Raymarine Apelco 5200 User Manual page 42

Emergency
Channel 16
If:
Your ship is sinking, or on fire
l
Someone has been lost overboard
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There exists grave and imminent danger
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Use this distress procedure:
Select Channel 16
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Say "Mayday, Mayday, Mayday."
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Give call sign and boat name
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Give location of boat
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Describe emergency
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If no answer, repeat; then try and other
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channel
Caution
Every ship at sea is obliged to give absolute prior-
ity to radio communications relating to ships in
distress-it is vital that false distress calls or mes-
sages not be broadcast.
Calling
Channel 16 & Working Channel
If-you wish to establish communications with
another station
And-you know which working channel the sta-
tion 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
Theninitiate the call on channel 16. After con-
tact 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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