Question 6A569

The auto-alarm bell indicates the reception of a distress alert under GMDSS regulations. An operator's immediate response is crucial. Firstly, proceeding to the radio room and pressing the reset button acknowledges the alarm. This action silences the audible bell and confirms that the alert has been received by the operator, taking active control of the situation. Secondly, once the bell is silenced or has stopped, the operator must immediately listen on the appropriate distress watch frequencies (e.g., 2182 kHz for MF, or VHF Ch 16) for any subsequent voice or data messages. These messages provide vital details about the nature of the distress, the vessel in danger, and its location. Therefore, both actions—acknowledging the alarm and then listening for further signals—are essential steps in properly responding to a distress alert and fulfilling the operator's responsibilities. Options A and B alone describe incomplete steps in this critical emergency procedure.