What is the purpose of Digital Selective Calling (DSC)?

Digital Selective Calling (DSC) is designed primarily to automate the initial call for distress and safety alerts in maritime communications. Its primary purpose is to enable mariners to send distress signals and safety messages without requiring manual intervention, which can be crucial during emergencies when time is of the essence or when operators may be under stress. DSC utilizes a specialized digital signaling method that simplifies the process of alerting nearby vessels or shore stations, making maritime communication more efficient and reliable.

This capability enhances safety at sea by ensuring that alerts can be sent quickly and accurately, allowing for a faster response from rescuers or other vessels. In contrast to this, the other choices do not align with the primary function of DSC; while there are systems for weather communication, transmitting routine traffic information, and voice calls, those do not capture the essence of the automatic distress alerting feature that DSC primarily provides.