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Receiving a DSC Distress Call

Receiving a DSC Distress Call. Practice maritime VHF scenario.

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Scenario briefing

Key teaching points

Incoming DSC distress alert triggers an audible alarm on Channel 70.
WAIT — do NOT immediately acknowledge with own DSC ACK. Coast stations should ACK first.
Switch to Channel 16, listen for voice MAYDAY follow-up and coastguard response.
If no coastguard response after 4–5 minutes, transmit MAYDAY RELAY (voice on Channel 16) to alert the SAR system.
Be ready to assist — SOLAS V/33 requires every vessel to proceed to a distress unless unable or excused.

Common mistakes to avoid

Immediately pressing the DSC ACK button — that may cancel the auto-repeat and prevent coastguard reception. Wait for the coast station first.
Switching off the alarm without listening for the voice follow-up — you may miss critical details.

Why it matters

Receiving a DSC distress alert puts you in the responder role — and SOLAS V/33 makes assisting vessels in distress a legal duty. The procedure of acknowledging, switching to Channel 16, and possibly relaying MAYDAY is the most weighty radio drill in the SRC syllabus.

Exam relevance

Receiving and responding to a DSC distress is the most-weighted scenario in the VHF SRC oral; STCW GMDSS / GOC candidates must execute MAYDAY RELAY without prompting if coastguard is silent.

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.