Changes to Mayday call

[Solitaire]

From April this year, the Mayday call now has to include both the MMSI and the call sign. not once, but twice. Remembering the correct procedure is always an issue for people when you hope you never have to use it.

The new version can be downloaded in PDF format (A5) from http://www.5starmarine.co.uk/vhfop.html all yoiu need do is fill in your own details and keep it by your radio.

 

[jfm]

Hmmm. If i heard that I'd be thinking "FFS mate will you stop fannying around with mmsi and just get to the bit where you tell me your position so I can see if I'm near and set a course towards you. The rest can wait". But the MCGA know best eh?

 

[SpottyDog5]

or just keep pushing the red button.......

 

[Elessar]

Hmmm. If i heard that I'd be thinking "FFS mate will you stop fannying around with mmsi and just get to the bit where you tell me your position so I can see if I'm near and set a course towards you. The rest can wait". But the MCGA know best eh?

It's all nonsense, the DSC was a camel in the first place and now a committee is trying to improve it.
And ultimately if doing a mayday, who cares if you know the new procedure.
It's actually better if you only voice transmit what ISN'T in the DSC call. They are now getting you to duplicate what's already been sent!
If there is an ambiguity on multiple calls the CG can ask your MMSI after all.
I'm not allowed to teach it that way though.....

 

[Elessar]

Remembering the correct procedure is always an issue for people when you hope you never have to use it.

It's only an issue for instructors. No one else cares......

 

[[2068]]

Would have been better to use callsign.

I can just about remember "MLEH8", but an MMSI in a stressful situation? Hmmm.

 

[VicS]

Would have been better to use callsign.

I can just about remember "MLEH8", but an MMSI in a stressful situation? Hmmm.

What's difficult about remembering your MMSI number. Its 235032467.

 

[Solitaire]

Hmmm. If i heard that I'd be thinking "FFS mate will you stop fannying around with mmsi and just get to the bit where you tell me your position so I can see if I'm near and set a course towards you. The rest can wait". But the MCGA know best eh?

On the courses I run while I have to "teach" the correct method I make it clear that the most important issue is to transfer control to the CG, they will then take control and guide the casualty through the emergency. There is no way that the average boater can, in a stress situation, remember exactly how to send the "perfect" Mayday". it is the reason I made the card simple to understand and read - I sent the draft to a mentor in the VHF training arena and the comment back was exceptionally positive and great improvement on the MCA'S version.

I hope the only time anybody has to press the red button is in the classroom. But when the **** hits the fan, having the right basic protocol to hand may make all the difference!

The new procedure was agreed by the CGs of the world - who am I to argue!

 

[Frontier]

Would have been better to use callsign.

I can just about remember "MLEH8", but an MMSI in a stressful situation? Hmmm.

They want to know who to bill for the private rescue service thats on its way.
They will be able to check the database, ask a few questions to make sure its who the caller says it is and then maybe ask for the 16 digit number from your credit card.

The common sense spirit of the people who went before and gave us a simple fast clear protocol seems seriously lacking in todays officials.

 

[Reverend Ludd]

I thinks it's important to use the whole of the mayday where you can.

Who knows who is listening ? Someone may talk over you.

It may not be the coastguard who hears it and will need to be relayed. The CG may sit by a notebook but I don't. The call section will give me time to turn the set up and listen/make notes.

You may only get one call out, make it a good one.

 

[jfm]

The new procedure was agreed by the CGs of the world - who am I to argue!

Hmmm. As Ellesar has said, there is an "agenda" among the civil servants here to make MMSI look useful, when the truth is none of us can be bothered with it and will never use it except when the red button is pressed. But no worries!

Crucial thing imho is to make clear it is a Mayday, which the word Mayday does, and give your postion. All the rest is useless without a position. If I ever issue a mayday in anger it will be something like...

• maydayx3 slow and clear
• Vessel name x3 just to fill time while the listeners sit up and find a pencil
• Lat long
• Description of position ("6.5 miles due west of Ajaccio")
• Lat long again
• Description of position ("6.5 miles due west of Ajaccio")
• Lat long again
• Then the rest, with the MMSI last if at all

 

[Elessar]

The new procedure was agreed by the CGs of the world - who am I to argue!

Yeah, sorry didn't mean to shoot the messenger.
And your cut out and keep card in your link is probably the only correct one out there.......

 

[silver-fox]

What's difficult about remembering your MMSI number. Its 235032467.

