GMDSS GOC Flashcards: Radio Concepts and Terminology
80 original English cards for maritime radio trainees: GMDSS terms, current sea-area concepts, selected channels, identification, MSI and alerting distinctions.
Over dit deck
Practise 80 original English concept cards for GMDSS GOC revision. The scope is a selected theory subset referenced to the active CEPT ERC/DEC/(99)01 Annex 1 syllabus, amended 8 March 2024. It is not a complete GOC course or a national examination guide. Reviewed for 2026; sea-area concepts reflect the SOLAS changes effective 1 January 2024.
Recall a term’s meaning or function, identify selected channel/frequency uses, interpret basic MMSI patterns and NAVTEX header fields, and distinguish concepts in six short reasoning prompts. Selected applications revisit DSC channel use, HF propagation, ship-specific A3 coverage, NAVTEX coverage versus service area, voyage planning and the limits of beacon return-link confirmation. Basics come before dependent cases; related variants are separated by at least three unrelated cards. The app schedules later repetition. Public tags are gmdss plus basics, radio, safety-info or alerting.
Excluded: complete emergency scripts and action sequences; distress acknowledgement, relay and cancellation procedures; live testing; equipment operation or repair; full communication drills; national eligibility, renewal and carriage rules; billing and complete examination coverage. Those tasks need current approved training, vessel procedures, publications and the actual equipment manual. Flashcard recall does not establish practical competence, certification or readiness to manage an emergency.
All questions and answers were independently written with AI assistance and checked against public authoritative factual sources. The cover is an original AI-generated illustration, not an equipment guide. No examination questions, mark schemes or curriculum text were copied. CC0 applies only to original expression, organisation, metadata and generated media to the extent applicable rights exist; it does not license source publications or claim ownership of facts.
Independent, unofficial study material by Open Study Contributor. No affiliation with or endorsement by CEPT/ECC, IMO, ITU, Inmarsat, Iridium or any certification authority is claimed. See the official CEPT syllabus and implementation information; national requirements must be checked with the relevant administration.
Kaarten in dit deck
Kaart 1
Vraag
In maritime radio, what does GMDSS stand for?
Antwoord
Global Maritime Distress and Safety System.
Kaart 2
Vraag
In the CEPT maritime-radio syllabus, what does GOC stand for?
Antwoord
General Operator’s Certificate.
Kaart 3
Vraag
What does a radio frequency of 1 Hz represent?
Antwoord
One cycle per second.
Kaart 4
Vraag
In GMDSS, what does MSI stand for?
Antwoord
Maritime Safety Information.
Kaart 5
Vraag
Which international organisation develops the maritime safety framework behind GMDSS?
Antwoord
The International Maritime Organization (IMO).
Kaart 6
Vraag
Which international organisation maintains the Radio Regulations used by maritime radio services?
Antwoord
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
Kaart 7
Vraag
GMDSS combines which two broad communication paths?
Antwoord
Terrestrial radio and satellite communication.
Kaart 8
Vraag
In maritime radio, what does DSC stand for?
Antwoord
Digital Selective Calling.
Kaart 9
Vraag
Which maritime emergency category means grave and imminent danger requiring immediate assistance?
Antwoord
Distress.
Kaart 10
Vraag
What is the purpose of NAVTEX?
Antwoord
Automatic reception of broadcast maritime safety information as text.
Kaart 11
Vraag
In maritime radio, what does MMSI stand for?
Antwoord
Maritime Mobile Service Identity.
Kaart 12
Vraag
In maritime satellite communications, what does SES stand for?
Antwoord
Ship Earth Station: the satellite-communication station aboard a ship.
Kaart 13
Vraag
In maritime safety, what does EPIRB stand for?
Antwoord
Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacon.
Kaart 14
Vraag
How many hertz are in 1 kHz?
Antwoord
1000 Hz.
Kaart 15
Vraag
In maritime communications, what does SAR stand for?
Antwoord
Search and Rescue.
Kaart 16
Vraag
What is the basic role of maritime DSC?
Antwoord
Establishing contact and transferring calling or alert information using digital codes.
Kaart 17
Vraag
In radio spectrum terminology, what does MF mean?
Antwoord
Medium frequency: 300 kHz to 3 MHz.
Kaart 18
Vraag
What is the international NAVTEX frequency?
Antwoord
518 kHz.
Kaart 19
Vraag
How many digits does an MMSI contain?
Antwoord
Nine digits.
Kaart 20
Vraag
Which category concerns an urgent safety message without the distress condition requiring immediate assistance?
Antwoord
Urgency.
