BASIC RADIO PROCEDURE AND CHANNELS.
Channels.
The following channels are primarily used in communicating with the Coastguard and other vessels at sea.CH 16 - Main communicating channel, used for calling up Coastguard, other vessels at sea and for reporting MAYDAYs or PAN PAN's.
CH 67 - HM Coastguard primary safety channel, the Coastguard will refer you to this channel to pass any messages, and keep CH 16 clear.
CH 73 - HM Coastguard secondary safety channel, if CH 67 occupied they may send you to this channel.
CH 6 or CH 8 - These are inter ship working channels, if a vessel calls up at sea, transfer over to an agreed channel, then continue communicating.Talking to the Coastguard and Basic radio procedure.
When talking to the Coastguard, speak slowly and clearly with the microphone approx 4 - 6 inches away from your mouth.
Always call the station you want to talk to first, and then give your call sign
E.g. Humber Coastguard, THIS IS, RIB Emily - OVERTHIS IS - Tells the receiver who is calling them.
OVER - This invites the other station to speak.
OUT - This word ends the Transition.
MAYDAY - The word indicates that a ship or aircraft is threatened by grave and imminent danger, and requests immediate assistance.
PAN PAN - Indicates the calling station has a very urgent message, concerning the safety of a ship, aircraft or person.THERE IS NO SUCH PHRASE AS 'OVER AND OUT'
Basic Message.
Call up the Coastguard on CH 16, and say: -
HUMBER COASTGUARD, HUMBER COASTGUARD THIS IS RIB EMILY, RIB EMILY - OVER.
The Coastguard will normally reply: -
RIB EMILY THIS IS HUMBER COASTGUARD, FOR ROUTINE TRAFFIC GO CHANNEL 67 AND STANDBY - OVER.
On the reply from the Coastguard say: -
HUMBER COASTGUARD THIS IS RIB EMILY GOING CHANNEL 67 - OVER.
At this point, turn the channel dial to CH 67 and wait until the Coastguard calls up.
RIB EMILY THIS IS HUMBER COASTGUARD - OVER.
At this stage the Coastguard needs to know five main points: -
What you are? - Dive Boat, Fishing Boat etc.
Where you're leaving. From?
How many people are onboard? - 10 total number of souls, not 6 divers plus 2 crew and 2 children etc.
Where you are going?
Your ETA (Estimated time of arrival) back.Your message could read like this: -
HUMBER COASTGUARD, THIS IS RIB EMILY.
GOOD MORNING/ AFTERNOON SIR/ MADAM,
WE ARE A DIVE BOAT LEAVING AMBLE HARBOUR,
ON ROUTE TO THE FARNE ISLANDS,
10 PERSONS ON BOARD,
OUR ETA BACK AT AMBLE APPROX 1700 HOURS - OVERHumber Coastguard would reply: -
RIB EMILY THIS IS HUMBER COASTGUARD,
MESSAGE RECEIVED; CALL US ON YOUR RETURN TO AMBLE.
- OVER.You would then reply with: -
HUMBER COASTGUARD THIS IS RIB EMILY, ROGER - OUT.
Turn the channel dial back to show CH 16, and listen out for any transmittions, weather forecasts etc.
On Return.On return to Amble call up the Coastguard using the same format as before, and when they call you up on CH 67, say: -
HUMBER COASTGUARD THIS IS RIB EMILY.
WE HAVE SAFETLY ARRIVED BACK AT AMBLE HARBOUR - OVER.Humber Coastguard will reply: -
RIB EMILY THIS IS HUMBER COASTGUARD
MESSAGE RECEIVED, THIS IS HUMBER COASTGUARD - OUT.
MAYDAY - Indicates that a ship, aircraft or other vehicle is threatened by grave and imminent danger and requests immediate assistance.
E.g. the boat is sinking, on fire, and people are just about to enter the water.
PAN PAN - Indicates that the calling station has a very urgent message to transmit concerning the safety of a ship, aircraft of other vehicle or of a person.
E.g. the boat has broken down, and is drifting.
A diver is missing or has a suspect bend, or your lost in fog.SECURITE - Indicates that the station is about to transmit a message concerning the safety of navigation of important meteorological information. The Coastguard normally issues this.
Transmitting a MAYDAY message.
Remember you may be in a stressful situation, so try to speak slowly and clearly and follow the following format.
Say: -
MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY
THIS IS - your own callsign three times.
MAYDAY - followed by your callsign.
POSITION
NATURE OF DISTRESS
ASSISTANCE REQUIRED AND NUMBER OF PERSONS ONBOARD, OVER.And listen for any reply.
Example.
MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY
THIS IS RIB EMILY, RIB EMILY, RIB EMILY
MAYDAY RIB EMILY
MY POSITION 55 DEGREES 25 MINUTES NORTH, 001 DEGREES 35 MINUTES WEST. (OR 2 MILES EAST OF CRASTER HARBOUR)
I AM ON FIRE AND REQUIRE IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE. I HAVE TEN PERSONS ONBOARD- OVER.Listen out for any replies.
Transmitting a PAN PAN message.
This is a similar format to the Mayday message, and signifies that the message is Urgent concerning the safety of the ship or persons onboard.
Say: -
PAN PAN, PAN PAN, PAN PAN
ALL STATIONS, ALL STATIONS, ALL STATIONS
THIS IS - your own call sign, spoken three times.
POSITION
NATURE OR URGENCY
ASSISTANCE REQUIREDExample.
PAN PAN, PAN PAN, PAN PAN
ALL STATIONS ALL STATIONS, ALL STATIONS
THIS IS RIB EMILY RIB EMILY RIB EMILY
POSITION 1 MILE EAST OF LONGSTONE LIGHTHOUSE, FARNE ISLANDS
I HAVE ENGINE FAILURE, I AM AT ANCHOR.
I REQUEST A TOW.Listen out for any replies.