America’s Boating Course 3 rd Edition

America’s Boating Course3rd Edition Communications Afloat Chapter 3 Section 12 Presented by the St Paul Sail and Power Squadron 1

Radio vs. Telephone 2

VHF Radio • VHF radio is not required - Highly recommended • If turned on – MUST monitor Channel 16/9 3

Digital Selective Calling Channel 70 – digital Signals other radios Sends position via GPS Radio registered to owner MMSI number part of call 4

SOLAS Vessels No Longer Required to Monitor Ch 16 - may miss your voice distress call USCG Rescue 21 Program Modernization of USCG Coastal Com Facilities Fully Operational by 2011 All 655 USCG Vessels with VHF/DSC Takes the "Search" out of Search and Rescue Digital Selective Calling Why Is DSC Important To Me ? 5

DSC Distress Calls Emergency Only Press & hold red button Sounds alarm on DSC radios Response switches to Channel 16 Can enter type of distress code 6

Radio Range Line of Sight 25 NM (typical maximum range) Actual Range based on: Height of antenna(s) Transmitted power 7

Equipment 8

Licenses None Required if Operating in U.S. Waters & Boat LOA < 20 Meters (65 Feet) Required if Travel to Foreign Ports (Canada, Bahamas, Mexico, Etc) or to communicate with Foreign Stations • If required obtained from the FCC • a. Station License for Boat (radio) & • b. Restricted Radio Operator's Permit 9

Operating Procedures Where Used: Only on boats Land operation requires special license Limited to Essential Communications: Summon assistance Safety purposes Needs of the vessel 10

Language Use appropriate ‘radio’ terms Skipper responsible for radio Criminal offense: profane or indecent language Felony: false distress calls Don’t allow children to play with radio 11

Procedure Words • Tips: Always end transmission with OVER or OUT - NOT BOTH • Do not use “Roger Wilco” instead of “Wilco” • “Wilco” means “Last transmission received OK and I will comply” 12

Emergency Calls Mayday Pan-pan Securité Responding to emergency call 13

Mayday For assistance with immediate danger to life and property Examples: Life-threatening medical Person lost overboard Boat sinking Boat on fire 14

Mayday Info Location Nature of distress Description of boat Number of persons aboard (injured) Seaworthiness of boat 15

Mayday Call MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAYTHIS IS SAILBOAT WINDSONG, WINDSONG, WINDSONG. MAYDAY WINDSONG. OVER VESSEL CALLING MAYDAY - THIS IS COAST GUARD STATION CORTEZ. WHAT’S YOUR NATURE OF DISTRESS AND YOUR POSITION. OVER. THIS IS SAILBOAT WINDSONGMY POSITION IS APPROXIMATELY 5 MILES OFF EGMONT KEY - COMPASS BEARING IS 120. SLOWLY SINKING. ESTIMATED FLOAT TIME ABOUT ONE HOUR. FOUR PERSONS ARE ONBOARD, ONE INJURY, FRACTURED LEG. WE ARE A 25 FOOT SAILBOAT, COLOR WHITE WITH BLUE TRIM.WINDSONG: OVER. SAILBOAT WINDSONG THIS IS STATION CORTEZ. VESSEL 42136 IS ON THE WAY TO YOUR POSITION. COAST GUARD OUT. Loud Audio to Follow 16

Pan-Pan(pahn-pahn) For assistance when danger does not rise to “MAYDAY” level Examples: Out of fuel Lost in a fog Unable to control or operate vessel 17

Securité(say-cure-it-tay) For navigation safety messages Examples: To report a navigational hazard (sunken object) Operational signals (towing a boat) Weather Alerts 18

Responding Do not transmit on a channel in use Maintain silence on channel until clear If in a position to help - call the vessel in distress - what you can provide Inform the USCG of your actions 19

Routine Calls Information or logistics Listen before talking Use lowest power Calling channel Working channel Keep calls short 20

Radio Check To verify radio works Use calling or working channel Limit use 21

NOAA Channels Broadcast weather reports Includes marine specific data Channel depends on location 22

Offshore High-frequency single sideband Channels for marine use Requires license Satellite Similar to cell phone 23

EPIRBs Can transmit ID & homing signal May be water activated Primarily for off-shore use 24

End Chapter 3 25

America’s Boating Course 3 rd Edition