communicated, when, on which channel, and what was said, forming the official record for safety, legal, and operational review purposes.
Question 6: When a VTS operator issues a navigational warning, which signal word should precede the message?
- PAN-PAN
- MAYDAY
- SECURITE (Correct answer)
- NOTICE
Correct answer: SECURITE
SECURITE (pronounced 'say-coo-ree-tay') is the international safety signal used to precede navigational and meteorological warnings important to all mariners.
Question 7: What does 'WILCO' mean in maritime radio communications?
- I have received your message
- I have received your message, understand it, and will comply (Correct answer)
- I cannot comply with your instructions at this time
- Please wait while I confirm the instruction
Correct answer: I have received your message, understand it, and will comply
WILCO is a proword meaning 'Will Comply,' indicating the receiving station has received, understood, and will carry out the instruction.
VTS Communication Procedures 3
Under what circumstance may a VTS operator transmit on Channel 16 rather than the designated VTS working channel?