Mayday Calling
- Turn on the phone
- Be sure that it has a signal
- Pick up the phone
- Dial (757) 398-6231 (USCG Atlantic SAR)
- Press the 'off hook' button on the left or # to initiate call
- When they answer say:
This is sailing vessel Vision Quest initiating MAYDAY CALL - Follow instructions
Ships Information
FCC Call Sign: WDD6172 (Whiskey Delta Delta 6 1 7 2)
MMSI number/ Station Identity: 367169180
USCG Official #: 1176392
EPIRB #: 2DCC440E4EFFBFF (B=Bravo, C=Charlie, D=Delta, E=Echo, F=Foxtrot)
Other numbers
Atlantic SAR Coordinator (757) 398-6231
Rescue Control Center (RCC), Boston (617) 223-8555
RCC Norfolk, Virginia (757) 398-6231
RCC Miami, Florida (305) 415-6800
RSC San Juan, Puerto Rico (787) 289-2042
RCC Nova Scotia (902) 427-8200
RCC Bermuda Harbour Radio (441) 297-1530
Bahamas Air Sea Rescue Association (BASRA) (242) 322-3877
Portugal
Name: Estado Maior da Armada,3 Divisao
Type: NSA - National SAR Agency
Phone: 351 21 321 7666 Note: 351 21 325 5498
Notes:
The Portuguese Navy is responsible for co-ordinating Search and Rescue operations in two regions,
Lisboa and Santa Maria. MRCC's exist at Lisboa and Ponta Delgada. A network of coast radio stations maintains a continuous listening watch on international distress frequencies 2182 kHz and ch 16 VHF.
Spain
Name: Sociedad de Salvamento y Seguridad Maritima
Type: NSA - National SAR Agency
Telephone 3491 7559132, 3491 7559133
Notes:
MRCC Madrid is responsible for co-ordinating Search and Rescue operations and has twenty
MRCCs and MRSCs,divided into the North Coast, South Coast, Mediterranean Coast and Islas Canarias regions,
under its control. All the MRCCs and MRSCs are manned on a 24 hour basis.
SSB - If you have less than 1 minute
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Turn SSB radio on (IC-M802)
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Turn on the GPS (Make sure a fix is shown on the SSB display)
-
Make sure a GPS fix is shown on the SSB display (may take a few seconds)
-
Lift up the red distress cover, push and hold the [DISTRESS]
button for 5 seconds -
Proceed with Abandon Ship Procedures
Notes:
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This quick DSC procedure uses 2187.5 kHz, which is only good for about 100 - 200 miles.
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This example assumes that because you have less than 1 minute, you must be abandoning ship.
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If you are further offshore, chances are it will be the EPIRB that saves you, but the quick DSC call can only help; especially if there are other ships within the 100 mile range.
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If you think the boat may be in danger, but you are not quite ready to make a distress signal, at least power on the GPS and the SSB so that if the time comes to "press the red button", the message will be transmitted with a fix.
SSB - If you have 1 to 5 minutes
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Turn SSB radio on (IC-M802)
-
Turn on the GPS (Make sure a fix is shown on the SSB display)
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Make sure a GPS fix is shown on the SSB display (may take a few seconds)
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Push [DSC]
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Push [Mode set]
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Rotate [CH] knob to select 'Distress' , then press [ENT]
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Rotate [CH] to select the nature of the emergency, then press [ENT]
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Verify your position is automaticall filled in, press [ENT]
If your position is not filled in automatically, add it here. -
Rotate [CH] to select the appropriate DSC Frequency for the time of day and range
according to the chart below. Press the [ENT] key when done. -
Lift the red distress cover and push the [DISTRESS]
button for 5 seconds -
After the radio transmits the distress signal, which takes about a minute, it will automatically
switch to the voice distress frequency in the band that the distress was sent on
(distress is resent every 3 to 5 minutes) -
Wait for an acknowledgement. If you have time, wait for 4 to 10 minutes. This gives time for the signal
to be resent and also allows time for ships to relay your call. If you can't wait, proceed to the next step. -
Acknowledgement Recieved - press [CANCEL/CALL]
Listen for instructions on the automatically selected voice frequency. If no instructions are forthcoming within
30 seconds or so move to the next step.
-
No Acknowledgement - Place verbal Mayday call on the automatically selected frequency
MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY
This is S/V Vision Quest, Whiskey, Delta, Delta, 6 1 7 2
Position: latitude, North, longitude, West
We are: nature of distress
This is Vision Quest Over
Repeat every 30 seconds for a couple of minutes
If still no answer, proceed to a Sat Phone Call if you have time
If you don't have time, proceed to 'Abandon Ship'
DSC Distress Frequencies & Ranges
| Daytime Range (nm) | Nighttime Range (nm) | DSC Frequency | Voice Frequency | USCG Moniter times |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 | 100 | 2187.5 | 2182 |
|
| 100 | 1500 | 4207.5 | 4125 |
2300-1100Z |
| 500 | 2000 | 6312.0 | 6215 |
24 hrs. |
| 700 | 3500 | 8414.5 | 8291 |
24 hrs. |
| worldwide | 2500 | 12577.0 | 12290 |
1100-2300Z |
| worldwide | 100 | 16804.5 | 16420 |
upon request |
Ships Information
FCC Call Sign: WDD6172 (Whiskey Delta Delta 6 1 7 2)
MMSI number/ Station Identity: 367169180
USCG Official #: 1176392
EPIRB #: 2DCC440E4EFFBFF (B=Bravo, C=Charlie, D = Delta, E=Echo, F=Foxtrot)
USCG Working Channels
These channels are available at all Coast Guard Long Range Communication Facilities for traffic handling purposes after initial contact is established on the HF Radiotelephone (Single Sideband) - Distress and Initial Contact frequencies.
| ITU CHANNEL | Daytime Range | Nighttime Range | KHz SHIP STATION | KHz COAST STATION |
|---|---|---|---|---|
424 |
100 | 1500 | 4134 |
4426 |
601 |
500 | 2000 | 6200 |
6501 |
816 |
700 | 3500 | 8240 |
8764 |
1205 |
worldwide | 2500 | 12242 |
13089 |
1625 |
worldwide | 100 | 16432 |
17314 |
Notes
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Ships are required to moniter VHF channel 16.
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Ships do not have to moniter 2182 kHz
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It looks like many ships and foriegn authorities monitor 2182. It also seems that many USCG stations still moniter it but it is advisable to try this one last if looking for the USCG.
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see the SSB page for more info