How do you prevent false distress alert?

Answer 1

Companies, masters and seafarers should, as appropriate: # Ensure that all GMDSS certificated personnel responsible for sending a distress alert have been instructed about , and are competent to operate, the particular radio equipment on the ships; # Ensure that the person or persons responsible for communications curing distress incidents give the necessary instructions and information to all crew members on how to use GMDSS equipment to send a distress alert; # Ensure that as part of each "abandon ship" drill, instruction is given on how emergency equipment should be used to provide GMDSS functions; # Ensure that GMDSS equipment testing is only undertaken under the supervision of the person responsible for communication during distress incidents; # Ensure that GMDSS equipment testing or drills are never allowed to cause false distress alerts; # Ensure that encoded identity of satellite, EPIRBs which are used by SAR personnel responding to emergencies, are properly registered in a database accessible 24 hrs a day or automatically provided to SAR authorities (Master should confirm that their EPIRBs have been registered with such a database to help SAR service identify the ship in the event of distress and rapidly obtain other information which will enable them to respond appropriately); # Ensure that EPIRB, Inmarsat and DSC registration data is immediately updated if there is any change in information relating to the ship such as owner name of flag, and that the necessary action is taken to reprogramme the ship's new data in the GMDSS equipment concerned; # Ensure that, for new ships, positions for installing EPIRBs are considered at the earliest stage of ship design and construction. # Ensure that satellite EPIRBs are carefully installed installed in accordance with manufacturers instructions and using qualified personnel (sometimes satellite EPIRBs are damaged or broken due to improper handling or installation. They must be installed in a location that will enable them to float free and automatically activate if the ship sinks. Care must be taken to ensure that they are not tampered with or accidentally activated. If the coding has to be changed or the batteries serviced, manufacturers requirements must be strictly followed. There have been cases where EPIRB lanyards were attached to the ship so that the EPIRB could not float free; lanyards are only to be used by survivors for securing the EPIRB to a survival craft or person in water); # Ensure that EPIRBs are not activated if assistance is already immediately available (EPIRBs are intended to call for assistance if the unable to obtain help by other means and to provide position information and homing signals for SAR units). # Ensure that, if a distress alert has been accidentally transmitted, the ship makes every reasonable attempt to communicated with the RCC by any means to cancel the false distress alert using the procedures given in the appendix: # Ensure that, if possible, after emergency use, the EPIRB is retrieved and deactivated and # Ensure that when an EPIRB is damaged and needs to be disposed of, if a ship is sold for scrap or if for any other reason a satellite EPIRB will no longer be used, the satellite EPIRBs is made inoperable, either by removing its battery and, if possible, returning it to the manufacturer, or by demolishing it. Note: If the EPIRB is returned to the manufacturer, it should be wrapped in tin foil to prevent transmission of signals during shipment.