IntroductionDistress alerting – Ship to shoreThe Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS)

as described in SOLAS Chapter IV defines the first functional requirement as:

"Every ship, while at sea, shall be capable of transmitting ship-to-shore distress alerts by at least two independent means, each using a different radiocommunication service". three methods of transmitting a distress alert:EPIRBDigital Selective Calling (DSC) INMARSAT

General Regulations Distress calling procedures are

compulsory for the maritime mobile service and for correspondence between ships, aircraft and survival crafts.

No regulations shall prevent a coast station from using any available means to give assistance to a distress station.

Distress signals/messages must only be transmitted on the direct orders of the master or the officer-in-charge.

Distress, Urgency and Safety frequenciesVHF: 156.8 Mhz (Channel

16)MF: 2182 KhzHF: 4125 Khz 6215 Khz 8291 Khz 12290 Khz 16420 Khz

Two most commonly used:

VHF Ch. 16 and MF 2182 Khz

In distress situation, speech and radiotelephony must be as SLOW and CLEAR as possible.

Click to play video

The international distress and calling frequency 2182 Khz used by ship stations,

aeromobile stations, and survival craft stations.

Coast stations open for public correspondence on MF telephony, shall keep listening watch on 2182 Khz.

Ship stations when not engaged in traffic, maintain listening watch on 2182 Khz.

Silence Periods

It is of vital importance that all ships make every attempts to listen to the international frequency during the silence periods.

The first 3 minutes of every hour and half hour. (eg. 1300H to 1303H; 2230H to 2233H)

All transmissions on 2182 Khz must cease.

The Radiotelephony alarm signal Two substantially sinusoidal audio

frequency tones transmitted alternately. One tone at 2200Hz and the other at

1300Hz with a duration of 250 milliseconds each.

Shall be transmitted as continuously as possible of at least 30 seconds, but not exceeding 1 min.

A Distress situation is one in which a vessel, aircraft, vehicle, or person is…

threatened by grave and imminent danger

and requires immediate assistance. Examples of "grave and imminent

danger“ fire, explosion, sinking or abandonship, piracy, collision, listing, taking in water.

Distress

Distress signal Mayday voice procedure radio

communication derived from the Fren

ch venez m'aider

Come help me

Distress Call

MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY, This is STOLT EGRET, STOLT EGRET, STOLT EGRET, CALLSIGN LAPO4MMSI 25701000

Distress MessageMAYDAYSTOLT EGRET CALLSIGN LAPO4 MMSI 25701000IN POSITION 09.15 SOUTH 102.10 WEST20 degrees listing to port sideDanger of capsizingNeed immediate assistance15 crewmembersThe weather is Northwesterly winds,

Gale 8 with rainshowers and visibility about 5 nm.

Distress Message

MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY,

This is

STOLT EGRET, STOLT EGRET, STOLT EGRET,

CALLSIGN LAPO4, MMSI 25701000.

(brief pause)

MAYDAY

STOLT EGRET CALLSIGN LAPO4 MMSI 25701000

IN POSITION 09.15 SOUTH 102.10 WEST

20 degrees listing to port side

Danger of capsizing

Need immediate assistance

15 crewmembers

The weather is Northwesterly winds, Gale 8 with rainshowers and visibility about 5 nm.

Over

Distress Message Acknowledgement

MAYDAY STOLT EGRET, STOLT EGRET, STOLT EGRET, CALLSIGN LAPO4, MMSI 25701000This isBERGE MASTER, BERGE MASTER, BERGE MASTER, CALLSIGN LANO2 RECEIVED MAYDAY

Any mobile station acknowledging receipt of a distress message shall, on the order of the MASTER or PERSON Responsible for the ship, aircraft, or other vehicle, transmit the following information as soon as possible:

Its name Its position The ETA and Speed towards the station

in distress

Distress Communication between Stolt Egret and Berge Master

Click video to play

Seelonce Mayday or Seelonce Distress

means that the channel may only be used by the vessel in distress and the coastguard (and any other vessels they ask for assistance in handling the emergency). The channel may not be used for normal working traffic until 'seelonce feenee' is broadcasted.

Eg.

MAYDAYALL STATIONS, ALL STATIONS, ALL STATIONSThis is BERGE MASTER, BERGE MASTER, BERGE MASTER, CALLSIGN LANO2SEELONCE MAYDAY

Seelonce Feenee

means that the emergency situation has been concluded and the channel may now be used normally. The word prudonce (prudence caution) can also be used to allow restricted working to resume on that channel.

Eg.

MAYDAYALL STATIONS, ALL STATIONS, ALL STATIONSThis is BERGE MASTER, BERGE MASTER, BERGE MASTER, CALLSIGN LANO2VESSEL IN DISTRESS “MV BRUNITA” at 2100H UTCSEELONCE FEENEE

Mayday Relay When the station in distress is not itself in a

position to transmit the distress message When the Master or the person responsible

for the craft considers that further help is necessary

When an unacknowledged distress message is heard and one is not in a position to render assistance.

Distress Relay MessageMAYDAY RELAY, MAYDAY RELAY, MAYDAY RELAY

ALL STATIONS, ALL STATIONS, ALL STATIONS

This is

BERGE MASTER, BERGE MASTER, BERGE MASTER, CALLSIGN LANO2 MMSI 257555000

FOLLOWING RECEIVED FROM STOLT EGRET CALLSIGN LAPO2 MMSI 257333000, ON VHF CH. 16, TIME 1615 UTC:

MAYDAY

STOLT EGRET CALLSIGN LAPO4 MMSI 25701000

IN POSITION 09.15 SOUTH 102.10 WEST

20 degrees listing to port side. Danger of capsizing

Need immediate assistance

15 crewmembers

The weather is Northwesterly winds, Gale 8 with rainshowers and visibility about 5 nm.

USCG Rescues Northern Belle

Exercise Create a distress message Vessel Name MV Cap/Callsign

DUX2 You are sinking and abandoning

ship Your position 8 ° 44’ N 124 ° 55’ E 12 Persons on board Lt 0500H

Assignment Create a safety Message Your Vessel’s Name is MV

Cap/Callsign DUX2 You encountered 10 floating

containers in position 8 ° 45’ N 124 ° 34’ E Lt 0500H

Tell all stations to keep a sharp look out