GMDSS QUESTIONS

STCW - GMDSS Test Pool, Questions and Answers. (Answers bottom of page) May, 2000

KEY TOPIC-#001: FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPTS:

001A- What is the fundamental concept of the GMDSS?

a) It is intended to automate and improve emergency communications in the maritime industry.

b) It is intended to automate and improve existing digital selective calling procedures and techniques.

c) It is intended to provide more effective but lower cost commercial communications.

d) It is intended to provide compulsory vessels with a collision avoidance system when they are operating in

waters that are also occupied by non-compulsory vessels.

001B- The primary purpose of the GMDSS is?

a) Allow more effective control of SAR situations by vessels.

b) Provide additional shipboard systems for more effective company communications.

c) Automate and improve emergency communications for the world's shipping industry.

d) Effective and inexpensive communications.

001C- What is the basic concept of GMDSS?

a) Search and rescue authorities ashore can be alerted to a distress situation.

b) Shipping in the immediate vicinity of a ship in distress will be rapidly alerted.

c) Shoreside authorities and vessels can assist in a coordinated SAR operation with minimum delay.

d) All of these.

001D- GMDSS is primarily a system based on?

a) Ship-to-ship distress communication using MF or HF radiotelephony.

b) VHF digital selective calling from ship to shore.

c) Distress, urgency and safety communication carried out by the use of narrow-band direct printing telegraphy.

d) The linking of search and rescue authorities ashore with shipping in the immediate vicinity of a ship in

distress or in need of assistance.

001E- What is the responsibility of vessels under GMDSS?

a) Vessels over 300 gross tonnage may be required to render assistance if such assistance does not adversely

affect their port schedule.

b) Only that vessel, regardless of size, closest to a vessel in distress, is required to render assistance.

c) Every ship is able to perform those communication functions which are essential for the safety of the ship

itself and of other ships.

d) Vessels operating under GMDSS, outside of areas effectively serviced by shoreside authorities, operating in

sea areas A2, and A4 may be required to render assistance in distress situations.

001F- GMDSS is required for which of the following?

a) All vessels capable of international voyages.

b) Vessels operating outside of the range of VHF coastal radio stations.

c) SOLAS Convention ships of 300 gross tonnage or more.

d) Coastal vessels of less than 300 gross tons.

Key Topic #001 Answer Key: A: a)  B: c)  C: d) D: d)   E: c)  F: c).

STCW - GMDSS Test Pool, Questions and Answers. (Answers bottom of page) May, 2000

KEY TOPIC-#002: EQUIPMENT SYSTEMS:

002A- What equipment is associated with the land or terrestrial systems?

a) EPIRB.

b) VHF-MF-HF.

c) Inmarsat-C.

d) GPS.

002B- What equipment is associated with the space systems?

a) VHF-MF-HF.

b) Inmarsat-C.

c) Navtex.

d) SART.

002C- What equipment is used in or near the survival craft?

a) Navtex.

b) Fathometer.

c) Cospas-Sarsat.

d) EPIRB.

002D- What equipment is used to send distress alerts and calls to individual stations?

a) Navtex.

b) GPS.

c) DSC controller.

d) Scanning Watch Receiver.

002E- What system provides accurate vessel position information to the GMDSS equipment?

a) GPS.

b) Cospas-Sarsat.

c) EPIRB.

d) Inmarsat-A.

002F- What is the primary equipment for receiving MSI.

a) SART

b) EPIRB

c) Navtex

d) Inmarsat-A.

Key Topic #002 Answer Key: A: b)  B: b)  C: d) D: c)   E: a)  F: c).

STCW - GMDSS Test Pool, Questions and Answers. (Answers bottom of page) May, 2000

KEY TOPIC-#003: SEA AREAS:

003A- Which of the following region lies outside Sea Areas A1, A2, and A3?

a) Sea Areas only apply to Inmarsat footprint areas.

b) Sea Area A3-I (Inmarsat coverage) and Sea Area A3-S (HF SITOR

coverage).

c) There are no additional Sea Areas.

d) Sea Area A4.

003B- What sea area is defined as being within range of a shore-based MF station which provides for

continuous DSC alerting?

a) Sea area A2.

b) Coastal waters.

c) Sea area A3.

d) Sea area A1.