Kaart 21
Vraag
In radio spectrum terminology, what does HF mean?
Antwoord
High frequency: 3 to 30 MHz.
Kaart 22
Vraag
In GMDSS, what does RMSS mean?
Antwoord
Recognised Mobile Satellite Service: a satellite service recognised by IMO for GMDSS.
Kaart 23
Vraag
How many kilohertz are in 1 MHz?
Antwoord
1000 kHz.
Kaart 24
Vraag
In a NAVTEX header, what does B1 identify?
Antwoord
The transmitter.
Kaart 25
Vraag
In radio spectrum terminology, what does VHF mean?
Antwoord
Very high frequency: 30 to 300 MHz.
Kaart 26
Vraag
Which category announces navigation-safety information or important meteorological warnings?
Antwoord
Safety.
Kaart 27
Vraag
Which radio coverage defines GMDSS sea area A1?
Antwoord
VHF coast-station voice coverage with continuous DSC alerting, as defined by a Contracting Government.
Kaart 28
Vraag
What do the Maritime Identification Digits in an MMSI identify?
Antwoord
The administration with jurisdiction over the station.
Kaart 29
Vraag
In a NAVTEX header, what does B2 identify?
Antwoord
The message subject category.
Kaart 30
Vraag
Which spoken maritime radio signal denotes distress?
Antwoord
MAYDAY.
Kaart 31
Vraag
Which radio coverage defines GMDSS sea area A2?
Antwoord
MF coast-station voice coverage with continuous DSC alerting, outside A1, as defined by a Contracting Government.
Kaart 32
Vraag
What atmospheric region enables HF skywave communication beyond the horizon?
Antwoord
The ionosphere.
Kaart 33
Vraag
What do the B3B4 characters in a NAVTEX header represent?
Antwoord
The two-digit message number.
Kaart 34
Vraag
Which spoken maritime radio signal denotes urgency?
Antwoord
PAN PAN.
Kaart 35
Vraag
Since 1 January 2024, what determines a ship’s GMDSS sea area A3?
Antwoord
Its carried ship earth station’s recognised mobile satellite service coverage with continuous alerting, outside A1 and A2.
Kaart 36
Vraag
Which language is used by the international NAVTEX service on 518 kHz?
Antwoord
English.
Kaart 37
Vraag
In ITU radio terminology, how do the two directions operate in simplex communication?
Antwoord
Alternately: one direction transmits at a time.
Kaart 38
Vraag
Which spoken maritime radio signal introduces safety traffic?
Antwoord
SÉCURITÉ (SECURITE).
Kaart 39
Vraag
How is GMDSS sea area A4 defined?
Antwoord
The area outside A1, A2 and that ship’s A3.
Kaart 40
Vraag
Which NAVTEX subject category does B2 = A represent?
Antwoord
Navigational warnings.
Kaart 41
Vraag
In ITU radio terminology, what does duplex operation permit?
Antwoord
Simultaneous transmission in both directions.
Kaart 42
Vraag
What is the priority order of distress, urgency, safety and routine radio traffic?
Antwoord
Distress → urgency → safety → routine.
Kaart 43
Vraag
Which marine VHF channel is reserved for DSC?
Antwoord
Channel 70, 156.525 MHz; it is not a voice channel.
Kaart 44
Vraag
Which NAVTEX subject category does B2 = B represent?
Antwoord
Meteorological warnings.
Kaart 45
Vraag
Which frequency band identifies the satellite distress-alerting function of a modern EPIRB?
Antwoord
406 MHz.
Kaart 46
Vraag
What are bridge-to-bridge communications in GMDSS terminology?
Antwoord
Safety radio communications between ships from their navigating positions.
Kaart 47
Vraag
Which marine VHF channel carries radiotelephony distress and safety traffic?
Antwoord
Channel 16, 156.8 MHz.
Kaart 48
Vraag
Which NAVTEX subject category does B2 = E represent?
Antwoord
Meteorological forecasts.
Kaart 49
Vraag
What does integrated GNSS add to an EPIRB distress alert?
Antwoord
An encoded position from a Global Navigation Satellite System, helping rescuers locate the beacon.
Kaart 50
Vraag
Which GMDSS communication function concerns units at the incident location?
Antwoord
On-scene communications.
Kaart 51
Vraag
Which MF frequency is used for DSC distress and safety calling?
Antwoord
2187.5 kHz.
Kaart 52
Vraag
Which NAVTEX subject category does B2 = C represent?
Antwoord
Ice reports.
Kaart 53
Vraag
Why does accurate EPIRB registration help rescue authorities?
Antwoord
It links the beacon identity to vessel and contact information.
