What types of messages does the DSC system handle?

The Digital Selective Calling (DSC) system is designed to facilitate various types of maritime communication, crucial for enhancing safety at sea. It specifically handles four key categories of messages: distress, urgent, safety, and routine information.

Distress messages are used to alert authorities and other vessels of an immediate threat to life or property, while urgent messages indicate a situation that requires attention but is not life-threatening. Safety messages convey important information regarding navigational hazards and can include weather alerts, while routine messages are of a general nature and do not have the urgency of the previous types.

This comprehensive range ensures that vessel communication is efficient and that prioritization of messages is safely managed, allowing for effective responses to emergencies and enhancing overall maritime safety. Other options may encompass narrower functionalities, missing the full spectrum of communication that DSC is actually responsible for.