003C- If a vessel is engaged in local trade, and at no point in its voyage travels outside of the range of a VHF

shore station with continuous DSC alerting, the vessel is operating in what area?

a) Coastal and international zones.

b) Inland and coastal waters.

c) Sea areas A1 and A2.

d) Sea area A1.

003D- What is defined as an area, excluding sea areas A1 and A2, within the coverage of an Inmarsat

geostationary satellite in which continuous alerting is available?

a) Ocean Area Regions AOR-E, AOR-W, POR or IOR.

b) Sea Area A4.

c) Sea Area A3.

d) Coastal and Inland Waters.

003E- SITOR equipment is a full, partial or alternate carriage requirement under GMDSS for vessels operating

in which sea area(s)?

a) A1.

b) A1 and A2.

c) A3 and A4.

d) A1, A2, A3 and A4.

003F- What is defined as the area within the radiotelephone coverage area of at least one VHF coast station in

which continuous DSC alerting is available as defined by the IMO regulation for GMDSS?

a) Sea Area A1.

b) Ocean Area Regions AOR-E, AOR-W, POR or IOR.

c) Sea Area A2.

d) Coastal and Inland Waters.

Key Topic #003 Answer Key: A: d)  B: a)  C: d) D: c)   E: c)  F: a).

STCW - GMDSS Test Pool, Questions and Answers. (Answers bottom of page) May, 2000

KEY TOPIC-#004: FUNCTIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

004A- Which of the following is a functional or carriage requirement for compulsory vessels?

a) A compulsory vessel must carry at least two (2) licensed GMDSS Radio Operators.

b) A compulsory vessel must satisfy certain equipment carriage requirements that are determined by where the

vessel sails.

c) A compulsory vessel must be able to transmit and respond to distress alerts.

d) All of the above.

004B- Which communications functions must all vessels be capable of performing under GMDSS as defined

by the International Maritime Organization?

a) Radio Direction Finding.

b) Distress alerting to and from vessels, search and rescue coordination, on-scene communications, signals for

locating, maritime safety information, general and bridge-to-bridge communications.

c) Communications in each of the operational ocean areas.

d) All communications possible within the International Safety-Net service.

004C- GMDSS-equipped ships will be required to perform which of the following communications functions?

a) Distress alerting and maritime safety information.

b) Search and Rescue coordination and on-scene communications.

c) Bridge-to-bridge and general radio communications.

d) All of these.

004D- What equipment can be used to receive Maritime Safety Information?

a) Navtex

b) EGC receiver.

c) HF NBDP

d) All of the above.

004E- Which of the following is a required GMDSS function?

a) Bridge-to-Bridge communications.

b) Reception of weather map facsimile broadcasts.

c) Both of the above.

d) None of the above.

004F- Which of the following is a required GMDSS function?

a) Transmit and receive locating signals.

b) Transmit and receive general communications.

c) Both of the above.

d) None of the above.

Key Topic #004 Answer Key: A: d)  B: b)  C: d) D: d)   E: a)  F: c).

STCW - GMDSS Test Pool, Questions and Answers. (Answers bottom of page) May, 2000

KEY TOPIC-#005: EQUIPMENT CARRIAGE REQUIREMENTS:

005A- Which statement is true regarding a vessel equipped with GMDSS equipment that will remain in Sea

Area A1 at all times?

a) The vessel must be provided with a radio installation capable of initiating the transmission of ship-to-shore

distress alerting from the position from which the ship is normally navigated.

b) VHF DSC alerting may be the sole means of distress alerting.

c) HF or MF DSC may satisfy the equipment requirement.

d) HF SSB with 2182 kHz automatic alarm generator may satisfy the equipment requirement.

005B- What statement is true regarding the additional equipment carriage requirement imposed for the survival

craft of vessels over 500 gross tons?

a) Additional carriage of two radio equipped lifeboats aft

b) A second radar transponder is required.

c) Four additional portable VHF radios are required.

d) The ability to communicate in all modes with any shore station.

