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

Action Onboard Vessels Receiving a VHF DSC Distress Alert

The DSC Distress alert received onboard Wizard might appear on
screen as:

is:

Distress

232456789

SO 20N 006 01 W @ OHOO UTC

Fire/Explosion

Ch70

(Date/time of receipt)

This tells the bridge watchkeeper onboard the Wizard that the alert

A DISTRESS Alert.

From MM SI 232456789.

Position at 0800 UTC was 500 20'N 006°01'W (if this was a manually

entered position it may be anything up to 4 hours old).

• Nature of distress is either Fire or Explosion.
  The alert was received on CH70 VHF (some DSC controllers are
  connected to the VHF and SSB Radio, simultaneously).
  The date and time of receipt of the alert will be appended automatically
  by the Wizards DSC controller.

The author conducting a GMDSS course on board, as part of the extensive training

required to become proficient in maritime communications

MARINE COMMUNICATIONS 77