The examiner is testing whether you understand the international framework for search and rescue, can identify every recognised distress signal, and know your obligations and actions as OOW when either distress is detected or your vessel is the one in distress. A pass-standard answer names the right instruments, gives accurate detail, and shows you could act on it at sea — not just recite a list.
The IAMSAR Manual
The International Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue Manual is published jointly by IMO and ICAO in three volumes:
- Volume I — Organisation and Management (for national authorities)
- Volume II — Mission Co-ordination (for rescue co-ordination centres and on-scene commanders)
- Volume III — Mobile Facilities (carried aboard ships and aircraft — this is the volume relevant to you as OOW)
Volume III tells you how to act as On-Scene Co-ordinator (OSC) or as an assisting vessel, how to conduct SAR searches, and how to communicate with the Rescue Co-ordination Centre (RCC). Ships are required to carry Volume III under SOLAS.
Distress Signals — Annex IV to COLREGS
A candidate must be able to list the recognised distress signals without hesitation. They include:
- Gun or explosive signal fired at approximately one-minute intervals
- Continuous sounding of fog-signal apparatus
- Rockets or shells throwing red stars, fired one at a time at short intervals
- SOS by any means of signalling (Morse: · · · — — — · · ·)
- Mayday by radiotelephony
- International Code Signal NC
- A square flag with a ball (or anything resembling a ball) above or below it
- Flames on the vessel (burning tar barrel, oil barrel, etc.)
- Orange smoke signal
- Slowly and repeatedly raising and lowering arms outstretched to each side
- EPIRB activation (406 MHz)
- Approved signals transmitted by radiocommunication systems (including DSC)
- Parachute red flare or hand-held red flare
- Dye marker
- Radar SART (9 GHz) — series of 12 blips on radar display
Your Obligations as OOW
Under SOLAS Chapter V, the master of a vessel at sea who receives a distress signal is obliged to proceed with all speed to the assistance of persons in distress. Exceptions exist only where this is unreasonable or unnecessary, or where the vessel is released by the RCC or the survivors themselves.
If your own vessel is in distress: alert the RCC via DSC on Channel 70 (VHF) or MF 2187.5 kHz, follow up with a Mayday voice call, activate EPIRB, and brief the master immediately.
How to Structure Your Spoken Answer
State the framework first (IAMSAR, SOLAS Chapter V, COLREGS Annex IV), give the practical content (Volume III, distress signals, your obligation to assist), then close with what you would actually do as the OOW. Examiners reward candidates who move naturally from regulation to action.