Which frequency should a ship use to monitor for DSC alerts?

Monitoring for DSC (Digital Selective Calling) alerts is essential for maritime communication safety. Ships should monitor specific frequencies designated for DSC use to ensure they can receive distress and safety messages.

Channel 70, specifically designated for DSC, operates at a frequency of 156.525 MHz and is solely dedicated to receiving DSC messages. It is where vessels can receive alerts for distress situations, which is crucial for responding quickly to emergencies at sea. VHF Channel 16 is primarily used for voice communications and is where a lot of emergency and safety calls occur. By monitoring both Channel 70 and Channel 16, a ship can effectively cover both DSC alerts and traditional voice communication, ensuring it does not miss any critical messages.

In contrast, while the other frequency options have their own importance, they do not cover the same range of DSC alerts as effectively as the combination of Channel 70 and Channel 16. For instance, VHF Channel 16 is crucial for voice distress communications but is not specifically designated for DSC. The frequency 2187.5 kHz is used for DSC on HF (High Frequency) but does not encompass the broader spectrum of monitoring responsibilities that monitoring both VHF and DSC channels would entail. Therefore, the combination of Channel 70 and