Furuno FM-8900S Manuel D’Utilisation

1. Press the DISTRESS key.
2. Wait for the distress alert acknowledgement.
3. Communicate with the coast station.

GMDSS ships carry a DSC terminal with which to transmit the distress alert in the 
event of a life-endangering situation. A coast station receives the distress alert and 
sends the distress alert acknowledge call to the ship in distress. Then, voice commu-
nication between the ship in distress and coast station begins. Transmission of the dis-
tress alert and receiving of the distress alert acknowledgement are completely 
automatic - simply press the DISTRESS key to initiate the sequence.

Note: After sending the distress alert, the terminal which its PTT switch is pressed first 
has top priority.

1. Open the DISTRESS key cover then press and hold the DISTRESS key for four 

seconds. The audio alarm sounds while pressing the key, and the key flashes in 
red. The countdown message appears on the screen while pressing the DIS-
TRESS key (3s 

→ 2s → 1s → 0s).

 

(3)

(2)

(1)

Ship in distress 
(Your ship)

(1) Ship in distress sends Distress Alert.
(2) Coast station sends distress acknowledgement (DIST ACK).
(3) Voice communication between ship in distress and coast station.

Coast 

station

Countdown message