What is the swiftest way to notify a RCC of a distress situation aboard your vessel?

The most efficient method to notify a Rescue Coordination Centre (RCC) of a distress situation aboard your vessel is to confirm the distress alert message setup and use the "hot-key" function. This approach takes advantage of the pre-programmed functionality designed specifically for emergency situations within the GMDSS (Global Maritime Distress and Safety System) equipment.

When using the "hot-key" function, you can quickly initiate the distress alert process without needing to manually compose a message or go through multiple steps. This swift action is crucial in emergencies where seconds can make a significant difference in the response time to your distress call.

The other methods, while potentially useful, do not provide the same level of immediacy. Sending a detailed distress message can take valuable time that might be better spent on immediate actions for safety. Pressing all available hot keys may lead to confusion and could trigger unnecessary alerts, potentially overwhelming the system. Lastly, sending a multi-frequency DSC alert, although a viable option, may still be less efficient than utilizing the streamlined process of the hot-key function specifically designed for distress alerts.