005C- Vessels operating in which sea area(s) are required to carry either Inmarsat or HF equipment or a

combination thereof under GMDSS?

a) All sea areas.

b) A3.

c) A4.

d) A1

005D- Within a single sea area, what is the primary reason GMDSS imposes carriage requirements for different

radio subsystems?

a) Redundancy in duplicating all operational functions in the event of a system failure.

b) Each subsystem has a specific purpose and capabilities that generally cannot be duplicated by other

subsystems.

c) Different radio systems may be used by the various authorities.

d) The ability to communicate in all modes with any of the shore stations.

005E- If operating within Ocean Area A1, and outside of NAVTEX coverage, a GMDSS-equipped vessel must

carry?

a) An Inmarsat-A terminal.

b) A GPS receiver.

c) Equipment capable of maintaining a continuous DSC watch on 2187.5 kHz.

d) Equipment capable of reception of maritime safety information by the Inmarsat enhanced group call system,

or HF NBDP.

005F- What is the equipment carriage requirement for survival craft under GMDSS?

a) At least three approved two-way VHF radiotelephones on every passenger ship and cargo ships of 500 gross

tons and upwards.

b) At least two approved two-way VHF radiotelephones on every cargo ship between 300-500 gross tonnage.

c) At least one radar transponder must be carried on every cargo ship of 300-500 gross tons and two

transponders (one for each side) of every passenger ship and every cargo ship of 500 gross tons and upward.

d) All of these.

Key Topic #005 Answer Key: A: a)  B: b)  C: b) D: b)   E: d)  F: d).

STCW - GMDSS Test Pool, Questions and Answers. (Answers bottom of page) May, 2000

KEY TOPIC-#006: MAINTENANCE OPTIONS:

006A- Which of the following statements concerning maintenance requirements is false?

a) Compulsory vessels sailing in Sea Areas A1 and A2 must provide any one of the three maintenance options

which are duplication of equipment, shore-based, or at-sea maintenance capability.

b) Compulsory vessels sailing in Sea Areas A3 and A4 must provide any two of the three maintenance options

which are duplication of equipment, shore-based, or at-sea maintenance capability.

c) If shore-based maintenance is used, maintenance services do not have to be completed or performance

verified unless the vessel will be sailing to a non-US port.

d) Equipment warranties do not satisfy GMDSS maintenance requirements.

006B- Which of the following statements concerning maintenance requirements is true?

a) The options are duplication of equipment, at-sea maintenance, and shore-based maintenance.

b) Compulsory vessels between 300-500 gross tons are required only to provide one maintenance option, while

compulsory vessels larger than 500 gross tons and all passenger vessels are required to provide any two of the

three maintenance options.

c) The "at-sea" maintenance may be waived if the compulsory vessel carries at least three licensed GMDSS

Radio Operators.

d) Compulsory vessels operating in Sea Area A4 are required to carry at least one licensed GMDSS Radio

Maintainer.

006C- Which of the following is a requirement, under GMDSS, for all vessels over 300 gross tons operating

within range of a MF-DSC equipped shore station?

a) Ship's Master or radio officer must be on duty at all times.

b) At least 2nd class Telegraphy license or GMDSS Element 9 is required for the radio officer.

c) Spare parts and maintenance kit for repairs.

d) Only one of the three maintenance options is required.

006D- What statement is generally correct regarding the maintenance requirements for ships under GMDSS?

a) Redundancy of functions of certain equipment will partially meet this requirement.

b) On-board maintenance provided by a person holding a GMDSS Maintainer's license will partially meet the

requirements.

c) Shoreside maintenance and scheduled tests and inspections will partially meet this requirement.

d) All of the above.

006E- A ship operating in sea area A-3 must have the following provisions for maintenance:

a) Duplication of Equipment.

b) Shore Maintenance

c) At Sea Maintenance

d) Any two of the above.

006F- A ship operating in sea area A-1 must have the following provisions for maintenance:

a) Shore maintenance.

b) Duplication of equipment.

c) At Sea Maintenance.

d) Any one of the above.

Key Topic #006 Answer Key: A: c)  B: a)  C: d) D: d)   E: d)  F: d).

STCW - GMDSS Test Pool, Questions and Answers. (Answers bottom of page) May, 2000

KEY TOPIC #007: RADIO SPECTRUM:

007A- What is the frequency range for Medium Frequency?

a) 30-300 KHz.

b) 300-3,000 KHz

c) 1,000-10,000 KHz.

d) 10 MHz-30 MHz.

