FCC GMDSS Radio Operator License

What is the fundamental purpose of the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS)?

• ATo replace all ship-to-shore telephone communications
• BTo automate and improve emergency communications for the world's shipping industry
• CTo provide entertainment radio services to vessels at sea
• DTo track commercial fishing vessels worldwide

Which international convention mandates GMDSS equipment carriage requirements for ships?

• AInternational Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL)
• BInternational Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS)
• CUnited Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)
• DInternational Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW)

Sea Area A1 is defined as an area within the coverage of at least one:

• AInmarsat geostationary satellite
• BHF coast station
• CVHF coast station providing continuous DSC alerting
• DNAVTEX transmitter

Sea Area A2 extends beyond Sea Area A1 but within the coverage of:

• AAt least one VHF coast station with DSC
• BAt least one MF coast station providing continuous DSC alerting
• CAn Inmarsat geostationary satellite
• DAt least one HF coast station

Sea Area A3 is defined as an area within the coverage of:

• AAt least one MF coast station
• BAt least one HF coast station
• CAn Inmarsat geostationary satellite, excluding A1 and A2
• DThe polar regions

Sea Area A4 encompasses which regions?

• ACoastal waters within 20 nautical miles of shore
• BAll areas covered by Inmarsat satellites
• CThe remaining sea areas outside A1, A2, and A3 (primarily polar regions)
• DOnly the Mediterranean and Caribbean seas

What is Digital Selective Calling (DSC)?

• AA satellite-based voice communication system
• BA technique using digital codes to establish contact between radio stations
• CA method of sending distress signals using Morse code
• DAn encrypted communications channel for military vessels

What is the international DSC distress frequency on VHF?

• AChannel 16 (156.800 MHz)
• BChannel 70 (156.525 MHz)
• CChannel 13 (156.650 MHz)
• DChannel 6 (156.300 MHz)

What unique identifier is programmed into a vessel's DSC equipment?

• ACall Sign
• BMaritime Mobile Service Identity (MMSI)
• CInternational Maritime Organization (IMO) number
• DShip Station License number

What type of information is automatically included in a DSC distress alert?

• AShip's name, cargo manifest, and crew list
• BMMSI, nature of distress, and ship's position (if GPS connected)
• CShip's insurance policy and port of registry
• DCaptain's name and next port of call

An EPIRB (Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacon) transmits on which frequency?

• A121.5 MHz only
• B243 MHz only
• C406 MHz (with 121.5 MHz homing signal)
• D2182 kHz

How is a float-free EPIRB designed to activate?

• ABy pressing a button on the bridge console
• BAutomatically when freed from its hydrostatic release bracket as the vessel sinks
• CBy radio signal from a coast station
• DOnly manually by a crew member

What satellite system processes 406 MHz EPIRB distress alerts?

• AInmarsat
• BIridium
• CCospas-Sarsat
• DGPS

What is the primary function of a Search and Rescue Transponder (SART)?

• ATo communicate with search aircraft by voice
• BTo produce a distinctive pattern on a searching vessel's radar screen to locate survivors
• CTo transmit an automated distress message to shore stations
• DTo provide GPS position to a rescue coordination center

On what frequency band does a SART operate?

• AVHF (156 MHz)
• BMF (2 MHz)
• C9 GHz (X-band radar)
• D406 MHz

How many dots does a SART display on a radar screen when interrogated?

• A6 dots
• B8 dots
• C10 dots
• D12 dots

What is the minimum battery life requirement for a SART in standby mode?

• A24 hours
• B48 hours
• C72 hours
• D96 hours

What is NAVTEX?

• AA satellite communication system for ship-to-shore calls
• BAn international automated service for delivering maritime safety information via NBDP
• CA ship radar navigation system
• DA VHF voice broadcast weather service

What is the international NAVTEX frequency?

• A490 kHz
• B518 kHz
• C2182 kHz
• D4209.5 kHz

A NAVTEX receiver can be programmed to reject messages from specific:

• ACountries
• BStation identifiers (B1 characters) and message type categories (B2 characters)
• CFrequencies only
• DTime zones

Which Inmarsat terminal provides two-way telex and data messaging capability for GMDSS vessels?

• AInmarsat-A
• BInmarsat-B
• CInmarsat-C
• DInmarsat-M

What is the Enhanced Group Call (EGC) SafetyNET service?

• AA VHF voice broadcast system for port operations
• BAn Inmarsat satellite service for broadcasting maritime safety information to defined are…
• CA HF telex service for commercial shipping
• DA cellular phone service for coastal areas

Which organization coordinates and manages the Inmarsat satellite system used for GMDSS?

• AInternational Maritime Organization (IMO)
• BFederal Communications Commission (FCC)
• CInternational Mobile Satellite Organization (IMSO)
• DInternational Telecommunication Union (ITU)

What is the distress and safety radiotelephone frequency on MF?

• A518 kHz
• B2182 kHz
• C4125 kHz
• D8291 kHz

What is the MF DSC distress frequency?

