Under what condition should a distress alert by a station on behalf of another vessel not occur?

A distress alert by a station on behalf of another vessel should not occur when communications with the Coast station are in progress. This situation implies that the vessel in distress is already engaged in ongoing communication with the Coast station, which may involve providing information about its situation and any additional assistance it may require. If the Coast station is already aware of the distress situation through these communications, sending a separate distress alert would be redundant and could create confusion in the handling of the incident.

Maintaining clear and accurate communication is critical in emergency situations to ensure that resources are appropriately allocated and that all parties have the most current information. Continuing the dialogue with the Coast station allows for more effective coordination of response efforts without the need for an additional alert that might not add value.