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Making a distress call
NOTE: There is no official VHF DSC shore infrastructure in Australia. Vessels
fitting VHF DSC equipment should realise that this equipment can only be used
for vessel - to - vessel alerting in the Australian region. There is no official
shore-based infrastructure but there are a number of volunteer marine rescue
(VMR) stations that have installed VHF DSC and a check with your local VMR
should be made.
Making a DSC DISTRESS Call
Lift the red cover. Press and hold the DISTRESS
button for three seconds. The UM425 transmits your
boat's location every few minutes until you receive a
response.
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
Speak slowly -- clearly -- calmly.
For future reference, write your boat's name & call sign here:
1.
Make sure your radio is on.
2.
On the microphone, press the
MHz). (If the corner of the display does not show 16, press the 16/9-TRI button
again until it does.)
3.
Press the
"MAYDAY --MAYDAY-- MAYDAY."
4.
Say "
5.
Say "
6.
Tell where you are: (what navigational aids or landmarks are near, or read the
latitude and longitude from your GPS).
7.
State the nature of your distress, e.g. are you sinking, medical emergency, man
overboard, on fire, adrift, etc.
8.
Give number of persons aboard and conditions of any injured persons.
9.
Estimate present seaworthiness of your ship, e.g. how immediate is the danger
due to flooding or fire or proximity to shore.
10.
Briefly describe your ship (length, type, color, hull).
11.
Say: "
12.
End message by saying "
13.
Release the
If you do not get an answer after 30 seconds, repeat your call, beginning at
step 3, above.
PUSH TO TALK button on the microphone and say:
THIS IS {name or call sign of your boat}."
MAYDAY {name or call sign of your boat}."
I WILL BE LISTENING ON CHANNEL 16."
PUSH TO TALK button and listen.
16/9-TRI button to switch to Channel 16 (156.8
THIS IS {name or call sign of your boat}, OVER."
2
Lift the red cover
and press the
button.
DISTRESS
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