• A2174.5 kHz
• B2182 kHz
• C2187.5 kHz
• D2189.5 kHz

VHF Channel 16 (156.800 MHz) is designated for:

• ADSC calling only
• BInternational distress, safety, and calling via radiotelephone
• CPort operations only
• DShip-to-ship routine communications

What spoken word is used to indicate a distress message on radiotelephone?

• APAN-PAN
• BSECURITE
• CMAYDAY
• DSOS

The urgency signal "PAN-PAN" indicates:

• AA vessel is sinking and needs immediate rescue
• BA vessel has an urgent message concerning the safety of a ship or person
• CA navigational hazard has been reported
• DA routine weather forecast is being broadcast

The safety signal "SECURITE" is used to transmit:

• ADistress messages requiring immediate assistance
• BUrgency messages about danger to persons
• CMessages concerning navigational safety or important meteorological warnings
• DRoutine commercial messages

What is the correct priority order of maritime communications from highest to lowest?

• ASafety, Urgency, Distress, Routine
• BDistress, Urgency, Safety, Routine
• CUrgency, Distress, Safety, Routine
• DDistress, Safety, Urgency, Routine

After sending a DSC distress alert on VHF, the operator should:

• AWait silently for a response on Channel 70
• BImmediately transmit a MAYDAY voice message on Channel 16
• CSwitch to Channel 13 for bridge-to-bridge communications
• DTurn off the radio to conserve power

If a false DSC distress alert is accidentally transmitted on VHF, the operator should:

• ADo nothing and wait for the alert to expire
• BTurn off the radio immediately
• CCancel the alert on Channel 70 and broadcast a cancellation message on Channel 16
• DContact the Coast Guard by telephone only

When a ship receives a DSC distress alert from another vessel, the watch officer should:

• AImmediately acknowledge the alert via DSC
• BMonitor the appropriate radiotelephone distress frequency and NOT acknowledge by DSC
• CRelay the alert to all ships via DSC
• DIgnore the alert if the vessel is not in the same sea area

The signal "SILENCE MAYDAY" (SEELONCE MAYDAY) is used to:

• ACancel a distress alert
• BImpose radio silence on stations interfering with distress traffic
• CIndicate the end of a distress situation
• DTest distress equipment

The signal "SILENCE FINI" (SEELONCE FEENEE) indicates:

• ADistress traffic is complete and normal working may resume
• BRadio silence must continue
• CA new distress situation has been reported
• DThe distress has been upgraded to urgency

What is Narrow-Band Direct Printing (NBDP)?

• AA radar display mode
• BA method of transmitting text messages over radio using Forward Error Correction or Autom…
• CA satellite voice communication system
• DA type of EPIRB encoding

In NBDP communications, what mode is used for one-to-one (point-to-point) communications?

• AForward Error Correction (FEC)
• BAutomatic Repeat Request (ARQ)
• CFrequency Shift Keying (FSK)
• DAmplitude Modulation (AM)

In NBDP communications, Forward Error Correction (FEC) mode is used for:

• APoint-to-point communications between two stations
• BBroadcasting messages to multiple stations simultaneously
• CEncrypted military communications
• DSatellite uplink transmissions

What equipment must all GMDSS vessels carry regardless of their sea area of operation?

• AHF SSB radio and Inmarsat-C
• BVHF DSC radio, SART, EPIRB, and NAVTEX receiver
• COnly a VHF handheld radio
• DOnly an EPIRB and satellite phone

How many SARTs are required on a vessel of 500 gross tonnage or more?

• A1
• B2
• C3
• D4

How many portable VHF transceivers for survival craft are required on a vessel of 500 gross tonnage or more?

• A1
• B2
• C3
• D4

Which additional equipment is required for vessels operating in Sea Area A2 beyond the A1 minimum?

• AHF SSB radio only
• BMF radio with DSC capability on 2187.5 kHz
• CInmarsat-C terminal only
• DA second EPIRB

What is the FCC license designation for a GMDSS Radio Operator?

• AMP (Marine Radio Operator Permit)
• BPG (General Radiotelephone Operator License)
• CDO (GMDSS Radio Operator's License)
• DRG (Restricted GMDSS Radio Operator's License)

To obtain an FCC GMDSS Radio Operator's License (DO), a candidate must pass which examination elements?

• AElement 1 and Element 3
• BElement 1 and Element 7
• CElement 7 and Element 9
• DElement 1, Element 7, and Element 9

FCC-authorized examination managers for commercial radio operator licenses are called:

• AVEs (Volunteer Examiners)
• BCOLEMs (Commercial Operator License Examination Managers)
• CPSIs (Professional Standards Inspectors)
• DMTEs (Maritime Telecommunications Examiners)

What is the term of an FCC GMDSS Radio Operator's License (DO)?

• A5 years
• B10 years
• C20 years
• DLifetime

The FCC filing fee for a new commercial radio operator license application is:

• AFree
• B$25
• C$35
• D$50