FALSE DISTRESS

ALERTS
SPECIFIC LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
At the end of the chapter, you should be able to:

Describe the methods of preventing/minimizing:

• A. false distress alerts
• B. the effects of false distress alerts.
FALSE DISTRESS ALERT
=A distress alert that was transmitted without any
indication that a mobile unit or person was in distress and
required immediate assistance.

Note:
• Transmitting a false distress alert is STRICTLY
PROHIBITED
 TIPS ON HOW TO MINIMIZE
FALSE DISTRESS ALERTS
• All GMDSS certified personnel who are responsible for
sending a distress alerts are competent to operate the
particular radio equipment on the ship

• The persons who are responsible for communication

during incidents must give essential instructions and
information to all crew members who knows how to use
GMDSS equipment to send a distress alerts.
• During the abandon ship drill, instructions should be
given on how emergency equipment is used to provide
GMDSS functions.

• All GMDSS equipment should be test under the

supervision of the person responsible for communication
during distress alerts
• GMDSS equipment use for testing or drills are never
allowed to cause false distress alerts

• Make sure that, for new ships, positions for installing

EPIRBs are considered at the earliest stage of the ship
design and construction.
• Make sure that the encoded identities of satellite EPIRBs,
which are used by SAR personnel responding to
emergencies, are properly registered in a database
accessible 24 hours per day or automatically provided to
SAR authorities ( master should confirm that their
EPIRBs have been registered with such a database to help
SAR services identity the ship in the event of distress and
rapidly obtain other information to help them respond
appropriately)
• Make sure that satellite EPIRBS are carefully installed in
accordance with manufacturers instructions and using qualified
personnel. They must be installed proper location to flat free and
automatically activate if the ship is sinking. Care must be taken
that they are not be tempered with or accidentally activated. If the
coding must be changed or the batteries service , manufacturers
instructions must be followed. There had been cases of attaching
EPIRB lanyards to the ship so the EPIRB cannot flat free; the
lanyard are the only to be used by survivors for securing the
EPIRB to a survival craft or person in water.
• Make sure that EPIRB, INMARSAT and DSC registration data is
immediately updated, if the ship’s owner, name , flag or similar
information changes , and, necessary action is taken to
reprogram the ships new data in the GMDSS equipment
concerned.
• Make sure that the EPIRB are not activated if assistance is
already immediately available ( EPIRBS are intended to call
assistance if the ship is unable to obtain help by her means , and
to provide position information and homing signals for SAR
units)
• Make sure that EPIRB, INMARSAT and DSC registration
data is immediately updated, if the ship’s owner, name , flag
or similar information changes , and, necessary action is
taken to reprogram the ships new data in the GMDSS
equipment concerned.
• Make sure that the EPIRB are not activated if assistance is
already immediately available ( EPIRBS are intended to call
assistance if the ship is unable to obtain help by her means ,
and to provide position information and homing signals for
SAR units)
• Make sure that when an EPIBS is damaged and needs to be
disposed of , or if a ship is sold for scrap or for any other reason
a satellite EPIRB will no longer be used, the satellite EPRIB is
made inoperable by either removing its battery or if possible
returning it to the manufacturer or by demolishing it.
Note:
If the EPIRB is returned to the manufacturers is should be
wrapped in tin foil to prevent transmission of signals during
shipment.
 PROCEDURES ON CANCELLING FALSE
DISTRESS ALERTS
• VHF
.1 switch off transmitter immediately

.2 switch equipment on and set to Channel 16;

.3 make broadcast to "All Stations" giving the ship's name, call

sign and DSC number, 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
MF
1 switch off equipment immediately**;
2 switch equipment on and tune for radiotelephony
transmission on 2,182 kHz; and
3 make broadcast to "All Stations" giving the ship's
name, call sign and DSC number, 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
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
(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.

INMARSAT-C

Notify the appropriate RCC to cancel the alert by sending a

distress priority message via the same CES through the false
distress alert was sent
 Example:

NAME, CALL SIGN, IDENTITY NUMBER,

POSITION,
Cancel my Inmarsat-C distress alert of DATE, TIME in
UTC
=Master +
EPIRB
if for any reason an EPIRB is activated accidentally/
the ship should contact the nearest coast station or an
appropriate coast earths station or RCC and cancel the
distress alerts
EFFECT OF FALSE DISTRESS ALERTS

• It oblige a significant and unnecessary burden on rescue

coordination center (RCC). These may have unfavorable
effects on seafarers confidence in the GMDSS and could
also have a potentially serious impact on areal distress
situation and on safety of life at sea.
GENERAL RULE FOR CANCELLING FALSE DISTRESS
ALERTS

•Notwithstanding the above, ships may use any means available

to them to inform the appropriate authorities that a false
distress alert has been transmitted and should be canceled
•No action will normally be taken against any ship or mariner
for reporting and cancelling a false distress alerts. However, in
view of the series consequences of false alerts, and the strict
ban on their transmission, Governments may prosecute in cases
of repeated violations.
 THANKS A LOT!!!
GODBLESS and START TO SHINE!!!