Question 44 MODU03 - Ballast Control Operator

The Correct Answer is C **Why option C is correct:** In a maritime distress situation, Channel 16 is the primary international voice distress, safety, and calling frequency. If you have repeatedly transmitted a distress call (MAYDAY) on Channel 16 and received no response, your immediate priority is maximizing the chances of being heard by any available station (vessel or shore). The recommended procedure in such a scenario, according to maritime radio communication protocols (like those governed by the IMO and FCC), is to try another means of communication. Since the initial attempt on Channel 16 failed to elicit a response, you should try repeating the distress message on a secondary channel that might be monitored by ships or shore stations, thereby increasing the likelihood of attracting attention and establishing contact. Common alternative channels might include designated working channels, or channels used for safety traffic (e.g., Channel 13 for bridge-to-bridge, or a local coast guard channel, if known). **Why the other options are incorrect:** * **A) Report the problem to the head electrician:** Distress communication is a critical safety matter, not a routine maintenance issue. While electrical failure could be the cause of the problem, addressing the immediate failure to receive a reply to a distress call requires using alternative communication methods, not simply shifting the responsibility to technical personnel. * **B) Turn up the volume on the receiver before transmitting again:** While it's always good practice to ensure the receiver volume is adequate, turning up the volume only addresses your ability to *hear* a reply, not the ability of others to *hear your transmission*. Since you are focused on the fact that you have received *no reply*, the primary issue is transmission range or monitoring capability, which requires changing the channel or method, not just increasing the receiver volume. * **D) Key the microphone several times before transmitting again:** Keying the microphone several times (sometimes referred to as "keying the mic" or "squelch busting") might be used to check if the radio is transmitting, but it does not transmit your distress message and serves no practical purpose in improving the range or likelihood of being heard by a distant station that failed to hear the initial calls on Channel 16. The priority is to communicate the emergency via a different channel.