COMPETENCE : Respond to a distress

signal at sea
KUP: Knowledge of the contents of the
International Aeronautical and Maritime
Search and Rescue (IAMSAR) Manual
Methods for demonstrating competence:
Examination and assessment of evidence
obtained from practical instruction or
approved simulator training, where
appropriate
Criteria for evaluating competence: The
type and scale of the emergency is
promptly identified
 ACTIONS BY A VESSEL IN DISTRESS

CO3 Demonstrate the initial actions by a

vessel in distress
TOPIC: Actions by a vessel in Distress
4 The activation of GMDSS
equipment
LO3 Demonstrate the initial actions by a
vessel in distress
TEACHER ACTIVITY CADET ACTIVITY
1. Present the Explain how to
different GMDSS activate SART,
equipments EPIRB, Signalling
equipment and Other
GMDSS equipment
ACTIVATION OF GMDSS EQUIPMENT
To activate a S.A.R.T just follow indicated
instruction, e.g.
(1) Remove the S.A.R.T. from it's container
(2) Pull the safety pin from the S.A.R.T.
(3) Check the RED light is on
(4) If onboard the vessel, try and get it as
high as possible
(5) If in a Liferaft, mount it on top of the
liferaft
Activate / Deploy an EPIRB
EPIRB to begin transmitting a signal (or
"activate") it first needs to come out of its
bracket (or "deploy"). EPIRBs can be
activated manually - when a button on the
unit is pushed, or automatically - when
water comes into contact with the unit's
"sea-switch". A hydrostatic release
mechanism releases the EPIRB at a water
depth of 3-10 feet. The buoyant EPIRB
then floats to the surface and begins
transmitting.
 EPIRB is short for Emergency
Positioning-Indicating Radio Beacon, and
is a tracking unit which helps to detect and
locate ships ( as well as aircraft and
people) in distress. The EPIRB will be
released from the ship if immersed. The
radio beacons are communicating with the
international system for search and
rescue, Cospas-Sarsat.
 When manually or automatically
activated, they send out a distress signal,
which again is monitored worldwide and
the location is detected by use of satellites
combined with methods of trilateration
and triangulation.
The basic purpose of a distress radio
beacon is to help rescuers find survivors
within the so-called “golden day” (the first
24 hours following a traumatic event)
during which the majority of survivors can
usually be saved.
TOPIC: Actions by a vessel in Distress
5 The actions to take by a vessel in
distress while waiting for possible
rescuers
LO3 Demonstrate the initial actions by a
vessel in distress
TEACHER ACTIVITY CADET ACTIVITY
1. Present the topic Describe actions to
to the students take by a vessel in
distress while
waiting for possible
rescuers
 If you are involved in a ship casualty
and are forced to abandon ship, your
survival procedure should be preplanned,
thereby increasing your chances for a
successful rescue. Records show that a
sinking, even in the worst cases, usually
require at least 15 to 30 minutes for the
vessel to fully submerge. This affords
valuable time for preparation.
Here are some pointers for you to
remember in a situation of this type:
1. Put on as much warm clothing as
possible, making sure to cover head,
neck, hands and feet.
2. If an immersion (exposure) suit is
available put it on over warm clothing.
3. If an immersion (exposure) suit does
not have inherent flotation put on a PFD
(personal floating device) and be sure
to secure it correctly.
4. All persons affected by seasickness
should take some recommended
preventative medicine in a dose
recommended by the manufacturer.
5. Avoid entering the water if possible.
6. Unless it is unavoidable do not jump
from higher than 5 meters (16.4 ft) into
the water.
7. Try to lower yourself gradually
8. Once in the water orient yourself and
try to locate the ship, lifeboats, life rafts,
other survivors or other floating objects.
9. While afloat in the water, do not attempt
to swim unless it is to reach a nearby
craft, a fellow survivor, or a floating
object, on which you can lean or climb.
10. Position your body in the water to
conserving heat or huddle closely with
one or more persons afloat for heat
conserving position.
11. Try to board a lifeboat, raft or other
floating platform or objects as soon as
possible in order to shorten your
immersion time.
12. Try to shield yourself from wind to
