Tag Archives :vessel

The distress call should only be used if your vessel is threatened by grave and imminent danger and you are requesting immediate assistance. It has absolute priority over all other transmissions and may only be transmitted on the authority of the skipper or the person responsible for the safety of your vessel. Repeat the distress call as often as necessary until you receive an answer. If no answer is received on distress frequencies  ...

When getting your vessel ready for use in the summer months it is important to make sure you kit it out with the right gear. One piece of gear every vessel should have is a reliable marine radio. These radios are available as both a portable handheld and a fixed mount solution. First, what is a handheld VHF? A handheld VHF is as it sounds, a VHF radio that fits in your hand.  ...

Marine-band VHF radio is a means by which vessels can communicate with radio stations ashore and on other vessels. A range of channels is available, with specific permitted uses in each case; for example, those channels allocated to port operations and ship movement may only be used on matters concerning navigation, vessel operations and safety. Other channels are allocated for inter-ship use, safety transmissions and contacting marinas.  ...

Digital Selective Calling (DSC) is primarily used to initiate distress calls to shore stations and other vessels via your DSC radio and provides recipients of your emergency call with: Your Vessel’s Identity  ...

Because radio is now common among commercial vessels on the larger freight waterways, there is a tendency to rely on it as a means of ascertaining the locations of other vessels. If they hear you on the radio, they will know where you are likely to be and can call you to warn of their approach, if necessary. It is also commonly used on larger waterways, replacing flag signals and to some extent sound signals,  ...

The Royal Yachting Association (RYA) has recently published guidance about marine radio distress relays on their website. The changes follow on from a consultation between the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), the Association of Marine Electronic and Radio Colleges (AMERC) and the RYA itself. As a result, the RYA has issued revised guidance regarding the procedure for sending a ‘Distress Relay’.  ...

For many sailors, cell phones have become their primary means of both ship-to-shore and ship-to-ship communication. Even the Coast Guard will often ask for a cell number after it receives a distress call. None of this, however, makes a VHF radio any less important. A handheld VHF marine radio is your lifeline at sea; be on the ship, watercraft or boat sailing, fishing, or just doing your job.  ...