3-1
3. DISTRESS OPERATIONS
3.1 Sending Distress Alert
3.1.1 Sending distress alert by DISTRESS button
GMDSS ships carry a DSC terminal with which to transmit the distress alert in the event of a life
endangering situation onboard ship. A coast station receives the distress alert and sends the
distress alert acknowledge message to the ship in distress. Then, voice or telex communications
between the ship in distress and coast station begins, via the radiotelephone.
Transmission of the distress alert and receiving of distress alert acknowledgement are
completely automatic - simply press the [DISTRESS] button to initiate the sequence.
1. Open the DISTRESS button cover and press and hold down the [DISTRESS] button more
than three seconds. The button flashes in red and the buzzer sounds rapidly. The display
shows the contents of the distress alert call: your ship’s nature of distress and position, time,
and DSC frequency used to transmit the alert.
The number of seconds to continue pressing the [DISTRESS] button appear at the bottom of
the display. The buzzer sounds continuously and the lamp in the button lights when the
button has been pressed three seconds. You can release the button at that time.
KEEP PRESSED FOR 3S
NATURE: UNDESIGNATED
POS:
12˚34N 123˚45E AT 12:34
TELEPHONE
2182.0 KHZ
Distress button
pressed!
Displays number of seconds to continue
pressing the DISTRESS button to
transmit the distress alert.
DSC FREQ :
2187.5 KHZ
Nature of Distress
Position, Time
DSC Distress
Frequency used
to transmit the
distress alert