Subelement D: Other GMDSS Equipment— Topic :
Question 35D6
Element 9 (GMDSS Maintainer)Equipment for radiotelephony use in survival craft stations under GMDSS must have what characteristics?
Explanation
Under GMDSS (Global Maritime Distress and Safety System), survival craft stations equipped with MF/HF radios are required to be capable of Digital Selective Calling (DSC) for distress alerting. The international MF (Medium Frequency) DSC distress frequency is 2187.5 kHz.
While direct radiotelephony (voice) distress communication typically occurs on 2182 kHz, GMDSS equipment for survival craft *must* be able to transmit and receive on 2187.5 kHz for the initial digital alert. This capability is a core characteristic of GMDSS-compliant equipment, as DSC is the primary method for initiating a distress call in the MF band, which then prompts follow-up voice communication.
The other options are incorrect:
* **490 kHz** and **518 kHz** are NAVTEX frequencies for navigational warnings, not distress radiotelephony.
* **4209.5 kHz** is an HF (High Frequency) DSC distress frequency, applicable to different GMDSS sea areas (A3/A4), but 2187.5 kHz is the primary MF DSC frequency covering sea area A2 and beyond, making it a more fundamental characteristic for typical survival craft MF/HF equipment.
Related Questions
35D4 Equipment for radiotelephony use in survival craft stations under GMDSS must have what capability?35D5 Which statement is NOT true regarding the requirements of survival craft portable two-way VHF radiotelephone equipment?36D2 The NAVTEX is powering on and appears to be functioning normally except there have been no new messages for an extended period. The station settings are correct. What is the most likely source of the problem?36D3 How is a NAVTEX receiver programmed to reject certain messages?36D5 How is accuracy insured in NAVTEX broadcasts?