No its not!

 

[Elessar]

Hmmm. As Ellesar has said, there is an "agenda" among the civil servants here to make MMSI look useful, when the truth is none of us can be bothered with it and will never use it except when the red button is pressed. But no worries!

Crucial thing imho is to make clear it is a Mayday, which the word Mayday does, and give your postion. All the rest is useless without a position. If I ever issue a mayday in anger it will be something like...

• maydayx3 slow and clear
• Vessel name x3 just to fill time while the listeners sit up and find a pencil
• Lat long
• Description of position ("6.5 miles due west of Ajaccio")
• Lat long again
• Description of position ("6.5 miles due west of Ajaccio")
• Lat long again
• Then the rest, with the MMSI last if at all

It's worse than can't be bothered with the DSC bit. People leave the VHF off because they can't stand the alarms.

Anyway, when not teaching I'd do something similar to you, but I would probably do nature of emergency between position info.

 

[Solitaire]

Hmmm. As Ellesar has said, there is an "agenda" among the civil servants here to make MMSI look useful, when the truth is none of us can be bothered with it and will never use it except when the red button is pressed. But no worries!

Crucial thing imho is to make clear it is a Mayday, which the word Mayday does, and give your postion. All the rest is useless without a position. If I ever issue a mayday in anger it will be something like...

• maydayx3 slow and clear
• Vessel name x3 just to fill time while the listeners sit up and find a pencil
• Lat long
• Description of position ("6.5 miles due west of Ajaccio")
• Lat long again
• Description of position ("6.5 miles due west of Ajaccio")
• Lat long again
• Then the rest, with the MMSI last if at all

John I don't disagree. BUT, I would say that if the red button is used then the MMSI number transmitted confirms what the CG and anybody else who receives the distress alert IS YOU! Most CGs do not have direct access to boat name and MMSI number on line. they have to use the ITU database if they have time. In the UK we have a CG66 which gives boat details and can be logged on line. So in summary I believe the MMSI is actually more important than the call sign - it is what everybody gets!

 

[MapisM]

As Ellesar has said, there is an "agenda" among the civil servants here to make MMSI look useful, when the truth is none of us can be bothered with it and will never use it except when the red button is pressed.

Yep, all agreed.
Otoh, IIRC we discussed some time ago one possible way of actually using the MMSI/DSC for tracking the tender position from the mother ship.
I suppose you didn't try to put that in practice, then?

 

[jfm]

Yep, all agreed.
Otoh, IIRC we discussed some time ago one possible way of actually using the MMSI/DSC for tracking the tender position from the mother ship.
I suppose you didn't try to put that in practice, then?

Ah yes, I remember. No I didn't do it yet, though I do have an mmsi set for the tender (which I have not yet programmed an mmsi number into!). I have forgotten the trick - I think you DSC call the tender from the mothership and it automatically sends its position back? Or something. I forget the details now...

 

[Elessar]

John I don't disagree. BUT, I would say that if the red button is used then the MMSI number transmitted confirms what the CG and anybody else who receives the distress alert IS YOU! Most CGs do not have direct access to boat name and MMSI number on line. they have to use the ITU database if they have time. In the UK we have a CG66 which gives boat details and can be logged on line. So in summary I believe the MMSI is actually more important than the call sign - it is what everybody gets!

The RX of a DSC urgency should put the boat name, owner, type and a photo of it on the coast guard screen in an instant - along with its position. All the data exists.

But because they can't plug their computers in properly we have to TX a long number as a sticking plaster.

It gets worse!

However, if they do get 2 maydays at the same time and are confused they could always ask your MMSI.

 

[Hurricane]

Davjd
in our part of the Med you can call until you are blue in the face
Nobody answers anyway - DSC or voice
Yo are basically on your own

 

[Solitaire]

The RX of a DSC urgency should put the boat name, owner, type and a photo of it on the coast guard screen in an instant - along with its position. All the data exists.

But because they can't plug their computers in properly we have to TX a long number as a sticking plaster.

It gets worse!

However, if they do get 2 maydays at the same time and are confused they could always ask your MMSI.

Ah, so now we are discussing a Pan Pan (DSC urgency)? Totally different, a) you don't use the red button, b) an urgency alert from a DSC enabled VHF does not send the position.

Get a grip Mark - Mayday is a Distress Alert, an Urgency Alert is a Pan Pan - very different!