First of all HAPPY NEW YEAR !!! I would like to finish this chapter about GMDSS:

DSC DISTRESS COMMUNICATION
DSC DISTRESS INFORMATION:
A distress alert by Digital selective call should include the following information:
· the nature of call is DISTRESS
· MMSI number of vessel in distress
· position of vessel in distress in coordinates
· position at TIME
· nature of distress
· suggestion for follow up communication ( voice or text)
NOTE:
· A distress call is always addressed at all stations.
· Voice communication always takes place on channel 16.
NATURE OF DISTRESS
The DSC apparatus has a menu including the following choices for nature of distress:
· fire, explosion
· flooding
· collision
· grounding
· listing in danger of capsizing
· sinking
· disabled and adrift
· undesignated distress
· abandoning ship
· piracy/armed robbery attack
· man overboard
· EPIRB

EXAMPLE - DISTRESS CALL DSC
Area A1 on VHF
The DSC shows the following information:
Format: DISTRESS
Distress ID 230136780 (MMSI number of vessel)
Postion: 59 23 N 020 36 E
Pos.UTC: 1345 UTC
Nature of distress: LISTING IN DANGER OF CAPSIZING
Telecom: TELEPHONY (F3E/G3E SIMPLEX)
Transmitted: Ch 70
EXAMPLE - DISTRESS ACKNOWLEDGEMENT DSC
Area A1 on VHF
The Distress call is acknowledged by MRCC Turku:
The acknowledgement repeats the information in the Distress Call.
It is directed to and seen on the DSC apparatus by all ships in the vicinity.
Format: ALL SHIPS
From: 002301000
Category: DISTRESS
Telecom 1: DISTRESS ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Distress ID: 230136780
Position: 59 23 N 020 36 E
Pos.UTC: 1345 UTC
Nature of distress: LISTING IN DANGER OF CAPSIZING
Telecom: TELEPHONY (F3E/G3E SINPLEX)
Transmitted: Ch 70
AFTER THIS FOLLOWS VOICE COMMUNICATION ON CHANNEL 16
DISTRESS MESSAGE
MAYDAY
This is 230136780
VERA
CALL SIGN JULIETT ALFA BRAVO CHARLIE
POSITION: 59º 23´ NORTH 020º 36´ EAST
Heavy leaking, danger of capsizing. Sea is rough.
Three men on board, five men in dinghy.
REQUEST: I require immediate assistance.
DISTRESS ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
MAYDAY
VERA VERA VERA
Call sign Juliett Alfa Bravo Charlie
This is RESCUE CENTRE TURKU RESCUE CENTRE TURKU
RESCUE CENTRE TURKU
RECEIVED MAYDAY
Over
FOLLOWED BY A MAYDAY RELAY FROM THE RESCUE
CENTRE ON CHANNEL 16...
MAYDAY RELAY MAYDAY RELAY MAYDAY RELAY

ALL STATIONS ALL STATIONS ALL STATIONS
This is 002301000
Rescue Centre Turku Rescue Centre Turku Rescue Centre Turku
Following received from Vera Juliett Alfa Bravo Charlie at 1200 UTC on VHF channel 16 :
Begins
Mayday
This is Vera
Juliett Alfa Bravo Charlie
In position 59º 23´ NORTH 020º 36´ EAST
Heavy leaking, danger of capsizing. Sea is rough.
Three men on board, five men in dinghy.
REQUEST: I require immediate assistance.
Ends
Ships in area report to Rescue centre Turku
Over
DSC SAFETY COMMUNICATION
The following is an example of the MESSAGE STRUCTURE of a Safety Call with DSC by Turku
Radio. This call is seen by vessels in the area.
Format: All ships
From: MMSI NUMBER (002300230)
Category SAFETY
Telecom: TELEPHONY (F3E/G3E SIMPLEX)
Work Channel 16
Transmitted: Ch 70
It is followed by a safety call by voice communication sent by Turku Radio on VHF channel 16, so
that every vessel, even smaller ones without DSC will receive the warning. The safety message is
then read on the traffic channel:
SAFETY CALL ON CHANNEL 16:
SECURITÉ SECURITÉ SECURITÉ
ALL STATIONS ALL STATIONS ALL STATIONS
THIS IS: MMSI NUMBER
NAME OF STATION 1 X:
NAVIGATIONAL WARNING
PLEASE SWITCH TO TRAFFIC CHANNELS
SAFETY MESSAGE ON TRAFFIC CHANNEL:
SECURITÉ SECURITÉ SECURITÉ
ALL STATIONS ALL STATIONS ALL STATIONS
THIS IS: MMSI NUMBER
NAME OF STATION 1 X:
NAVIGATIONAL WARNING ….

DSC URGENCY COMMUNICATION
A vessel or a coast station can send an urgency call (Pan-Pan call) by DSC. The DSC call contains
information on which channel the voice communication will be read (Channel 16). The call can be
directed to all stations or directly to the nearest Maritime Rescue Centre.
A Pan-Pan message may be sent in, for example, the following situations:
· a person has fallen overboard and the ship needs help with search and rescue
· signals have been observed that might be distress signals
· when reporting on missing vessels
· if a person on board a vessel needs immediate medical assistance
· red rockets have been observed

EXAMPLE
The following is an example of an Urgency call to all stations by DSC:
A
Format ALL SHIPS
Category URGENCY
Telecom 1 TELEPHONY (F3E/G3E SIMPLEX)
Work Channel 16
Transmitted 70
A vessel can send an urgency call directly to the nearest Maritime Rescue Centre. Example of a
call sent to MRCC Turku:
B
Format SELECTIVE
Party ID 002301000
Category URGENCY
Telecom 1 TELEPHONY F3E/G3E SIMPLEX)
Work channel NONE
Transmitted CH 70
NOTE: when sending a DSC call to a Rescue Centre or Coast Station a vessel does not suggest
the working channel. This is done by the Coast Station or Rescue Centre.