Emergency
Channel 16
If:
•Your ship is sinking, or on fire
•Someone has been lost overboard
•There exists grave and imminent danger
Use this distress procedure:
•Select Channel 16
•Say "Mayday, Mayday, Mayday."
•Give call sign and boat name
•Give location of boat
•Describe emergency
•If no answer, repeat; then try and other channel
Caution
Every ship at sea is obliged to give
absolute priority to radio communications relating to ships in distress — it is vital that false distress calls or messages not be broadcast.
Calling
Channel 16 & Working Channel
If — you wish to establish communications with another station And — you know which working channel the station is monitoring
Then — initiate the call directly on that working channel
If — you wish to establish communications with another station And — you do not know what working channel the station may be monitoring Then — initiate the call on channel 16. After contact is made switch to a working channel.
NOTE: Due to congestion on channel 16 caused by frequent hailing of other vessels, the FCC has approved channel 9 as a second hailing channel.
Avoid excessive calling and radio checks Always monitor before transmitting
Never interrupt emergency communications
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