"poor radio procedure"

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\"poor radio procedure\"

The MCA press release about Solent Coastguard activity on Saturday 29 April states: "These incidents of mechanical breakdown, fires on board, dismasted yachts, and medical emergencies, have been further disrupted by poor radio procedure by leisure water users."

The above quote totally ignores that on Saturday 29 April, the P&O cruise ship "Arcadia" tried to call the P&O cruise ship "Artemis" (both berthed in Southampton docks) on channel 16 while Solent Coastguard were handling a MAYDAY on 16. Arcadia's transmission received the appropriate "SEELONCE MAYDAY" response form the CG.

In view of the above it seems the "liesure water users" (I think they really mean liesure boat users...) are being unfairly victimised as professional ship's watch officers can also obviously have poor radio procedure.
 
Re: \"poor radio procedure\"

[ QUOTE ]
In view of the above it seems the "liesure water users" (I think they really mean liesure boat users...) are being unfairly victimised as professional ship's watch officers can also obviously have poor radio procedure.

[/ QUOTE ]

In think in fairness you have highlighted one incident by the "professionals" but if you take a look back through previous posts the "leisure users" abuse ch16 so much that many will not even switch on their radios when in these congested waters. So, if the professionals were to keep abusing ch16 then they would probably get a ticking off too.

Why don't you complain directly to P&O and the CG?
 
Re: \"poor radio procedure\"

There was a fair amount of Ch16 abuse on Sat morning. There was one chap who continued to call for a radio check, even giving his call sign each time, three or four times if I remember, despite being told "Selonce Mayday" by Solent CG on every occasion. I was about to 'have a word with him' when someone, a little less subtly transmitted something about a mayday "you prat", they were of course right!
 
Re: \"poor radio procedure\"

I'm in no way happy about liesure boaters' use of Ch16 in the Solent area and my post does not indicate otherwise. I just thought it a bit rich for the MCA to single out "us" on this particular day when there were professional culprits as well.

As one who used to go to sea in a professional capacity, a lot of liesure boat VHF use makes me cringe. However, being of the old school (remember MF?), I always keep a radio watch and have to listen to it all.
 
Re: \"poor radio procedure\"

I dont dissagree, I remember a couple of years ago there was a conversation being held between one of the cruise ships and a-n-other, on CH16, only stopping when CG told them to shift to a working Ch.
 
Re: \"poor radio procedure\"

The thing that annoys me is hearing the same boats calling each other up on 16 time and time again.

Why dont they use a pre arranged working channel without calling on 16 each time? Or better still use a mobile phone .
 
Re: \"poor radio procedure\"

To be fair the Mayday in question did last a long time, with long periods of silence.

Anybody switching on their VHF "mid-Mayday" would of been unaware of what was happening.

Part of the problem is that we promote CH16 as a general call up channel, and not have a designated main alternative for dual watch.

The easy solution is for Solent Coastguard to ignore radio check requests unless on CH 67.
 
Re: \"poor radio procedure\"

Sorry, can anyone clarify for me, both berthed! Therefore should they have been using any marine VHF channel?
 
Re: \"poor radio procedure\"

Exactly! You would think that berthed or not the Arcadia could have made a DSC call and avoided use of Ch16, surely they know each others MMSI number. However, they should have used the 'phone.
 
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