General
When would you use mayday?
- Vessel / person or aircraft in grave and imminent danger
- threat to life
What is covered by Mayday?
Sinking
Collision
Severe fire
Heavy list
Any situation which threatens the vessel or life
When would a mayday relay be sent?
- Further help is needed
- No acknowledgement from coast radio station
- If other vessel / aircraft unable to send
If a vessel display NUC lights / ais / Shapes, is she in distress?
- No, not designated distress signal
- Distress signals listed in COLREG annex
False distress message sent by EPIRB, how do you cancel?
Leave on
Contact MRCC to cancel
Reset equipment
Log details
What are your actions on receiving a VHF distress call in Sea Area 1?
Inform the Master
Tune into radio frequency
Log the details of message
Plot casualty position and own vessel
Allow coast radio station to respond
Acknowledge by voice procedure
Allow time for response, if no response relay
When would you use a distress relay message?
Observe vessel in distress which may not be able to send out own distress
Considers further help is necessary
DSC has not been acknowledged by Coast Radio Station
Essential to make clear YOU are not in distress
When would you use pan pan?
- Very urgent threat to life
- MOB / Medical or tow required
How would you show compliance with GMDSS regulations?
- Cargo ship safety radio certificate + form R
- GMDSS logbook
- Records of testing
- GMDSS CoC
- Annual Service reports
- Shore based maintenance declaration
- Equipment appropriate for vessel operating area
- ALRS / IAMSAR / ICS
When can distress signals be sent?
On master’s instructions;
- If vessel in grave and imminent danger
- Or another vessel or aircraft requires assistance
False distress message sent by VHF DSC, how do you cancel?
Immediately reset the equipment
Cancel DSC over radio telephone on DSC channel and VHF 16
Same applies to MF / HF equipment
Log details
What is your action when receiving a MF 2182Khz distress message in Sea Area 2?
Inform Master
Tune into correct frequency
Log the details
Plot the position
Allow coast radio station to acknowledge
Acknowledge by voice
If no further communications heard relay by voice
What is an example message of a Mayday acknowledgement?
Mayday
*other vessels name* x 3
This is
*own ship* x 3
Received Mayday
Over
What is the format of a distress relay message?
*Mayday relay* x 3
*All stations* x 3
This is
Own ship name and callsign
Mayday
Name, callsign and MMSI of distressed vessel
Position of vessel in distress
Nature
Assistance required
When you use securitie?
- When there is information concerning safety of navigation
What documents are required under GMDSS?
- Ship radio licence
- Cargo ship safety certificate + form R
- GMDSS radio operators CoC / GoC
- GMDSS radio logbook
- Shore based maintenance certificate
- ITU Coast / Ship stations
- Antenna rigging plan
- Tests for AIS / LRIT
What are the parts of a GMDSS logbook?
Part A –> Vessel details
Part B –> Qualified radio operators
Part C –> Vessel daily position
-Summary of communications
-Summary of distress calls
-Date, time and frequency
-Testing
-Breakdown of equipment
-Services / technicians
False distress message sent by INMARSAT, how do you cancel?
Use same Land Earth Station
Send message to same MRCC cancelling distress
Log details
What are your actions when receiving VHF distress call in Sea Area 4?
Inform the Master
Tune into correct frequency
Log the details
Plot the vessels positions
Acknowledge by voice immediately
If no further contact or working, relay ashore
What actions would you do immediately after acknowledging a distress call?
Send your vessels name, position and ETA
Relay message ashore to nearest MRCC
How do you cancel a false distress message on MF / HF?
Same as VHF
Immediately reset the equipment
Cancel over radio telephone on DSC channel
And channel 16
Marine Safety Information
What is the worldwide navigation warning service (WWNWS)?
Provides maritime safety information
Divided into 16 areas + 5 artic areas
Each area has Nav Area Co-ordinator
Covers approx. 700Nm
2 x daily transmissions in English and local language
Promulgated by radio telephone, telex and enhanced group calling
What are local nav warnings?
Ports and harbours
Generally not required by large vessel for navigation beyond pilot boarding area / fairway buoy
Only concerned with port approaches and inside ports
Where can Marine Safety information be found?
Reprinted in WNTM section III
SafetyNet / Enhanced group calling on Sat-C
On Nav Area co-ordinator website
What are Coastal nav warnings?
Covers coastal region or portion of Nav Area
Issued by National Co-Ordinator
From Pilot boarding area up to 250Nm offshore
Scheduled broadcast
What are the three main types of WWNWS?
Local
Coastal
Navarea
What are Nav Area warnings?
Offshore
Covers the following
Changes to nav aids
Malfunctions of nav lights
Dangerous wrecks in shipping areas
SAR operations
Anti-pollution operations
Missing vessel, aircraft or persons
Large tows
Newly discovered hazards to shipping
Laying of pipe
GMDSS Equipment
What is a SARRT?
Search and rescue radar transponder
Used in distress
Used in SAR to alert other vessels / SAR facilities to your location.
What is the monthly maintenance for a SART?
Monthly check and test transmission
Replace batteries when required
Make appropriate entries in GMDSS log
Check dates of surveys – inform Chief if surveys due.
How is SART detected?
Interrogated by X Band radar 9GHz, 3cm
Hence SOLAS requirement for X Band
How does a SART work?
When the unit is interrogated it shows 12 dots in a line outwards from the units location.
Dot / blip spacing is 0.64Nm.
As the vessel gets closer to the SART the blips become arcs then circles.
When the SART is interrogated unit makes an audible noise. This alerts survivors a vessel is nearby.
The higher SART is placed the more range is available.
What is the battery life of a SART?
96 hours on standby with 8 hours when being interrogated
What do you do when searching for a SART?
Use 6 – 12 Nm range on X band radar
Adjust radar controls
Enhance gain
Reduce suppression
Post look outs with binoculars
Monitor for signs of debris in water
Monitor for signs of distress i.e. flares
Proceed at suitable speed