The accepted conventions for use of marine radio are collectively termed "proper operating procedure."
These conventions include:
o Listening for 2 minutes before transmitting
o Using Channel 16 only to establish communication (if necessary) and then switch to a different channel, using a set of international "calling" procedures such as the "Mayday" distress call, the "Pan-pan" urgency call and "Securité" navigational hazard call.
o Using "pro-words" based on the English language –
o Acknowledge,
o All after,
o All before,
o All stations,
o Confirm,
o Correct,
o Correction,
o In figures,
o In letters,
o Over,
o Out,
o Radio check,
o Read back,
o Received,
o Repeat,
o Say again,
o Spell,
o Standby,
o Station calling,
o This is,
o Wait,
o Word after,
o Word before,
o Wrong
o Using the NATO phonetic alphabet: (see later)
o Using a phonetic numbering system based on English
VHF Marine Radios: VHF marine radios are a great asset to all who use them. They are not chat lines however, and should be used for working messages only. Misuse of the equipment could disrupt other users within the area. All VHF radio users are legally required to hold an operators licence and he vessel to which the radio is fitted must have a ship radio licence. A 'station' is a term for a VHF Radio. As a general rule listen to the channel for 30 seconds before transmitting to ensure it is not already in use.
The Radio: All marine radio equipment must be approved according to government specifications. There is a maximum power output of 25W although 1W is usually sufficient for most activities other than distress calls or public correspondence.
Channel Purpose:
• 16 International Distress, safety and calling
• 6 Primary Inter ship
• 8, 72, 77 Inter ship
• 12, 14 Port Operations
• 67 Small Craft safety
• M, M2 Marina Special Licence
• 2, 24, 26, 28 Ship to shore (public correspondence)
• 6, 67, 73 Search And Rescue Co-ordination
VHF Signals: The range of VHF is line of sight and has an Inter-ship range of 15-25 miles. Ship to shore range is about 30-50 miles.
Dual Watch (D/W): a facility that allows you to monitor two channels via switching. Do not transmit on dual watch.
Digital Selective Calling: uses CRS but requires an additional kit for the radio set.
Capture Effect: when a receiver within range of two stations will receive only the more powerful or closer signal, the other signal will be lost.
Aerials - should be high and upright and clear of other aerials by at least 1M. An emergency aerial should also be carried.
Control of Communication
o Ship to shore - coast radio station
o Inter-ship - station calling
o Search and Rescue - Vessel in distress, relay station, Coastguard, on scene vessel / aircraft
Duration of Calls
o Test Call / Radio Check - 10 sec
o Calling on Channel 16 - 1 min
o Calling again on Channel 16 - 3 min
o Listen on channel before calling - 30 sec
Distress calls: Coastguard use GMT all year round. Each station has an obligation to respond to a distress call: write down time, name, position, nature of distress, no of people on board and additional information.
If the Coastguard says 'wait' this means they will respond within 10 minutes.
Any longer than that should be given a reason prior. Only repeat things three times if it is a distress call.
Otherwise use their name once and your name twice. Distress calls should make the following 7 points in order:
o Distress call
o Identity
o Position (Note that the position is given in geographical area as distance 'from object' not 'to object' when working out bearing. Otherwise use Lat. and Long.)
o Nature of distress
o Information for search and rescue
o Invitation to reply
o Message Meaning
o Mayday (Distress)
Definition: When a vessel or person is in grave and imminent danger and requires immediate assistance - fire, accident damage, lee shore situation (under lee shore is when you are sheltered by the shore), diver not surfaced, man lost overboard, person is gravely ill.
Example:
Mayday
MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY.
This is CRYPTIC, CRYPTIC, CRYPTIC,
MAYDAY CRYPTIC,
My position is: 180 degrees, one mile from buoy number 1.
I am sinking and require immediate assistance
Four crew members on board, all safety equipment and
EPIRB at 406 MHz
Mayday Relay: Mayday relays are transmitted when the station in distress cannot itself transmit a distress signal or when, although not in a position to assist a distress message is heard that has not been acknowledged. Example:
MAYDAY RELAY, MAYDAY RELAY, MAYDAY RELAY.
This is Yacht CRYPTIC, Yacht CRYPTIC, Yacht CRYPTIC,
MAYDAY Evelyn Rose.
Position is: 180 degrees, one mile from buoy number 1.
Yacht sinking and requires immediate assistance
Four crew members on board, all safety equipment and
EPIRB at 406 MHz
Pan Pan: When a station has a very urgent message to transmit concerning safety of a ship, aircraft or person.
Example:
PAN PAN, PAN PAN, PAN PAN
Hello all stations, Hello all stations, Hello all stations
This is Yacht CRYPTIC, Yacht CRYPTIC, Yacht CRYPTIC,
My position is: 180 degrees, one mile from buoy number 1.
