...DISTRESS URGENCY AND SAFETY MESSAGES...

THE FOLLOWING IS A SAFE BOATING MESSAGE FROM THE USCG AUXILIARY WILMINGTON

There is a difference between the three classes of Distress, Urgency and Safety Messages available to Boaters on the Marine VHF Radio band. Normally, a radio call on the Marine VHF channels are to be directed to a specific station or vessel. The Distress, Urgency and Safety messages are different in that they are broadcast to any and all stations.

Generally an announcement would be made on Channel 16 (156.800 Mhz) to switch to a local working channel, such as Channel 13, to receive the Distress, Urgency or Safety message.

The Safety message is the word SECURITY, pronounced SAY-CUR-EE-TAY, spoken three times to announce to all within radio range that the station is about to transmit a message concerning Navigation Safety or Meteorological Warnings, an example would be

"Security, Security, Security, This is the Sailboat Oglethorp Southbound on the Cape Fear River There is a log approximately twenty feet long and two feet in diameter, Adrift in mid-channel of the Cape Fear River just South of Red Buoy Number 30. This is Sailboat Oglethorp, Out"

The Urgency message are the words PAN PAN, pronounced PAWN PAWN, spoken three times to announce to all within radio range that the station is an urgent message concerning the safety of a ship, aircraft or other vehicle or the safety of a person. An example of this type message would be

"Pan Pan, Pan Pan, Pan Pan, This is the sailboat Oglethorp, Southbound on the Cape Fear River I have lost my mast and am standing into danger and require a tow. There are two persons on board the 25-foot white hull sailboat. This is the sailboat Oglethorp, Over"

The Distress call MAYDAY should be transmitted on Channel 16 (156.800 Mhz), only when grave or imminent danger exists and immediate assistance is required. The MAYDAY distress call has absolute priority over all other transmissions. Note that a MAYDAY call requires the specific information

-Vessel Name and Registry Number
-Location of the Vessel
-What is Wrong?
-Kind of Assistance Required
-Number of persons aboard and condition of any injuries
-Present Seaworthiness of the Vessel
-Description of the Vessel

"Mayday, Mayday, Mayday This is the sailboat Oglethorp, approximately five nautical miles east of Carolina Beach Inlet Sea Buoy. We require dewatering equipment. There are two persons on board. Medical assistance is not needed. The sailboat is taking on water thru the hull after colliding with an unknown submerged object. The sailboat is 25-feet in length, with a white hull. We are listening to Channel 16 on a handheld radio with limited range. Look for two frantically-waving swimmers near the partially submerged hull".

THIS MESSAGE WAS BROUGHT TO YOU BY...

THE USCG AUXILIARY WILMINGTON

 ...YOU'RE IN COMMAND. BOAT RESPONSIBLY!...

$$