Coast Guard

10 more minutes · 01-05-2004, 08:14 AM

Could someone please explain to me the correct way to hail the Coast Guard on a marine radio?
I'm not sure what the correct protocol would be if for instance I saw another boater in distress or if I needed assistance.

Thanks for the help,
Mike

[ 01-05-2004, 11:10 AM: Message edited by: 10 more minuets ]

bait boy · 01-05-2004, 08:59 AM

Coast guard this is (Your vessel)wait.. Coast guard: this is coast guard station X. Answer... I am in distress (insert nature of distress)and request assistance.. there are x number of people on board and we have donned our life jackets our position is Lat.and Long. then probably switch to channel 22A to finish the rest of the conversation if not on the first radio message.

10 more minutes · 01-05-2004, 09:08 AM

Thanks bait Boy, I just wanted to be ready if anything ever happens, with all the stress in an emergency, it's nice to know exactly what to do.
I appricate your response.

Mike

fish assassin · 01-05-2004, 09:21 AM

Coast Guard'a, Coast Guard'a, come save'a my boat!! :grin: :grin: :grin: :grin:

-assAssin-

corrirod · 01-05-2004, 09:35 AM

10,

The Coast Guard is very helpful and will ask you all the questions they need. We are going to be discussing this very subject on radio etiquette at the training class in Newport at the end of the month.

Most importantly, talk slowly and clearly.

"Coast Guard, Coast Guard, Coast Guard, this is 'The Pursuer' (or just your name) calling on channel 16 over"

"Vessel 'Pursuer', this is Coast Guard Station Yaquina Bay on channel 16 go ahead"

For a non-emergency you would then tell the Coast Guard you would like to switch to channel 22. For an emergency stay on 16 and describe your reason for calling.

"Coast Guard station Yaquina Bay, there is a pleasure boat that has overturned at the mouth of the jetty. There are 3 people in the water who require assistance. Over"

The Coast Guard will then ask you questions about the boat and people as they dispatch the rescue boats. After each call from the coast guard you should confirm you understand by saying, "Copy that Coast Guard" so they know you got the message.

There is a protocol for "Mayday" signals and "Pan, Pan" but I don't have time to type the conversations up right now. I'll post them as soon as I get a chance.

Keep in mind there is no "law" on how you converse but it makes things easier for the Coast Guard if you keep things in order.

Good question and glad you brought it up!

[ 01-05-2004, 10:37 AM: Message edited by: corrirod ]

Pete · 01-05-2004, 09:36 AM

Hail the CG on Ch. 16.

A couple additional points ...
If you or your passengers are in immediate danger, use the word MAYDAY to indicate the severity of the danger. Example: "Mayday Mayday, fishing boat (insert name) has an uncontrolled fire"

If you or your passengers are not in immediate danger, use the word Pan-Pan (pronounced pahn-pahn ). This might be in a situation where a person has fallen overboard, but is wearing a PFD, if you run out of fuel, if your prop has entangled in fishing gear and won't operate.

The CG will request certain actions and information, as Baitboy noted. They will always request that you don PFDs, they may request that you throw an anchor. They will want a brief, accurate description of your boat (size, color), they will want to know how many people are on board, they will want to know your location as specifically as possible.

After you make contact with the CG, do not end the communication until they instruct you to do so.

Mello-Yello · 01-05-2004, 09:41 AM

"May Day! May Day! Attention Coast Guard! This is the "Mello-Yello" requesting assistance. My VHF radio isn't working and I need to know the bar conditions!"

d'OH!

:shocked:

OceanBlue · 01-05-2004, 09:47 AM

You will notice that the Coast Guard dispatch will repeat key pieces of information that you've given them. Listen carefully to ensure they've heard you correctly and communicate any corrections when they complete their transmission(or tell them "affirmative" if they got the info 5X5). If they don't confirm your transmission, ask them if they received your last. Don't assume they heard you, or heard you correctly. Also, when they give you instructions, repeat them back so that they know you've understood. For very important information, a simple "copy that" does not allow them to repeat something you might have misunderstood or missed altogether. It also gives you an opportunity to reinforce those instructions... you'll be less likely to forget what you were told to do.

In emergency response, we call this 3-legged communications. It is used for very good reason and it works marvelously. When Pilar and I were out last July and had our troubles, we used this in every communication we had with both dispatch and the cutter. At least once, it saved them from going to the wrong coordinates in search of us. It also helped us to retain the fairly complex set of instructions that were relayed to us in preparation for being towed.

[ 01-05-2004, 10:50 AM: Message edited by: OceanBlue ]

10 more minutes · 01-05-2004, 10:09 AM

WOW! Thank you for all the great replys, This is exactly the info that I was after.
Thanks again,

Mike

Pilar · 01-05-2004, 10:29 AM

OB, I don't know about 3 legged communications and land based radio but ... This is what they do on Naval vessels from time out of mind. Any command given directly, relayed over SP phones or MC is repeated back and confirmed before the crewman executes the order. Any confusion and the listener says 'Say again your last' to get a repeat. Although it is a pain in the keister for routine radio traffic, formality will help you stay focused and clear on the radio during a panic or crisis.

This works in the engine room where I worked, where the tolerance for error is zero. Every Navy fireman and seaman starts with learning to repeat back orders from day one. Imagine the consequences of going with what you thought you heard when operating a Nuclear submarine.

I dunno about you Jen but I really got a kick out of the Coast Guard BMC on the 44 footer complimenting us on our radio chatter during the tow.

10 minutes .. monitor VHF 16 or 22A next time you are out on the water. The back and forth sounds kind of formal at first. But the CG is very careful and following procedures to make radio comm. as clear as it can be.

As Pete mentioned there are several ways to preface your call. MAYDAY is pretty obvious and is reserved for the really bad stuff, like sinking or fire. Pan Pan is for advising the Coast Guard of less serious events. What is Securite ( pronounce Se cure it tay) used for? I hear this all the time and don't know why they use it.

OceanBlue · 01-05-2004, 10:41 AM

I sure did get a kick about their compliments about the way we communicated and handled ourselves out there. The comment about being their best customers ever will not leave my memory ever... of course they were also our best rescuers ever :grin: too. I'm sure glad I had lots of practice with this type of communication BEFORE I needed it. Otherwise, I might have been terrified to pick up that mike while you were otherwise occupied, John.

Otherwise occupied with things like dumping excess ballast - in this case ICE. Hundreds of pounds

and preparing other emergency equipment we might need (like flare gun, etc.)

Scaup · 01-05-2004, 10:41 AM

You can find more info at this link on radio procedures:

http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/marcomms/boater.htm

Just to nit pick, the correct term is "Roger" instead of "Copy that" to acknowledge you understand/have received a transmission. If you say "copy that" they just might head to the nearest Xerox machine.

Securite is used to provide announcement of safety information, i.e. bar conditions, military live fire areas.

[ 01-05-2004, 11:48 AM: Message edited by: Scaup ]

corrirod · 01-05-2004, 11:15 PM

Thanks for clearing that up Scaup!

But what if your boat name is Roger? :tongue: [img]graemlins/dork.gif[/img]