ETO Navigation Electronics & GMDSS 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What does GMDSS stand for?
- Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (Correct answer)
- General Maritime Digital Safety System
- Global Marine Data Safety System
- General Marine Distress Signal System
Correct answer: Global Maritime Distress and Safety System
GMDSS stands for Global Maritime Distress and Safety System, the internationally mandated communication framework for maritime distress alerting and safety at sea.
Question 2: Which GMDSS device automatically transmits a distress signal with vessel position when a ship sinks?
- NAVTEX receiver
- SART (Search and Rescue Transponder)
- EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon) (Correct answer)
- VHF DSC controller
Correct answer: EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon)
An EPIRB is designed to float free when a ship founders and automatically transmit a distress signal with GPS position data via the COSPAS-SARSAT satellite system.
Question 3: On which VHF channel are DSC distress alerts transmitted?
- Channel 16 (156.800 MHz)
- Channel 70 (156.525 MHz) (Correct answer)
- Channel 13 (156.650 MHz)
- Channel 22A (157.100 MHz)
Correct answer: Channel 70 (156.525 MHz)
VHF Channel 70 (156.525 MHz) is internationally reserved exclusively for Digital Selective Calling distress, urgency, and safety alerts.
Question 4: How frequently must a ship's GMDSS radio equipment be operationally tested under SOLAS regulations?
- Annually
- Monthly
- Daily (Correct answer)
- Weekly
Correct answer: Daily
SOLAS requires daily testing of GMDSS radio equipment including DSC controllers, EPIRBs, and SARTs to ensure operational readiness for distress situations.
Question 5: What is the primary purpose of a NAVTEX receiver aboard a vessel?
- To receive satellite weather imagery
- To automatically receive and print maritime safety information broadcasts (Correct answer)
- To transmit distress alerts to coast guard stations
- To communicate digitally with port authorities
Correct answer: To automatically receive and print maritime safety information broadcasts
NAVTEX automatically receives and prints maritime safety information including weather forecasts, navigational warnings, and SAR notices broadcast on 518 kHz.
Question 6: Which satellite system using Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites forms the backbone of the GMDSS distress alerting network?
- INMARSAT
- GPS (NAVSTAR)
- COSPAS-SARSAT (Correct answer)
- VSAT
Correct answer: COSPAS-SARSAT
COSPAS-SARSAT uses a combination of LEO and geostationary satellites to detect and locate 406 MHz distress signals from EPIRBs and PLBs for search and rescue coordination.
Question 7: At what maximum range can a SART (Search and Rescue Transponder) typically be detected on a ship's 3 cm X-band radar?
- Up to 5 nautical miles
- Up to 10 nautical miles (Correct answer)
- Up to 30 nautical miles
- Up to 50 nautical miles
Correct answer: Up to 10 nautical miles
Under normal conditions, a SART responding to an X-band radar can be detected at up to 10 nautical miles, displaying as a distinctive line of 12 dots on the radar screen.
ETO Navigation Electronics & GMDSS 1
What does GMDSS stand for?