Ian Waugh - A Mariner\'s Guide to Marine Communications

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Log Example 4: Distress Alert received by HF DSC:

Date/time

UTC

27.10.01

0400

0520

0520

0524

Station

To

0526 006010001

0527 Wizard

0528129 Wizard

Station

From Remarks

12 25S 003 12W (DSCs updated) J Uhuru

232456789 Distress Alert 29 20S 007 OIE @ 0400UTC

Sinking J3E

On Watch J Uhuru

232456789 Distress Alert 29 20S 007 OlE @ 0400UTC

Wizard

006010001

Sinking J3E

(DSC Distress Relay sent to Cape Town)

(DSC Ack - shift to 8291kz)

Cape Town (requests we maintain 8291kHz watch

Frequency

Channel or

Satellite

8414.5kHz

8291kHz

8414.5kHz

8414.5kHz

U

8291kHz

until direct contact established with casualty) U

Author's explanation:

The alert has been received on HF (8MHz) using sky-wave propagation. The bridge watchkeeper calculates that the casualty is too far distant

for Wizard to assist with the rescue operation - but listens on 8291kHz (the 8MHz voice distress frequency) to make sure that the casualty

makes contact with a Coast StationlMRCC.

In this example, no voice distress traffic is heard on 8291kHz. The fact that the DSC Alert has been repeated means that the casualty has

not received a DSC Distress Acknowledgement from any station.

Wizard's bridge watchkeeper then 'Relays' the alert details ashore. Calculating the casualty's position to be in the South Africa SRR (ALRS

Vol5 -SAR Section), Wizard uses HF DSC to relay the information to Cape Town Radio (contact details from ALRS Vol5 -HF DSC

Stations section).

(In this example, Cape Town Radio requests Wizard to maintain a listening watch on 8291kHz until voice contact is made with the casualty

• at which time Wizard may be stood-down from 8291kHz watch).