Cobra Electronics MRF45 owner manual Marine Distress Procedure DSC, Say, Tell where you are

Emergency Messages

And Distress Procedure

VHF Marine Radio Protocols

Marine Distress Procedure

Speak slowly — clearly — calmly.

1.Make sure your radio is On.

2.Select VHF Channel 16.

3.Press Talk button and say: “MAYDAY — MAYDAY — MAYDAY.” (Or “PAN — PAN — PAN,”

or “SECURITE — SECURITE — SECURITE.”)

4.Say:

“THIS IS [your vessel name or call sign].”

5.Say:

“MAYDAY (or “PAN” or “SECURITE”) [your vessel name or call sign].

6.Tell where you are:

(what navigational aids or landmarks are near).

7.State the nature of your distress.

8.State the kind of assistance needed.

9.Give number of persons aboard and conditions of any injured.

10.Estimate present seaworthiness of your vessel.

11.Briefly describe your vessel (length, type, color, hull).

12.Say:

“I WILL BE LISTENING ON CHANNEL 16.”

13.End message by saying:

“THIS IS [your vessel name or call sign] OVER.”

14.Release Talk button and listen. Someone should answer. If not, repeat the call, beginning at item 3 above.

Emergency Messages

and Distress Procedure

VHF Marine Radio Protocols

Keep the radio nearby. Even after your message has been received, the Coast Guard can find you more quickly if you can transmit a signal for a rescue boat to hone in on.

For Example

“Mayday — Mayday — Mayday”

“This is Corsair — Corsair — Corsair” [or “Illinois 1234 AB“ three (3) times]

“Mayday Corsair (or Illinois 1234 AB)”

“Navy Pier bears 220 degrees magnetic — distance 5 miles”

“Struck submerged object and flooding — need pump and tow”

“Four adults, three children aboard — no one injured”

“Estimate we will remain afloat one-half (1⁄2) hour”

“Corsair (or Illinois 1234 AB) is 26 foot sloop with blue hull and tan deck house”

“I will be listening on Channel 16”

“This is Corsair (or Illinois 1234 AB)”

“Over”

It is a good idea to write out a script of the message form and post it where you and others on your vessel can see it when an emergency message needs to be sent.

Marine Distress Procedure – DSC

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Once your radio is connected to a GPS device and is properly set-up with your MMSI, simply lifting the red spring-loaded door and pressing the button will automatically send a complete distress call on Channel 70. See the DSC operation section on pages 54 through 65 for further information and page 55 instruction on sending a manual DSC distress call.

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