Making A Voice Distress Call - West Marine VHF580 Owner's Manual

MAkInG A DISTRESS CALL
Liftxthexredxcover.xPressxandxholdxthex
seconds.xYourxradioxtransmitsxyourxboat'sxlocationxeveryxfewxminutesx
untilxyouxreceivexaxresponse.
#
noTE: If the radio displays Enter User MMSI, cancel the automatic
distress call and make a normal voice distress call.

Making a voice Distress Call

Forxfuturexreference,xwritexyourxboat'sxnamex&xcallxsignxhere:x
Speak slowly - clearly - calmly.
1.x Makexsurexyourxradioxisxon.x
2.x Onxthexmicrophone,xpressxthex
cornerxofxthexdisplayxdoesxnotxshowx16,xpressxthex
3.x Pressxthex
PUSH TO TALK
4.x Sayx"THIS IS {name or call sign of your boat}."x
MAYDAY."x
5.x Sayx"MAYDAYx{name or call sign of your boat}."x
6.x Tellxwherexyouxare:x(whatxnavigationalxaidsxorxlandmarksxarexnear,xorxreadxthexlatitudex
andxlongitudexfromxyourxGPS).x
7.x Statexthexnaturexofxyourxdistress,xe.g.xarexyouxsinking,xmedicalxemergency,xmanx
overboard,xonxfire,xadrift,xetc.x
8.x Givexnumberxofxpersonsxaboardxandxconditionsxofxanyxinjuredxpersons.x
9.x Estimatexpresentxseaworthinessxofxyourxshipx(e.g.xhowximmediatexisxthexdangerxduextox
floodingxorxfirexorxproximityxtoxshore).x
10.xBrieflyxdescribexyourxshipx(length,xtype,xcolor,xhull).x
11.xSay:x"I WILL BE LISTENING ON CHANNEL 16."x
12.xEndxmessagexbyxsayingx"THIS IS {name or call sign of your boat}, OVER."x
13.xReleasexthex
PUSH TO TALK
If you do not get an answer after 30 seconds, repeat your call, beginning at step 3, above.
2
xbuttonxforxthreex
DISTRESS
xbuttonxtoxswitchxtoxChannelx16x(156.8xMHz).x(Ifxthex
16/9-TRI
xbuttonxonxthexmicrophonexandxsay:x"MAYDAY -- MAYDAY --
xbuttonxandxlisten.x
Lift the red cover
and press the
DISTRESS
buttonxagainxuntilxitxdoes.)x
16/9-TRI
button.