I have been in a collision and require assistance of a tug
Seelonce Mayday: Radio Silence: Imposing radio silence by controlling station
Seelonce Distress: Radio Silence: Issued by other station
Example:
MAYDAY - SEELONCE MAYDAY, SEELONCE MAYDAY, SEELONCE MAYDAY.
This is Severn Radio - Severn Radio - Out
Prudonce
Seelonce Feenee
Securite
Security, Security, Security
Hello all stations, Hello all stations, Hello all stations
This is Evelyn Rose, Evelyn Rose, Evelyn Rose
My position is: 180 degrees, one mile from buoy number 1.
My engine has broken down and I am anchoring in a southbound traffic lane, Request ships keep clear, over.
NAME OF SHIP....................... CALL SIGN...................................
DISTRESS TRANSMITTING PROCEDURES
(For use only when Immediate Assistance required)
1.Ensure transmitter is switched to 156.8MHz.
2. If possible transmit two tone Alarm Signal for 1/2 to 1 minute.
3. Then say:
MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY
THIS IS..................... (Ship's name or call sign 3 times).......... MAYDAY
followed by ship's name or call sign
POSITION...............................................
Nature of distress....................................
Aid required............................... OVER
4. Listen for a reply and if none repeat above procedure, particularly during the 3-
minute silence period commencing at each hour and half-hour.
Example - If possible Alarm Signal followed by:
MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY.
This is EVELYN ROSE, EVELYN ROSE, EVELYN ROSE
MAYDAY, EVELYN ROSE
Position: 54 24 north 018 33 West.
I am on fire and require immediate assistance. OVER.
Common Terminology
All after - used after the proword 'SAY AGAIN' to request a repetition of a portion of a message.
All before - used after the proword 'SAY AGAIN to request a repetition of a portion of a message.
Correct - reply to repetition of a message that has been proceded by the proword's READ BACK FOR CHECK when it has been correctly repeated.
Correction - spoken during the transmission of a message means - An error has been made in this transmission. Cancel the last word or group. The correct word or group follows.
In Figures - the following numeral or-group of numerals are to be written as figures.
In Letters - the following numeral or group of numerals are to be written in letters as spoken.
I Read Back - if the receiving station is doubtful about the accuracy of the whole or any part of a message it may repeat it back to the sending station, preceding the repetition with the proword's I READ BACK
I State Again - I am repeating transmission or potion indicated.
I Spell - I shall spell the next word or group of letters phonetically.
Out - this is the end of working to you. The end of work between two stations is indicated by each station adding the word OUT at the end of the last reply.
Over - the invitation to reply. Note that the' phrase OVER AND OUT is never used.
Radio Check - please tell me the strength and the clarity of my transmission.
Received - used to acknowledge receipt of a message, i.e, YOUR NUMBER...RECEIVED. In cases of language difficulties, the word 'ROMEO' is used.
Say Again - repeat your message or portion referred to i.e., SAY AGAIN ALL AFTER... SAY AGAIN ADDRESS etc. (Note:- This is typical of the need to memorise all these catch phrases'. To use the word REPEAT would be wrong REPEAT is used to emphasise something).
Station Calling - used when a station receives a call, which is intended for it, but is uncertain of the identification of the calling station.
This Is - this transmission is from the station whose call sign immediately follows. In cases of language difficulties the abbreviation DE spoken as DELTA ECHO is used
Wait - if a called station is unable to accept traffic immediately it will reply to you with the proword WAIT....Minutes
If the probable duration of the waiting time exceeds 10 minutes the reason for the delay should be given.
Word After or Word Before - used after the proword SAY.
Again - to request repetition of a portion of a radiogram or message.
Wrong - reply to a repetition of a radio telegram that has been preceded by the proword's 'I READ BACK, when it has been incorrectly repeated.
The phonetic alphabet
A Alfa AL FAH
B Bravo BRAH VO
C Charlie CHAR LEE
D Delta DELL TAH
E Echo ECK OH
F Foxtrot FOKS TROT
G Golf GOLF
H Hotel HOH TELL
I India IN DEE AH
J Juliet JEW LEE ETT
K Kilo KEY LOH
L Lima LEE MAH
M Mike MIKE
N November NO VEM BER
O Oscar 0SS CAH
P Papa PAH PAH
Q Quebec KEH BECK
R Romeo ROW ME OH
S Sierra SEE AIR RAH
T Tango TANG GO
U Uniform YOU NEE FORM
V Victor VIK TAH
W Whiskey WISS KEY
X X-ray ECKS RAY
Y Yankee YANG KEY
Z Zulu ZOO LOO
The phonetic numbering system
o Wun
o Too
o Tree
o Fow-er
o Fife
o Six
o Sev-en
o Ait
o Nin-er
o Zero,
o Decimal
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