FCC Commercial Element 7 pool, section 35

Element 7 (Valid until Apr 6, 2022)

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Subelement E

Distress, Urgency & Safety Communications:

Section 35

Urgency Traffic:

35E1

The Radiotelephone Urgency signal is:

A.
Mayday
B.
Securite
Correct Answer
C.
Pan Pan
D.
Seelonce Feenee

35E1

The Radiotelephone Urgency signal is:

(C). Pan Pan

§ 80.5 Definitions.

47 CFR 80.5 “Urgency signal” (3) In radiotelephony, the international urgency signal consists of three oral repetitions of the group of words “PAN PAN”, each word of the group pronounced as the French word “PANNE” and sent before the call.
See Code of Federal Regulations for “Urgency signal”

§ 80.327 Urgency signals and messages.

47 CFR 80.327(c) In radiotelephony, the urgency signal consists of three oral repetitions of the group of words PAN PAN transmitted before the call. See Code of Federal Regulations for PAN PAN

§ 80.1131 Transmissions of urgency communications.

47 CFR 80.1131(c) The urgency signal consists of the words PAN PAN. In radiotelephony each word of the group must be pronounced as the French word “panne”. See Code of Federal Regulations for Urgent Communications

Distress message, using MAYDAY, is more important than any other message.
Urgent message, using PAN-PAN is more important than any message outside of Distress message.
Safety message, using SECURITE is more important than all messages outside of Distress and Urgent messages.
See more on Blue Seas page, VHF - The Basics of Marine and Safety Communications

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35E2

Which of the following situations would normally use the Urgency priority?

A.
A crewmember falling over the side.
B.
A serious medical situation involving a crewmember with potential loss of life.
C.
An important meteorological warning concerning hazardous weather.
Correct Answer
D.
A cargo shift or weather situation considered to be of greater hazard than would justify a Safety priority designation.

35E2

Which of the following situations would normally use the Urgency priority?

(D). A cargo shift or weather situation considered to be of greater hazard than would justify a Safety priority designation.

The answers test knowledge of types of messages categorization.

47 CFR 80.5 “Safety signal” (1,4)
(1) The urgency signal is the international radiotelegraph or radiotelephone signal which indicates that the calling station has a very urgent message to transmit concerning the safety of a ship, aircraft, or other vehicle, or of some person on board or within sight.

(4) For GMDSS, safety calls result in an audible alarm and visual indication that the station sending this signal has a very urgent message to transmit concerning the safety of navigation or giving important meteorological warnings.
Code of Federal Regulations at Safety signals

§ 80.318 Use of alarm signals. 47 CFR 80.318(a)(2) The transmission of an urgent cyclone warning. In this case the alarm signal may only be used by coast stations authorized by the Commission to do so...
Code of Federal Regulations at Urgent Alarm Signal

Distress message, using MAYDAY, is more important than any other message.
Urgent message, using PAN-PAN is more important than any message outside of Distress message.
Safety message, using SECURITE is more important than all messages outside of Distress and Urgent messages.
See more on Blue Seas page, VHF - The Basics of Marine and Safety Communications

Last edited by markadlerdallas. Register to edit

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35E3

Which of the following situations would not properly use the Urgency priority?

Correct Answer
A.
Abandoning the vessel just before sinking.
B.
Treatment of a crewmember breaking a leg in a cargo hold.
C.
Leaking oil from a minor tank fracture requiring a mandatory pollution report.
D.
An unexpected deviation in the forecast track line of a typhoon.

35E3

Which of the following situations would not properly use the Urgency priority?

A. Abandoning the vessel just before sinking.

This question tests understanding of what is an urgent message.

Abandoning the vessel is your last option, used with Mayday.

Distress message, using MAYDAY, is more important than any other message.
Urgent message, using PAN-PAN is more important than any message outside of Distress message.
Safety message, using SECURITE is more important than all messages outside of Distress and Urgent messages.
See more on Blue Seas page, VHF - The Basics of Marine and Safety Communications

Last edited by markadlerdallas. Register to edit

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35E4

Which of the following situations would normally use the Urgency priority?

A.
A collision with the ship taking on water.
Correct Answer
B.
A serious medical situation involving a crewmember.
C.
Important company communications related to an itinerary change.
D.
Scenarios concerning the Safety of navigation or important meteorological warnings.

35E4

Which of the following situations would normally use the Urgency priority?

(B). A serious medical situation involving a crewmember.

This question tests understanding of what is an urgent message.

Distress message, using MAYDAY, is more important than any other message.
Urgent message, using PAN-PAN is more important than any message outside of Distress message.
Safety message, using SECURITE is more important than all messages outside of Distress and Urgent messages.
See more on Blue Seas page, VHF - The Basics of Marine and Safety Communications

Last edited by markadlerdallas. Register to edit

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35E5

The Urgency Priority should be used for:

A.
Messages concerning the Safety of Life At Sea (SOLAS).
Correct Answer
B.
Messages containing information concerning the Safety of a mobile unit or person.
C.
Messages detailing important navigational warnings.
D.
Messages concerning On-scene communications.

35E5

The Urgency Priority should be used for:

(B). Messages containing information concerning the Safety of a mobile unit or person.

This question tests understanding of what is an urgent message.

Distress message, using MAYDAY, is more important than any other message.
Urgent message, using PAN-PAN is more important than any message outside of Distress message.
Safety message, using SECURITE is more important than all messages outside of Distress and Urgent messages.
See more on Blue Seas page, VHF - The Basics of Marine and Safety Communications

Last edited by markadlerdallas. Register to edit

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35E6

If the Watch Officer hears "PAN PAN" spoken 3 times it means:

A.
A navigation or important meteorological warning should follow.
B.
The station is preparing to transmit a Safety message possibly concerning the safety of a mobile unit or person.
Correct Answer
C.
None of these answers is correct.
D.
A mobile unit is in need of immediate assistance.

35E6

If the Watch Officer hears "PAN PAN" spoken 3 times it means:

(C). None of these answers is correct.

The other choices are either emergency (D), or Safety (A) and (B).

PAN-PAN spoken three times over radio declares a state of urgency, which means that it is not of immediate humans or to a vessels, ships, or airplanes. The state of urgency is lower in priority to the Mayday distress communications, as there are immediate dangers to life and vessels.

The words PAN-PAN originated from the French language, from the word for a breakdown of some sort or "panne." See Wikipedia article PAN-PAN

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