VHF SRC Radio
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DSC Distress Alert – Nature of Distress
DSC Distress Alert – Nature of Distress. Practice maritime VHF scenario.
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Scenario briefing
Key teaching points
- In the DSC menu, before holding DISTRESS, select the nature: FIRE, FLOODING, SINKING, ABANDONING, COLLISION, GROUNDING, MAN OVERBOARD, PIRACY/ARMED ATTACK, UNDESIGNATED.
- After selecting nature, hold DISTRESS for 5 seconds — the alert sends with the category embedded.
- Voice MAYDAY follow-up on Channel 16 confirms and adds details.
- If you don't have time to select, send UNDESIGNATED — it is always valid (Rule 9.4 of the ITU procedure).
Common mistakes to avoid
- Spending too long in the menu and delaying the alert — UNDESIGNATED is preferable to a late accurate categorisation.
- Selecting the wrong nature in stress (FIRE vs FLOODING) — the rescue response differs, but the voice MAYDAY corrects.
Why it matters
A DSC distress alert with NATURE specified gives the responding station immediate context — fire, flooding, MOB, abandoning — before the voice MAYDAY clarifies. The DSC menu lets you pick a category and the rescue scales the response accordingly.
Exam relevance
DSC nature-of-distress selection is examined in the VHF SRC oral; GMDSS / STCW GOC candidates must navigate the menu under simulated stress.
Related scenarios
About SkipperCheck simulators
SkipperCheck offers two browser-based maritime training simulators:
- ARPA · AIS · COLREG Bridge Simulator — 54 scenarios covering Rules 2, 5–10, 12–19, 23–30, 34 and 35.
- VHF SRC Radio Simulator — 15 scenarios: voice Mayday, DSC distress, Mayday Relay, Pan-Pan, Sécurité, routine.
Both run in any modern browser, on desktop or mobile. No install, no plugins.