314 seamanship secrets
Mayday Calls: Step by Step
In any emergency situation, make a decision to call a Mayday (distress) call based
on this question: “If you do not make this call, will the situation most likely result in
a loss of life or the loss of your vessel?” If you can answer yes to that question, then
make the call.
Use Channel 16 VHF or Channel 2182 USB.
You must give your position immediately so that rescuers can get moving toward
your position. This is often forgotten in the heat of the moment. Assume that you’ll
lose power, so transmit this vital information early in the distress message. Follow
the format in the script below.
- Mayday-Mayday-Mayday (three times)
- Th is is Freedom-Freedom-Freedom (vessel name, three times)
- Mayday, motor vessel Freedom (severity/name, one time)
- My position is 32o14.5'N, 67o12.5'W (if lat/long is unknown, give range and bearing
from land, a landmark, a buoy, or a dead reckoning position) - We are sinking (state the nature of the emergency)
- Request immediate assistance
Release the transmit button and listen for a response (20 to 30 seconds). If
nothing is heard, repeat steps 1 to 6. Aft er rescuers respond to your call: - Give amplifying information: number of crew, nature of injuries, action taken, and
survival equipment aboard.
Digital Selective Calling (DSC) Procedures
All new VHF-FM radios come equipped with the latest Digital Selective Calling (DSC)
technology. It shortens the amount of time needed to hail another vessel and allows continu-
ous distress broadcasting in an emergency. Th ink of DSC as a calling and distress frequency.
It’s not for chatter or routine communications. Use it to establish initial communications
or in life-threatening emergencies.
To use DSC, both you and the receiving party must have a nine-digit identifi cation
number, called a MMSI (Maritime Mobile Service Identity). It’s similar to a telephone
number. If you know another boat’s MMSI, you simply dial it into your DSC-equipped radio
and it transmits a signal to it. It receives a tone and message, showing your MMSI, similar
to a cellular phone caller-ID display.
Here’s a sample of the basic steps for establishing routine, nonemergency commu-
nications with another DSC-equipped vessel. Your radio might have slightly diff erent
procedures, so always check the manual:
HOW TO MAKE A ROUTINE CALL USING DSC
- Select from the DSC menu: Click on the DSC Menu and select Individual Call to
call one boat or Group Call to call several DSC-equipped vessels. Let’s say we want to
talk to a single boat. We select Individual Call. Press Enter to go to the next menu.