“Guidance on distress alerts” becomes effective on 01/01/2024!

The Maritime Safety Committee, at its 106th session (2 to 11 November 2022), approved the revised Procedure for responding to DSC distress alerts by ships, as set out in the annex, prepared by the Sub-Committee on Navigation, Communications and Search and Rescue (NCSR), at its ninth session (21 to 30 June 2022).

MSC.1/Circ. 1657 “Procedure for responding to DSC distress alerts by ships” contains a procedure to be followed by radio personnel on board ships when responding to VHF, MF, and HF distress alerts, in accordance with chapter IV of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974.

Flow diagrams 1 and 2 in the annex are recommended to be displayed on ships’ bridges as A4-size posters.

Click here to download it: MSC 1_CIRC. 1657

MSC.1/Circ.1658 “Guidance on distress alerts” describes the relevant operating procedure, in accordance with chapter IV of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974.

Click here to download it: MSC 1 – 1658

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