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Emergency Messages
and Distress Procedure
13
12
English
Emergency Messages
and Distress Procedure
If You Hear a Distress Call
You must give any message beginning with one (1) of these signals priority
over any other messages. ALL stations MUST remain silent on Channel 16
for the duration of the emergency unless the message relates directly to
the emergency.
If you hear a distress message from a vessel, stand by your radio. If it is
not answered, YOU should answer. If the distressed vessel is not nearby,
wait a short time for others who may be closer to acknowledge. Even if
you cannot render direct assistance, you may be in a position to relay
the message.
Marine Distress Procedure
Speak slowly — clearly — calmly.
1. Make sure your radio is On.
2. Select Channel 16.
3. Press Talk button and say:
“MAYDAY — MAYDAY — MAYDAY.”
(Or “PAN — PAN — PAN,”
or “SECURITE — SECURITE — SECURITE.”)
4. Say:
“THIS IS [your vessel name or call sign],” repeated three (3) times.
5. Say:
“MAYDAY (or “PAN” or “SECURITE”)
[your vessel name or call sign].
6. Tell where you are:
(what navigational aids or landmarks are nearby).
7. State the nature of your distress.
8. State the kind of assistance needed.
9. Give number of persons aboard and conditions of any injured.
10. Estimate present seaworthiness of your vessel.
11. Briefly describe your vessel (length, type, color, hull).
12. Say:
“I WILL BE LISTENING ON CHANNEL 16.”
13. End message by saying:
“THIS IS [your vessel name or call sign] OVER.”
14. Release Talk button and listen. Someone should answer.
If not, repeat the call, beginning at step 3 above.
Keep the radio nearby. Even after your message has been received, the Coast Guard
can find you more quickly if you can transmit a signal for a rescue boat to hone in on.
“Mayday — Mayday — Mayday”
“This is Corsair — Corsair — Corsair” [or “IL 1234 AB”], repeated three (3) times.
“Mayday Corsair (or IL 1234 AB)”
“Navy Pier bears 220 degrees magnetic — distance 5 miles”
“Struck submerged object and flooding — need pump and tow”
“Four adults, three children aboard — no one injured”
“Estimate we will remain afloat one-half hour”
“Corsair (or IL 1234 AB) is 26 ft sloop with blue hull and tan deck house”
“I will be listening on Channel 16”
“This is Corsair (or IL 1234 AB)”
“Over”
It is a good idea to write out a script of the message form and post it where you
and others on your vessel can see it when an emergency message needs to be sent.
Marine Distress Procedure – DSC
•
Digital Selective Calling (DSC) is a semi-automated system that will allow you to
press the Distress button from any routine to make a distress call. When the
distress button is pressed, all other channels go to Standby mode and allow the
digitally encoded “pre-programmed” message to take precedence. Important
information such as your MMSI number, position and name will be transmitted on
Channel 16. The distress alarm will sound for two (2) minutes or until the alarm is
cleared.
The DSC system allows you to choose a “pre-programmed” distress call such as:
“Man Overboard, Sinking, Collision.” There are many pre-programmed choices to
choose from. If a GPS is connected to your radio, your coordinates will also be sent
to the Coast Guard as well as to other vessels that are within range of the
transmission. DSC calling also allows the user to initiate and receive distress,
urgent, safety, routine, position request, position send and group calls between
vessels equipped with DSC capable radios.
WARNING
This radio will generate a digital maritime distress and safety signal to help
facilitate search and rescue. This radio must be used only within
communication range of a shore based VHF station with a distress and safety
watch system. The range of the signal may vary, however, under normal
conditions should be approximately 20 nautical miles.
VHF Marine Radio Protocols
VHF Marine Radio Protocols
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