Changes to Mayday call

[Solitaire]

Where was this promulgated? (yes I was watching a repeat of Yes Minister last night). I have looked on the RYA site, they are selling the old procedure cards, I looked at MCA and had many hits, none of which seemed to show a new procedure.

FWIW I have always kept a laminated copy of the procedure together with other safety info under the cover of the chart table. I always ask visitors on the boat to read it before we set off. I'd like to think that if I had a heart attack out on the boat, someone could quickly call for help

Right, having now been in touch with several authorities over and above the RYA I can say the following.

The original "proposal" was put forward at the World Radio Communications Conference in 2007 and was ratified by the ITU in 2010. It has taken sometime to filter down through the system but RYA VHF Assessors were advised of the change early 2011.

The wording is as follows. Do please note that there are two basic parts to a Mayday - the Distess call and the Distress message - this has always been the case.

32.13C § 9A 1) The distress call sent on the frequency 156.8 MHz (VHF channel 16) shall be given in the following form:
– the distress signal MAYDAY, spoken three times;
– the words THIS IS;
– the name of the vessel in distress, spoken three times;
– the call sign or other identification;
– the MMSI (if the initial alert has been sent by DSC). (WRC-07)


32.13D 2) The distress message which follows the distress call should be given in the following form:
– the distress signal MAYDAY;
– the name of the vessel in distress;
– the call sign or other identification;
– the MMSI (if the initial alert has been sent by DSC);
– the position, given as the latitude and longitude, or if the latitude and longitude are not known or if time is insufficient, in relation to a known geographical location;
– the nature of the distress;
– the kind of assistance required;
– any other useful information. (WRC-07)

Also note that the MMSI is only sent when the initial alert has been sent using the DSC function - the Red Button! So if you don't have a DSC set then you can't send it by DSC and therefore no MMSI required - common sense! But even if you have a fixed non DSC radio you should send your call sign.

Position does not have to be in Lat and Long, and I tend to suggest that a position other than lat and long - either bearing from a fixed point or just a simple statement like "I am in Osbourne Bay" is preferable - mainly because somebody close by may not know where you are in relation to where they are by looking at the GPS position

In fact, when I did my Yachtmaster exam - a few years ago now - I was asked by the examiner, a coastguard officer, to make a mock mayday call. I used as my position my location in relation to a point on the shore - he almost went apoplectic with delight and got very excited telling the other candidates on-board that that was how to do it!

I "suggest" to people on my courses that unless of course you are mid channel with no reference point then a location by name is better than a lat and long. If you have sent the alert using DSC and the set is connected to a GPS you lat and long will go anyway and the coast guard can work on that, meanwhile somebody just around "the corner" knows exactly where you are.

At the end of the day it will be commons sense (hopefully) that will come into play. There are two ways to use the card - as in fact there are to use a lamp post, the sober man will use it for illumination, the drunk for support - actually the card is better than a lamp post - it can be used in both ways!

It does not worry me if you use my suggested card or not, but even if it is just a bit of tape with call sign and MMSI number stuck next to the radio, it will at least help. I also suggest that completing a CG 66 is not a bad idea either. http://www.dft.gov.uk/mca/mcga07-home/emergencyresponse/mcga-searchandrescue/cg66.htm

For those with low esteem of the CG, again this is not the MCA enforcing this, it is an International directive. In terms of having to do it right or not get help is of course nonsense, but surly for the time it takes to have something prepared is better than having nothing when the **** hits the fan! What else have you got to do on dark winter, blowy cold days?

 

[gjgm]

The advantage of a physical location is that you are likely to get it right (Osbourne Bay).
I did slightly smirk when the CG read back long and lat to some poor sod saying, so you are ...(other side of the world) !!

 

[timbartlett]

Right, having now been in touch with several authorities over and above the RYA I can say the following.

The original "proposal" was put forward at the World Radio Communications Conference in 2007 and was ratified by the ITU in 2010. It has taken sometime to filter down through the system but RYA VHF Assessors were advised of the change early 2011.

And it's in the 2011 reprint of the RYA VHF Handbook G31.

As a matter of interest, why are so many people getting uptight now about the requirement to include the MMSI in the call following a DSC distress alert? That has been the requirement for donkey's years. The change is that the powers that be now want us to include our callsigns.

As others have said: please don't shoot the messenger. Also as others have said: I'm sure no-one will refuse to rescue you if you don't get the Mayday call right -- but doesn't it make sense to help them to help you by doing it the way they have told us they prefer?

 

[rbcoomer]

What a very useful and informative thread!