Kaart 54
Vraag
What is the purpose of a GMDSS reserve source of energy?
Antwoord
Powering distress and safety radio equipment if main and emergency electrical supplies fail.
Kaart 55
Vraag
Which MF frequency is used for radiotelephony distress and safety communications?
Antwoord
2182 kHz.
Kaart 56
Vraag
Name the lower-frequency national NAVTEX channel distinct from international 518 kHz.
Antwoord
490 kHz; availability and language depend on the national service.
Kaart 57
Vraag
What is the role of an EPIRB’s low-power 121.5 MHz signal?
Antwoord
Local homing by rescue units; Cospas-Sarsat satellites no longer process 121.5 MHz alerts.
Kaart 58
Vraag
Does the CEPT GOC syllabus assess theory alone?
Antwoord
No. It requires theoretical and practical tests.
Kaart 59
Vraag
At the same wave speed, what happens to wavelength when frequency rises?
Antwoord
Wavelength becomes shorter.
Kaart 60
Vraag
In maritime satellite safety broadcasts, what does EGC stand for?
Antwoord
Enhanced Group Call.
Kaart 61
Vraag
What is the purpose of a float-free EPIRB’s hydrostatic release?
Antwoord
Releasing the beacon from its bracket when submerged, so it can float free.
Kaart 62
Vraag
Why does GMDSS communication planning consider the whole voyage?
Antwoord
Service coverage, relevant stations and safety-information areas can change along the route.
Kaart 63
Vraag
What is the standard ship-station MMSI pattern, using MID and X placeholders?
Antwoord
MIDXXXXXX: three Maritime Identification Digits followed by six digits.
Kaart 64
Vraag
Which named Inmarsat service broadcasts maritime safety information?
Antwoord
SafetyNET.
Kaart 65
Vraag
Does a beacon Return Link Service (RLS) indication mean a rescue has been launched?
Antwoord
No. It confirms receipt, localisation and forwarding of the alert, not launch of a rescue.
Kaart 66
Vraag
Two ships share a position outside A1/A2 but carry different RMSS terminals. Must their A3 coverage match?
Antwoord
No. A3 depends on the RMSS supported by each ship’s carried earth station.
Kaart 67
Vraag
What is the coast-station MMSI pattern, using MID and X placeholders?
Antwoord
00MIDXXXX: two leading zeros, the MID, then four digits.
Kaart 68
Vraag
Which named Iridium service broadcasts maritime safety information?
Antwoord
SafetyCast.
Kaart 69
Vraag
Why use an EPIRB’s approved self-test instead of ordinary activation for practice?
Antwoord
Ordinary activation can transmit a real distress alert and divert rescue resources.
Kaart 70
Vraag
What is a NAVAREA used to coordinate?
Antwoord
Navigational warnings for a defined sea area.
Kaart 71
Vraag
What is the primary role of a radar SART?
Antwoord
Helping nearby rescue units locate survivors through a radar response. SART means Search and Rescue Transponder.
Kaart 72
Vraag
A training question asks for voice transmission on VHF channel 70. What is the conceptual error?
Antwoord
Channel 70 is for DSC, not radiotelephony.
Kaart 73
Vraag
What is a METAREA used to coordinate?
Antwoord
Marine meteorological warnings and forecasts for a defined sea area.
Kaart 74
Vraag
Which IAMSAR volume is intended for vessels and other mobile facilities?
Antwoord
Volume III, Mobile Facilities.
Kaart 75
Vraag
Why can an HF link become unreliable during disturbed space weather?
Antwoord
Changes in the ionosphere can degrade or disrupt HF propagation.
Kaart 76
Vraag
Which radar band does a GMDSS radar SART use?
Antwoord
9.2–9.5 GHz, in the 9 GHz/X-band radar region.
Kaart 77
Vraag
Why is preventing false distress alerts a safety issue?
Antwoord
False alerts can divert search-and-rescue resources from real emergencies.
Kaart 78
Vraag
Does receiving a NAVTEX transmitter’s signal prove that every received warning concerns the ship’s position?
Antwoord
No. Radio coverage and the transmitter’s defined service area are different concepts.
Kaart 79
Vraag
A training display says an RLS alert was received. What rescue outcome must not be inferred?
Antwoord
That rescue units have already been dispatched or will arrive at a particular time.
Kaart 80
Vraag
How does an AIS-SART provide a locating signal?
Antwoord
By transmitting search-and-rescue locating information on Automatic Identification System (AIS) frequencies.
80 kaarten
GMDSS GOC Flashcards: Radio Concepts and Terminology
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