avoid a wind chill effect (convective
cooling).
13. Do not use "drown proofing" in cold
water. "Drown proofing" is a technique
whereby you relax in the water and
allow your head to submerge between
breaths.
14. Keep a positive attitude about your
survival and rescue.
Requirements of survival craft portable
two-way VHF radiotelephone equipment
A. Watertight to a depth of 1 meter for 5
minutes.
B. Effective radiated power should be a
minimum of 0.25 watts.
D. The antenna is fixed and non-
removable.
B. Effective radiated power should be a
minimum of 0.25 Watts.
C. Simplex voice communications only.
D. Operation on Ch-16.
TOPIC: Actions by a vessel in Distress
6. The procedures during
accidental or false distress alert
message
LO3 Demonstrate the initial actions by a
vessel in distress
TEACHER ACTIVITY CADET ACTIVITY
1. Present the topic Explain procedures
to the students during accidental or
false distress alert
message
 A false distress alert is a deadly serious
offense and considered a hoax. Hoax calls
not only put the lives of RESCUERS
personnel at risk, but also take valuable
search and rescue assets away from real
emergencies, endangering the lives of
innocent people.
 Calling MAYDAY on the radio in order to
get a radio check is considered a hoax.
Most states intends to prosecute to the
full extent of the law violators who make
HOAX distress calls.
Owners are asked to notify authorities
if they sell their distress beacon or it is
lost, stolen or destroyed. If authorities is
not notified and the new owner activates
the beacon any rescue will be delayed as
the last known registered owner will be
contacted.
 Procedures for Cancelling False Distress
Alerts.
(A) VHF Digital Selective Calling.
(1) Reset the equipment immediately;
(2) Immediately cancel the distress alert
orally over the telephony distress
traffic channel associated with each
DSC channel on which the distress
alert was transmitted;
(3) Set to Channel 16; and
 (4) Transmit a broadcast message to “All
stations” giving the ship's name, call
sign or registration number, and MMSI,
and cancel the false distress alert.
Example:
All Stations, All Stations, All Stations
This is NAME, CALL SIGN,
DSC NUMBER, POSITION.
Cancel my distress alert of
DATE, TIME UTC,
= Master NAME, CALL SIGN,
DSC NUMBER, DATE, TIME UTC.
(B) MF Digital Selective Calling.
(1) Reset the equipment immediately;
(2) Immediately cancel the distress alert
orally over the telephony distress
traffic channel associated with each
DSC channel on which the distress
alert was transmitted; and
(3) Tune for radiotelephony transmission
on 2182 kHz; and
 (4) Transmit a broadcast message to “All
stations” giving the ship's name, call
sign or registration number, and MMSI,
and cancel the false distress alert.
Example:
All Stations, All Stations, All Stations
This is NAME, CALL SIGN,
DSC NUMBER, POSITION.
Cancel my distress alert of
DATE, TIME UTC,
= Master NAME, CALL SIGN,
DSC NUMBER, DATE, TIME UTC.
(C) HF Digital Selective Calling;
(1) Reset the equipment immediately;
(2) Immediately cancel the distress alert
orally over the telephony distress
traffic channel associated with each
DSC channel on which the distress
alert was transmitted;
(3) Tune for radiotelephony on the
distress and safety frequency in each
band in which a false distress alert
was transmitted; and
 (4) Transmit a broadcast message to “All
stations” giving the ship's name, call sign or
registration number, and MMSI, and cancel
the false distress alert frequency in each
band in which a false distress alert was
transmitted.
Example:
All Stations, All Stations, All Stations
This is NAME, CALL SIGN,
DSC NUMBER, POSITION.
Cancel my distress alert of
DATE, TIME UTC,
= Master NAME, CALL SIGN,
DSC NUMBER, DATE, TIME UTC.
(D) INMARSAT ship earth station
Immediately notify the appropriate
rescue coordination center that the alert is
cancelled by sending a distress priority
message by way of the same land earth
station through which the false distress
alert was sent. Provide ship name, call
sign or registration number, and
INMARSAT identity with the cancelled
alert message.
(E) EPIRB
If for any reason an EPIRB is activated
inadvertently, immediately contact the
nearest U.S. Coast Guard unit or
appropriate rescue coordination center by
telephone, radio or ship earth station and
cancel the distress alert.