007B- What is the frequency range for High Frequency?

a) 3-30 MHz.

b) 300-3,000 KHz

c) 30-300 MHz.

d) 10 MHz-30 MHz.

007C- What is the frequency range for Very High Frequency?

a) 3-30 MHz.

b) 300-3,000 KHz

c) 30-300 MHz.

d) 10 MHz-30 MHz.

007D- What is the frequency range for Ultra High Frequency?

a) 3-30 MHz.

b) 300-3,000 MHz

c) 30-300 MHz.

d) 10 MHz-30 MHz.

007E- What is the frequency range for Super High Frequency?

a) 30-300 GHz.

b) 300-3,000 MHz.

c) 30-300 MHz.

d) 3-30 GHz.

007F- What is the primary frequency range for long distance skywave communications?

a) 3-30 MHz.

b) 300-3,000 KHz

c) 30-300 MHz.

d) 10 MHz-30 MHz.

Key Topic #007 Answer Key: A: b)  B: a)  C: c) D: b)   E: d)  F: a).

STCW - GMDSS Test Pool, Questions and Answers. (Answers bottom of page) May, 2000

KEY TOPIC #008: FREQUENCY BANDS:

008A- Which of the following systems is most likely to be subject to fading or static interference?

a) HF SITOR.

b) Inmarsat.

c) Digital Selective Calling on channel 70.

d) VHF ARQ.

008B- Which system is most likely to be affected by atmospheric disturbances?

a) MF/HF radiotelephony.

b) VHF DSC.

c) Inmarsat.

d) SafetyNET.

008C- Which of the following systems is least likely to be subject to fading or static interference?

a) HF SITOR.

b) Inmarsat.

c) MF-HF DSC Controller.

d) VHF ARQ.

008D- Which system is least likely to be affected by atmospheric disturbances?

a) NAVTEX.

b) Inmarsat.

c) MF NBDP.

d) HF NBDP.

008E- Which of the following frequency bands would most likely provide reliable communications between two

stations that are 100 miles (160 km) apart?

a) The Low Frequency (LF) band.

b) The Medium Frequency (MF) band.

c) The High Frequency (HF) band.

d) The Very High Frequency (VHF) band.

008F- Which system has the least effective radius of operation?

a) HF SITOR.

b) MF NBDP.

c) VHF DSC.

d) NAVTEX.

Key Topic #008 Answer Key: A: a)  B: a)  C: b) D: b)   E: b)  F: c).

STCW - GMDSS Test Pool, Questions and Answers. (Answers bottom of page) May, 2000

KEY TOPIC #009: MODULATION-DEMODULATION, AM & FM:

009A- What statement best describes modulation?

a) Imposing intelligence onto a radio carrier signal.

b) Changing mark-space to 1 and 0.

c) Adjusting the frequency to the optimum band for long distance communications.

d) Converting the carrier from a low frequency to a higher frequency.

009B- What statement best describes demodulation?

a) Detuning the receiver to remove interfering signals.

b) Removing atmospheric noise from the signal.

c) Removing the information signal from the carrier.

d) Separating the telex signals from the voice signals.

009C- Which statement best describes amplitude modulation?

a) The character data from the terminal is changed to audio tones.

b) The frequency is varied in synchronization with the modulating signal.

c) The information signal changes the amplitude but does not change the carrier frequency.

d) The amplitude of the carrier is changed but there is still only a single frequency being transmitted.

009D- What is the emission designation for MF-HF voice signals?

a) F1B

b) J3E

c) J2B

d) F3E

009E- Which statement best describes frequency modulation?

a) Both the amplitude and frequency are changed by the modulating signal.

b) The frequency is changed by the information signal and the amplitude remains unchanged.

c) Frequency modulation is subject to interference by atmospheric noise.

d) High level mixing of the final amplifier signal and the information signal.

009F- What is the emission designation for VHF-FM?

a) F3C

b) J2B

c) F3E

d) AME

Key Topic #009 Answer Key: A: a)  B: c)  C: c) D: b)   E: b)  F: c).