GX1300E
Page 10
5.3 EMERGENCY (CHANNEL 16 USE)
Channel 16 is known as the Hail and Distress Channel. An emergency is
defined as a threat to life or property. In such instances, be sure the trans-
ceiver is on and set to CHANNEL 16. Then use the following procedure:
1. Press the microphone push-to-talk switch and say “
Mayday
,
Mayday
,
Mayday
. This is
,
,
” (your vessel’s name).
2. Then repeat once: “
Mayday
,
” (your vessel’s name).
3. Now report your position in latitude/longitude, or by giving a true or
magnetic bearing (state which) to a well-known landmark such as a
navigation aid or geographic feature such as an island or harbour entry.
4. Explain the nature of your distress (sinking, collision, aground, fire, heart
attack, life-threatening injury, etc.).
5. State the kind of assistance you desire (pumps, medical aid, etc.).
6. Report the number of persons aboard and condition of any injured.
7. Estimate the present seaworthiness and condition of your vessel.
8. Give your vessel’s description: length, design (power or sail), color and
other distinguishing marks. The total transmission should not exceed 1
minute.
9. End the message by saying “
OVER
.” Release the microphone button
and listen.
10. If there is no answer, repeat the above procedure. If there is still no
response, try another channel.
NOTE
5.4 CALLING ANOTHER VESSEL
(
CHANNEL 16 OR 9
)
Channel 16 may be used for initial contact (hailing) with another vessel.
However, its most important use is for emergency messages. This channel
must be monitored at all times except when actually using another channel.
It is monitored by the European, U.S. and Canadian Coast Guards and by
other vessels.
Use of channel 16 for hailing must be limited to initial
contact only.
Calling should not exceed 30 seconds, but may be repeated
3 times at 2-minute intervals. In areas of heavy radio traffic, congestion
on channel 16 resulting from its use as a hailing channel can be reduced
significantly in U.S. waters by using
channel 9
as the initial contact (hailing)
channel for non-emergency communications. Here, also, calling time should
The
GX1300E
have DSC Distress calling, that can transmit a distress
call digitally to all ships with compatible DSC radios. Refer to section “
9
DIGITAL SELECTIVE CALLING
”.
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