VHFRadioCommunication

TheVHFradio,whichprovidesweatherinformationandallowsforcommunicationtoshorebasedfacilitiesandother
vessels,canhelptoensuresafetravel.Electronicgearisnotalwaysreliable,though,whenneededinemergency
situations.

Yourradiosmaximumrangewillvarydependingonthetimeofday,weather,andyourownequipment.Assumea
normalrangeof50miles,andamaximumof80miles(wheninlineofsightofradioantennas).Signalsmaybeblocked
byhillyterrain.

SecurityCallProtocol
Securitycallscanbeusedtonotifyvesselsofyourintentions,andaremandatoryinfogwhencrossingabusy
boating/shippinglane.

1.Makesurethatyourradioison.

2.TheradiowillautomaticallydefaulttoVHFchannel16. Channel9canalsobeusedif16isunsuccessful.

3.Pressmicrophonebuttonandsay,Security,security,security.Thisis(vesseltypeorname),operatingbetween(nameof
islandsormainlandpoints).Courseisxdegrees,speedisxknots,anytrafficintheareapleaserespond.

4.Repeat#3ifnecessary.

5.Uponmakingcontactwithanothervessel,establishrespectivelocationandintention.Ifnecessary,switchchanneltoa
workingfrequencytokeep16clear.

6.Endmessagebysaying,Thisis(whoyouare),out.

MarineDistressProtocol
Ifthereisathreattolossoflife,theMAYDAYprotocolshouldbefollowed.Ifthereisnotanimmediatethreattolife,but
evacuation/assistanceisstillrequired,PANPANshouldreplaceMAYDAYinthefollowingprotocol:

1.Makesuretheradioison.TheradiowillautomaticallydefaulttoVHFchannel16.

3.Pressmicrophonebuttonandsay,Maydaymaydaymayday.

4.Say,Thisis(whoyouareonnameofvessel).

5.Say,Mayday(whoyouareonnameofvessel).

6.Tellwhereyouare(whataidstonavigationorlandmarksare near?)

7.Statethenatureofyourdistress.

8.Givenumberofpersonsinpartyandnumberinjured.

9.Brieflydescribeyourboatandotherboatsinyourparty(e.g.,red17footseakayak)

10.Say,Iwillbelisteningonchannel16.

11.Endmessagebysaying,Thisis(whoyouareonnameofvessel),out.

12.Releasemicrophonebuttonandlisten;someoneshould answer.Iftheydont,repeatcall,beginningat
itemnumber3above.Ifthereisstillnoanswer,switchtoanotherchannelandbeginagain.

GettingHelp
Ifyouareintroubleandneedhelp,hereisaquickchecklistofagenciesandgroupsofpeoplewhomaycometoyouraid:

CruisingBoats.Theclosestandfastestsourceofhelpisprobablyanothercruisingboat.

Lobsterboats.Donttroublelobstermenfortrivialassistance,butdoyellorflagthemifyouareinrealtrouble.Inbad
weatherorpoorvisibility,youmayhavetouseyourVHFradio.Lobstermendontroutinelymonitorchannel16so
switcharounduntilyoufindthelocalchannelthatappearstohavefishingchatter.

Boatyards.Manyyardshavepowerboatsthatcanlendassistance,usuallyforafee.

U.S.CoastGuard.TherearesixCoastGuardstationsinMaine:SouthPortland,BoothbayHarbor,Rockland,Southwest
Harbor,Jonesport,andEastport,plusoneinPortsmouth,NewHampshire.Eachsmallboatstationalwayshasatleastone
boatreadytoproceedwithin30minutes.Insummer,onepatrolcutteriseitherunderwayofftheMainecoastoron
standbytoproceedwithintwohoursofnotification.ThiscuttermaybeanywherebetweenPortsmouth,NewHampshire,
andEastport,Maine.

Forhelp,callthenearestCoastGuardstationonchannel16ofyourVHF.Aftercontacton16,usetheemergencydistress
protocolspreviouslylistedandfollowanydirectionstheygiveyouovertheradio.TheCoastGuardwillprioritizesaving
humanlifeoverprotectingproperty.TheCoastGuardmaynotdispatchboatsinnonemergencycaseswherecommercial
entitiesareavailable,willing,andqualifiedtoassist.Incaseswhereaprivatefirmdoesassist,theCoastGuardwill
monitorthesituationtocompletionbymeansofaradioschedule.

TheMarinePatrol.TheStatesMarinePatrolsharesmanyofthesameenforcementandrescueresponsibilitiesastheCoast
Guard.WhenyoucontacttheCoastGuardviachannel16,theywilldecidewhetherthesituationshouldbehandledby
theMarinePatrol.Ingeneral,theMarinePatrolisresponsibleforenforcingState,ratherthanFederal,boatingandfishing
laws.

TownRescueServices.Somecoastaltownshaverescueboatsoperatedbypoliceorfiredepartments.

MarineVHFRadioChannels
MakecontactonChannel16.Useyourboatsnameandcallnumber,thenswitchtooneofthefollowingworking
channels:

BoattoBoatorShore9,68,69,71,,72,78

U.S.CoastGuard16,22A

PortOperations20,65A,66A,73,74

Navigation&Bridges13

Marinas12

ShiptoShipSafety6

WeatherReports(receiveonly)Wx1Wx7