Mayday call - Vessel name or call sign?

ghostlymoron said:
I think I'll go for the former option. (If the situation arises - which I hope it doesn't).
Should I have a licence for my handheld?
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Yes. If you already have a license for your fixed boat VHF, and you will only be using your hand held on your boat / tender, then you can add the hand held to the boat VHF license.
Otherwise you can get a separate stand alone license for it.
These can be done on line for free here:
http://licensing.ofcom.org.uk/radiocommunication-licences/ships-radio/
 
Appledore said:
For a distress VHF call you need the vessel's name, and the call sign, supplied by Ofcom, as has been stated. If you have a DSC radio you also need the MMSI number (of 9 digits) which is also supplied by Ofcom, when you update your details of safety equipment held on board.
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If you have a DSC radio, make sure it has a position it can transmit.
Often, when sailing in familiar waters, GPS might be switched off, so not sending to the radio, so don't assume a position is available, check!
 
ghostlymoron said:
What is the procedure if you've got a handheld for which there is no ships licence?
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I'm surprised no one has answered you with this yet. So....

If you already have a fixed VHF set in your boat, and have registered with Ofcom for your Ship's Licence, then all that's required is to log in to your Ofcom account and just add the handheld radio details to the relevant page. Your handheld licence covers use on your own boat and your dinghy.

Hope this helps.

Geoff
 
I'll argue that the standalone licence is a far better plan than adding the handheld to the ship's radio licence. It costs the same (nothing) but a separate licence can be printed out and you can take it and the handheld with you when doing a charter, delivery etc.
 
It's also important to complete a CG66 as this will give Coast Guard all information, have noticed the CG now ask you if you have one when giving passage info. No reminders are given for CG 66 and I think you have to update every two years
 
A correct call will include the vessel name, radio callsign and MMSI number if it is a DSC set.

This is the international standard agreed at the World Radiocommunications Conference in 2012 (rather than made up by some blokes on a small yacht forum).

It was requested by the Maritime Rescue Centres to help them to save your sorry ass. They will clearly still organise a rescue if you miss bits out but clarity in the original message (understandable under pressure) may well get help to you faster.

You don't have to agree with it, just practice it!
 
ziacek said:
On all of them it is "press and hold" for about 5 seconds and some of them have a menu to select a nature of the distress.
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Simply not true. I've had 2 DSC sets and neither would have sent a DSC mayday if you had simply held the button for 5 seconds. The first required 3 successive pushes to send and the current one requires one push followed by a 3 second push. IIRC the ones used on my Short Range Cert course were different again....
 
Alpha22 said:
Simply not true. I've had 2 DSC sets and neither would have sent a DSC mayday if you had simply held the button for 5 seconds. The first required 3 successive pushes to send and the current one requires one push followed by a 3 second push. IIRC the ones used on my Short Range Cert course were different again....
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On my recent SRC course using Icom sets (IIRC), you press and hold down the red button for 5 seconds, wait for 15 seconds, then transmit your Mayday message.
 
ProDave said:
If you are close to shore and a clearly identifiable point, then "1 mile south west of Chanonry point" may be a lot quicker than the lat and long. No good saying 1 mile west of Tarbert (there are too many of them)
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With centralisation I think a full lat / long is a much better option.

I wonder how many Jenny's Coves, for example, are around the UK?
 
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