The only two bits I'd add are:

1) when giving a geographical location, don't be afraid to state the obvious like 'x landmark 5 miles south of Dartmouth' etc. Many local landmarks have similar sounding names to others many miles away and given that the likelihood of the coastguard picking up your call could be many miles away it could avoid confusion and save vital time. (This happens a lot with the 999 services where the caller expects the operator to know which 'High Street' they are in - in a county or area that has perhaps 30 High Streets!)

2) the comments about 999 services not having a 'procedure' is wrong - they do! My Missus used to work in a Police communications centre and they follow a strict script for what information they need and in what order. You might think they are wasting time with some of the questions, but they really do multi-task and will be dispatching help whilst simultaneously talking to you. In a major life/death situation there will often be a second operator (or more) monitoring the call and relaying the information live to the ground resources, fire ambulance etc. I expect the CG will operate a very similar system and work very much as a team - even if on a smaller scale.

Don't forget that the 999 services also have the advantage (usually) of a good quality line rather than a possibly weak/intermittent VHF signal over the noise of waves etc. Thus repeating the essential information may make all the difference. It also gives someone who might be close by time to write it down - they could be your best chance and might be singled handed.

 

[Elessar]

And it's in the 2011 reprint of the RYA VHF Handbook G31.

As a matter of interest, why are so many people getting uptight now about the requirement to include the MMSI in the call following a DSC distress alert? That has been the requirement for donkey's years. The change is that the powers that be now want us to include our callsigns.

As others have said: please don't shoot the messenger. Also as others have said: I'm sure no-one will refuse to rescue you if you don't get the Mayday call right -- but doesn't it make sense to help them to help you by doing it the way they have told us they prefer?

because it's a reminder, and because it's now got worse.

The reason for the voice MMSI is, as I understand it, to guard against the unlikely event of 2 calls at the same time being mixed up.

In which case the last 3 digits of the MMSI would suffice, as it would reduce unlikely by a factor of 1000. And we could remember a 3 digit number.

The reason for the call sign seems to be because the computer systems aren't integrated.

Correct me if I'm wrong on both of the above assumptions.

As for it making sense to do it the way they prefer - of course it does.

 

[Plevier]

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.

Useful card thank you.
One little suggestion - would it be worth putting at the top something like "check you are on channel 16"?

 

[toad_oftoadhall]

As a matter of interest, why are so many people getting uptight now about the requirement to include the MMSI in the call following a DSC distress alert? That has been the requirement for donkey's years.

In my case because I didn't realize the requirement to include the MMSI had been in for donkey's years.

I would have been angry about it sooner if I'd known!

 

[timbartlett]

The RNLI website says this

‘Mayday, Mayday, Mayday’
This is … (name of boat said three times)
Mayday … name of boat … If the call follows a DSC alert then add the MMSI.
The distress message is:

Position … either in latitude and longitude or distance and bearing from a known point
Type of distress … (Sinking, on fire, man overboard or other distress)
Require further assistance
Total number of people on board
Further information such as … Abandoning to liferaft … Over

Then I'm afraid the RNLI is wrong. That isn't even in line with the old procedure (in which the first two elements of the message should be the word Mayday (again) and the vessel's identity (again).

As others have said, getting it wrong won't make anyone decide not to rescue you ... but getting it right will give you a better chance of being rescued if the nearest vessel is a Liberian registered ship whose watchkeeper's first language is Tagalog and whose grasp of english is tenuous.

 

[SHUG]

Its all nonsense. Handheld VHF can be non DSC and don't have a MMSI number!! Grrrrrr!

 

[Reverend Ludd]

Then I'm afraid the RNLI is wrong. That isn't even in line with the old procedure (in which the first two elements of the message should be the word Mayday (again) and the vessel's identity (again).

As others have said, getting it wrong won't make anyone decide not to rescue you ... but getting it right will give you a better chance of being rescued if the nearest vessel is a Liberian registered ship whose watchkeeper's first language is Tagalog and whose grasp of english is tenuous.

I agree totally.

Also don't give a general position ie I'm 1 mile south of old harry when you can give Lat & Long as the person who might be able to rescue you may not be local.

 

[Solitaire]

Its all nonsense. Handheld VHF can be non DSC and don't have a MMSI number!! Grrrrrr!

And your point is? If you don't have an MMSI number you can't send it! If the radio is not DSC enabled you can't send it. In the case of a H/H you have three options. 1. if the H/H is covered under the main ship's licence then you would use the call sign for the vessel. 2. if you have a portable licence then you will have been issued with a "T" number and lastly 3. the relatively new re-introduction of a DSC enabled H/H which does have it's own MMSI # that starts with 2359.

In the case of 2 and 3, I would put a bit of tape on the H/H with both "T" number and MMSI on the unit itself.

 

[Solitaire]

Useful card thank you.
One little suggestion - would it be worth putting at the top something like "check you are on channel 16"?

Sorted! Just for you!

 

[Plevier]

Thank you Sir!