When you or someone else has transmitted a Distress Alert by mistake this false alert has to be cancelled. The way to do this is to send a message explaining the situation and cancelling the Distress Alert. This message should be sent as a Priority Distress to the same LES as the False Distress Alert has been sent to. Now (because of the Distress priority) the message will be routed to the same associated MRCC as the False Alert.

Practise on the Inmarsat C simulator

• Select 'File' in the Menubar on the top of the screen by using the arrow keys followed by 'Enter'.
• Select 'New ASCII' by using the arrow keys followed by 'Enter'.
• Now the cursor is blinking on the top of the Text field and the text can be added by typing in on the keyboard.
• Type in the editor screen the message to cancel the Alert containing information about the false alert and apologies for the mistake. E.g.: From: Master of M/V Octans, To: MRCC Den Helder Rescue, SU: cancel Distress Alert, Please cancel the Distress Alert sent by this station at 10:25 UTC, apologies for any inconvenience.
  
• When the text has been entered you can transmit it immediately (Alt,T combination to enter the transmit menu) or save it (Alt,F,S combination to enter the file save menu).
• Go to the Land Station using the arrow buttons and touch the 'Space Bar' and then select the Land Earth Station which has been used for the transmission of the Distress Alert using the arrow keys and confirm your choice by pressing 'Enter.'
• Go to '[X] Text in 'editor' using the arrow keys (by-pass this item when you wish to send your text message from the screen). By touching the 'space bar' in this position it will remove the mark showing '[ ] Text in 'editor' and 'File': below this field this option can be used to transmit a saved file.
  
• Go to the priority menu by using the arrow keys and select 'Priority Distress' using the 'space bar'.
  
• Go to the request confirmation by using the arrow keys and decide if you want a delivery confimation request, which can be selected by using the 'space bar'.
• Go to Print by using the arrow keys and decide if you want to print the file, which can be selected by using the 'space bar'.
• Go to immediate transmission by using the arrow keys and decide if you want a direct transmission, which can be selected by using the 'space bar'.
• Go to Send using the arrow keys and press 'enter'.
• Now the message will be sent. Messages with the Distress priority are never "password" protected.
  

The process of delivery of messages can be monitored in the 'transmit log'.