DSC Distress Alert received on 2187.5kHz, direct from the vessel in
Distress {i.e., not a 'relay/acknowledgement' from another vessel, nor
from a Coast Station}. Assumption: the vessel in distress is in
reasonable steaming distance from your location {i.e., within around
200 miles in an 'ocean' area}.
Action: you should:- Set watch on 2182kHz and expect a voice Distress Call and Message.
- Send a voice acknowledgement {i.e., 'Received Mayday' - this
may be delayed for a short time to allow other vessels, which may
be closer to the casualty, to respond}. - With the Master's permission - send position and ETA.
- Follow instructions from casualty, OSC.
Qualifications:
The assumption above is that you have received this MF alert
by 'ground wave' propagation and are in reasonable steaming distance
from the casualty. During night-time conditions, however, you may
receive MF alerts by 'sky wave' propagation -and you may be many
hundreds/thousands of miles away and in no position to go to the aid
of the casualty. If the position suggests that you have received the
alert from a great distance and that you cannot reasonably go to assist,
you should: - Listen on 2182kHz, for up to 5 minutes, for possible distress traffic;
- If distress working is heard and it appears that the casualty is in
communication with a Coast Station/another vessel - enter the
details in the radio log {do not interfere with that distress working}; - If no distress working is heard - relay the alert to a specific Coast
Station and enter the details in your radio log.
Radio log examples for the three MF DSC possibilities - and one
HF DSC example, follow (Casualty is :Justina/GjUS; your vessel is
WlZARD/GWIZ).92 THE NAUTICAL INSTITUTE