VTS Communication Procedures & Protocols 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the meaning of 'radio silence' as imposed by a Mayday relay?
- All vessels must anchor immediately
- All stations must cease transmissions that could interfere with distress traffic (Correct answer)
- Only military vessels may transmit
- VHF Channel 16 is switched off by the Coast Guard
Correct answer: All stations must cease transmissions that could interfere with distress traffic
Radio silence (Silence Mayday) requires all stations to stop transmitting on the distress channel to keep it clear for emergency traffic.
Question 2: A VTS operator is composing a Notice to Mariners broadcast. Which element must appear FIRST?
- The issuing authority
- Securite spoken three times followed by the station identifier (Correct answer)
- The affected geographic area
- The date and time of the hazard
Correct answer: Securite spoken three times followed by the station identifier
Navigational warnings begin with 'Securite, Securite, Securite' followed by 'All stations' or the station name per ITU protocol.
Question 3: When two vessels are negotiating a passing arrangement via VHF, which regulation governs how the agreement affects the Rules of the Road?
- A VHF agreement supersedes the Navigation Rules entirely
- A VHF agreement is a permissible departure from the Rules if both vessels clearly agree (Correct answer)
- VHF agreements are not legally recognized under COLREGS
- Only a harbor pilot can authorize a departure from the Rules
Correct answer: A VHF agreement is a permissible departure from the Rules if both vessels clearly agree
COLREGS Rule 2 allows for departures from the rules when necessary to avoid danger, and a clear VHF agreement constitutes mutual consent.
Question 4: What is the correct VHF working channel for VTS communications with commercial vessels in most US ports managed by the Coast Guard?
- Channel 12
- Channel 14
- Channel 22A (Correct answer)
- Channel 67
Correct answer: Channel 22A
Channel 22A (157.100 MHz) is the primary liaison channel between the US Coast Guard and commercial vessels in most US VTS ports.
Question 5: A VTS operator broadcasts 'all vessels reduce speed to bare steerage way in the main ship channel.' What type of VTS service is this?
- Information Service
- Navigational Assistance Service
- Traffic Organization Service (Correct answer)
- Vessel Escort Service
Correct answer: Traffic Organization Service
Issuing speed or routing directives to manage traffic flow is a function of the Traffic Organization Service component of VTS.
Question 6: Which proword is used to confirm that a message has been received and understood exactly as sent?
- ROGER (Correct answer)
- COPY
- AFFIRM
- ACKNOWLEDGED
Correct answer: ROGER
'ROGER' means 'I have received your last transmission satisfactorily' and is the standard acknowledgment proword.
Question 7: A vessel master refuses a VTS instruction citing the master's overriding authority. What should the VTS operator do?
- Immediately order the vessel to anchor
- Document the refusal, report to the appropriate authority, and continue monitoring the vessel (Correct answer)
- Shut down the vessel's AIS remotely
- Broadcast the incident on Channel 16 to warn other vessels
Correct answer: Document the refusal, report to the appropriate authority, and continue monitoring the vessel
The VTS operator must log the refusal, notify the appropriate authority (e.g., COTP), and continue monitoring to maintain situational awareness.
VTS Communication Procedures & Protocols 5
What is the meaning of 'radio silence' as imposed by a Mayday relay?