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

If you need to contact a Coast Station/MRCC from an A3 area
(so that they can broadcast your situation using HF DSC and/or Inmarsat
Safety NET) - you need to use HF DSC or Inmarsat communications to
get your message to the MRCC.

Using Inmarsat-A/Inmarsat-B telephone communications to

make an 'Urgency' call to a MRCC - Example - urgent

safety problem with the vessel

Inmarsat·A Calling Procedure

(generic process)

Lift the handset

Receive Dial Tone (from equipment)

Select Routine Priority/Telephone (01)

Select LES

Press '*' key (to initiate the call)

• Receive Dial Tone from LES
  Key 39* (Await connection with MRCC)

Inmarsat·B Calling Procedure

(generic process)

Lift the handset

Receive Dial Tone

Accept Default LES or

Select another LES

Key 39* (Await connection with MRCC)

When the MRCC answers, you can pass your Pan Pan call and

message - including your Inmarsat ID and satellite being used, e.g:

'Pan Pan (x3) United Kingdom Coastguard

This is MV justina,justina,justina

Callsign GJUS - Inmarsat ID 323245678 - on AOR·East

In position 50 degrees 22 minutes North, 015 degrees 50 minutes West

Lost main engine power - weather deteriorating - urgently require a tow, Over'

justina this is United Kingdom Coastguard - Received - Standby

Author's explanation:

TIu Inmarsat service has only two priorities through the satellite system -Routine (Priority 0), and Distress

(Priority 3). Some Inmarsat·A equipment will offer Routine, Safety, Urgency and Distress on the 'meen

prompts'. If you selecl Routine, Safety or Urgency -your call will go through. as Routine. (07 is correct for

Tekphone; 02 for fax). Short code 39 is used to gain 'Maritime Assistance' (i.e., a Pan Pan situation

where the vessel is in trouble) and is common to all types of Inmarsat GMDSS equipment (A, Band

C). Using 39* with Routine priority on Inmarsat·A and Inmarsat·B (in place of

OOCountryCodeNumber*) -will get you a direct connection to the MRCC associated with Ihe LES

through which you placed the call.

The radio log onboardJustina would look like:

Date/time Station

UTC To

27.10.01

08:{0/ Pan Pan

/33 UK CG

Station

From Remarks

justilla SO 22N 015 50W lost main

engine power -urgently require tow

• Wx deteriorating (R Shy) J Uhuru

Frequency

Channel or

Satellite

Sat·B/AORE

(then continue to log all Ttlroant information untillhe situation is resolved. Havingjinished talking

wilh the MRCC, you may go on 10 do an 'All Stations' Urgency Call/message using MF DSC

(2787.5kH;j and voice (2782kH;j, if that is likely to gel the assistance you require mort quickly than

waiting for help from ashore)

114 THE NAUTICAL INSTITUTE