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

Urgency Communications in an A2 Area - Example

Vessel with problem is M/V justina, call sign GJUS, MM SI 232456789

Coast Station is Falmouth Coastguard, MMSI 002320014 - M/V

Wizard, call sign GWIZ, is in the vicinity and can assist.

Action in Al Coast Station

Action onboard vessel with problem

Send DSC. All Stations Urgency Call

on 218i.5kHz -indicating 2182kHz

for follow-up voice communications

Send voice Pan Pan Call

and onboard Wizard

Receive DSC Urgency Call on :.1l!17'skHz

Set watch 2182kHz

Coast Station acknowledge by voice

Wi?;ard acknowledge by voice only if

able to assist (otherwise, remain silent)

and Message on 2182kHz

The exchange of initial voice calls/messages on 2182kHz would take the form:

Pan Pan, Pan Pan, Pan Pan All Stations, All Stations, All Stations

this is Motor VesseIJustina,Justina,Justina

callsign GolfJuliet Uniform Sierra - MMSI 232456789

Position 50 degrees 22 minutes North OOS degrees 50 minutes West

Cargo shifted - listing to port - request vessel stand-by me until situation rectified - Over

Pan Pan, Pan Pan, Pan Pan -JustinaJustinaJustina

This is Falmouth Coastguard, Falmouth Coastguard, Falmouth Coastguard

Received - stand-by 2182kHz

Pan PanJustina,Justina,Justina this is Wizar~ Wizar~ Wizard - GWIZ - Message

received - I am two miles astern of you and closing - have you visual -will stand-

by you - Over

Wizard this isJustina - Received - thank you

And the radio log onboard Wizard would look like:

Date/time Station

UTC To

27.10.01

OR30 All Stations

OR30

OR311 Pan Pan

/

/32

0832

OR3S

GjUS

GjUS

Station

From Remarks

Frequency

Channel or

Satellite

232456789 DSC Urgency Call 2187.5kHz

On Watch J Uhuru 2182kHz

justina/ GjUS1232456789 - 50 22N 005 50W cargo shifted

listing to port - rq vssl to sby me until

situation rectified (Master informed)

Falmouth CG R - sbi 2182kHz

Wizard :.1 miles astern/ closing/ will sbi you (R,tks)

(then continue to log all relevant information until the situation is resolved)

If the above Urgency situation had been in an A3 area and you
were using MF to gain the attention of other vessels, the procedure would
have been the same as shown for an A2 area - but without any Coast
Station/MRCC involvement. Other vessels should only acknowledge
if they are in a position to help, otherwise they should keep silent.

MARINE COMMUNICATIONS 113