Article by Capt. Steve Katz
Mayday – when, why and how
Over the last few weeks here in Ocean City, there have been a few incidents offshore where the boater needed medical assistance.
What should you do if you are on the water and need medical or other assistance in the event of an emergency? Contacting the Coast Guard using your VHF radio on Channel 16 is the first and best way to get assistance when on the water. While some people may think that if you are far offshore a satellite phone or other device would be better, the VHF is still the best first choice no matter where you are located. The USCG has strong radio receivers and transmitters that can cover an area much larger than your typical consumer marine VHF radio. Even if the USCG can’t hear you, someone else may. A few years ago a boat was in danger of sinking over 100 miles east of Ocean City. The captain placed sat phone calls, activated his EPIRB and broadcast on VHF Channel 16. The first and continued rescue communications were conducted on the VHF by a nearby US NAVY ship that heard the distress call and diverted it’s course to assist while at the same time, coordinating the rescue with the USCG.
A few weeks ago, a local boater made a VHF Channel 16 distress call while en route to offshore fishing in the morning. He was a good distance offshore and he indicated that the USCG answered his distress call within a few seconds and he continued to use the VHF as the only line of communications with the land based USCG team and the USCG helicopter that was dispatched to his vessel. He also indicated that the USCG helicopter pilot talked with him clearly and politely during the rescue, giving him exact instructions on how to operate the vessel during the deployment of the rescue swimmer and the rescue basket.
While every call to the USCG does not necessarily result in a helicopter dispatch, the USCG staff at the RCC (Rescue Coordination Center) are trained in many areas, including medical and can provide assistance and instructions to a boater in the event of an emergency, even if a helicopter rescue is unavailable or deemed unnecessary.
The USCG monitors and records incoming VHF distress calls. Even if they do not begin a two way conversation with you immediately, they probably have heard your call and will respond quickly. Not all USCG receiving antennas and stations are monitored by a person sitting in front of a VHF radio. Much of the system is now automated. The USCG uses a communications system called Rescue 21. It was designed to be more robust, reliable and capable than the legacy system by using a modern radio system coupled with a TCP/IP network and digital communication using VoIP. It was created to better locate mariners in distress and save lives and property at sea and on navigable rivers.
All modern VHF radios can transmit an emergency call using the red button or DSC Distress Alert function on the front of the radio. This automated digital distress call will also contact the USCG and other boaters that are in range. The function and use of the DSC system will be reviewed in future articles.
A traditional voice distress alert should be transmitted if, in the opinion of the Master, the ship or a person is in distress and requires immediate assistance.
When to Use "Mayday", "Pan-Pan" or "Sécurité”?
Mayday is used during a radio broadcast to indicate immediate danger of loss of life or the vessel itself. Pan-Pan is used when the safety of a person or the boat is in serious jeopardy, but no immediate danger exists or it could escalate into a mayday situation. Sécurité is used as a safety signal - such as in the event of an approaching storm, a navigation light failure, a submerged object in a navigation channel or even military practice in the area.
What to say in a Mayday call
The USCG publishes the recommended procedure below for placing a mayday call on a marine radio. Tune the VHF radio to Channel 16 and transmit the following information. The information below is spoken during one continuous transmission, slowly and clearly. Do not stop talking to wait for a response until the transmission below is completed. If no response is heard after a few minutes, repeat the complete call.
•Distress signal "MAYDAY", is spoken three times
•The words "THIS IS", spoken once followed by the name of the vessel in distress (spoken three times) and call sign or boat registration number, spoken once.
•Repeat "MAYDAY" and name of vessel once.
•Give position of vessel by latitude or longitude or by bearing (true or magnetic, state which) and distance to a well-known landmark such as a navigational aid or small island, or in any terms which will assist a responding station in locating the vessel in distress.
•Include any information on vessel movement such as course, speed and destination.
•Nature of distress (sinking, fire etc.).
•Kind of assistance desired.
•Number of persons onboard.
•Any other information which might facilitate the rescue, such as length or tonnage of vessel, number of persons needing medical attention, color hull, cabin, masks, etc.
•Finally, the word "OVER".
Stay by the radio if possible. Even after the message has been received, the Coast Guard can find you more quickly if you can transmit a signal on which a rescue boat or aircraft can home in on.
Posting this information near the VHF is helpful in the event a call needs to be placed. It’s a good idea to be sure everyone on board is familiar with the location and use of the VHF radio and that it is in good working order.
Captain Steve Katz is the owner of Steve’s Marine Service and holds NMEA, AMEI and NMEA2000 certificates along with ABYC Master Technician certification and factory training from many manufacturers. To reach Steve, call (631) 264-1600.
