This if "liferaft"

[OceanSprint]

Ok, we hit a submerged container and abandon boat into liferaft.

We grab handheld VHF on way.

We put out Mayday.

What do we say - "mayday mayday mayday, this is liferaft liferaft liferaft"

Or do we use vessel's name even though it is now in Davy Jones's locker?

 

[Deleted member 36384]

The vessel's name of course and advise in the mayday message that the vessel has sunk and you are in a life raft.

 

[OceanSprint]

It wasn't so obvious to me, i am afraid. But thanks for answer.

 

[macd]

Unless, of course, your boat's name is 'Liferaft'

The vessel's name is everything as far as the rescue services are concerned. If you've registered with the coastguard (see below), the boat name will be linked with you, persons to be contacted and so on.

See: www.gov.uk/register-boat-coastguard-safety-scheme

 

[Deleted member 36384]

It wasn't so obvious to me, i am afraid. But thanks for answer.

Below is an example of a suitable VHF procedure. If you do not have a DSC VHF ignore the MMSI steps. If you do not know the call sign ignore the call sign steps. The reason for the MMSI and call sign is to cross check the verbal Mayday message with any automatic distress signal from an EPIRB or a DSC VHF.

Mayday Message On VHF

1. Mayday, mayday, mayday
2. This is ............
3. This is ............
4. This is ............

5. My MMSI Number is ...........
6. My Call sign is ..................

7. Mayday

8. Repeat MMSI and Call Sign

9. My position is ...........

10. Describe nature of distress e.g. The vessel is sinking, on fire, aground, or has sunk

11. I require immediate asistance

12. There are xx persons onboard (or advise if they are in the liferaft or missing)

13. Other information at the end: We are abandoning the vessel into the liferaft, jumping into the sea, Activated EPIRB

 

[Tony Cross]

Below is an example of a suitable VHF procedure. If you do not have a DSC VHF ignore the MMSI steps. If you do not know the call sign ignore the call sign steps. The reason for the MMSI and call sign is to cross check the verbal Mayday message with any automatic distress signal from an EPIRB or a DSC VHF.

Mayday Message On VHF

1. Mayday, mayday, mayday
2. This is ............
3. This is ............
4. This is ............

5. My MMSI Number is ...........
6. My Call sign is ..................

7. Mayday

8. Repeat MMSI and Call Sign

9. My position is ...........

10. Describe nature of distress e.g. The vessel is sinking, on fire, aground, or has sunk

11. I require immediate asistance

12. There are xx persons onboard (or advise if they are in the liferaft or missing)

13. Other information at the end: We are abandoning the vessel into the liferaft, jumping into the sea, Activated EPIRB

Indeed, standard Mayday but it would be vital to include the information that the vessel has sunk and there are x persons in an orange/yellow/red (delete as appropriate) liferaft.

 

[fisherman]

Below is an example of a suitable VHF procedure. If you do not have a DSC VHF ignore the MMSI steps. If you do not know the call sign ignore the call sign steps. The reason for the MMSI and call sign is to cross check the verbal Mayday message with any automatic distress signal from an EPIRB or a DSC VHF.

Mayday Message On VHF

1. Mayday, mayday, mayday
2. This is ............
3. This is ............
4. This is ............

5. My MMSI Number is ...........
6. My Call sign is ..................

7. Mayday

8. Repeat MMSI and Call Sign

9. My position is ...........

10. Describe nature of distress e.g. The vessel is sinking, on fire, aground, or has sunk

11. I require immediate asistance

12. There are xx persons onboard (or advise if they are in the liferaft or missing)

13. Other information at the end: We are abandoning the vessel into the liferaft, jumping into the sea, Activated EPIRB

I was told that the first, most vital info you give after vessel's name is the position, just in case you lose the VHF before you finish.

 

[Twister_Ken]

I was told that the first, most vital info you give after vessel's name is the position, just in case you lose the VHF before you finish.

If you've got DSC then the position is included in that first, digital, transmission.

 

[Deleted member 36384]

I was told that the first, most vital info you give after vessel's name is the position, just in case you lose the VHF before you finish.

Which is what happens if you do not have a DSC or EPIRB by ignoring steps 5, 6 and 8; this would be the pre DSC Mayday message: Mayday, name and position. If you do have a DSC and EPIRB then the assumption here is that the users has pushed the DSC Mayday button or activated the EPIRB.

I think when using modern alert systems that transmit mayday information automatically once activated, it is reasonable to cross reference using spoken communication early in the announcement.

Anyway, I just timed myself, it took 37 seconds to say the above including my MMSI and call sign number. The mast could fall down at second 1 or second 37. People are free to say what they want but the above is an example of an effective mayday message.

 

[[70521]]

If you've got DSC then the position is included in that first, digital, transmission.

I take comfort in being able to tell the CG that I know where we are as we bob about in the sinking yacht/liferaft and that hitting the red button was not a mistake by "inCompetent Crew".

 

[John 32i]

May be worth doing a VHF course if your not sure....around £100 money well spent (and its a requirement to use a VHF)!

 

[macd]

I take comfort in being able to tell the CG that I know where we are as we bob about in the sinking yacht/liferaft and that hitting the red button was not a mistake by "inCompetent Crew".

I'm sorry but I do wish people wouldn't put this careless and downright dangerous description about (and some of the 'how to send a distress message' guides are no better). "Hitting the red button" does not send a DSC distress message. It varies slightly between sets, but to the best of my knowledge you either have to press and hold (on my set, for "more than three seconds", although I think a little longer on some others); or having momentarily pressed the red button, selected an item on the resulting menu and then pressing and holding the button again. If this is not done, no distress message is sent.

I'm sure you, and most forum readers, know all this, and I wouldn't normally be so pedantic (what, me? ), but on an issue as vital as this, we should be no less precise than in following the voice protocol aired by BlowingOldBoots.

 

[snowleopard]

I was surprised to find, on watching my raft being serviced, that it has the boat name printed on the canopy in large letters.

 

[[70521]]

I'm sorry but I do wish people wouldn't put this careless and downright dangerous description about (and some of the 'how to send a distress message' guides are no better). "Hitting the red button" does not send a DSC distress message. It varies slightly between sets, but to the best of my knowledge you either have to press and hold (on my set, for "more than three seconds", although I think a little longer on some others); or having momentarily pressed the red button, selected an item on the resulting menu and then pressing and holding the button again. If this is not done, no distress message is sent.


I'm sure you, and most forum readers, know all this, and I wouldn't normally be so pedantic (what, me? ), but on an issue as vital as this, we should be no less precise than in following the voice protocol aired by BlowingOldBoots.

It was a light hearted post, as most of mine are, and am sure that any responsible skipper will brief everybody onboard on how to send a Mayday call.

 

[macd]

It was a light hearted post, as most of mine are, and am sure that any responsible skipper will brief everybody onboard on how to send a Mayday call.

Of course it was light-hearted, and no issue is too sacred for flippancy. And forgive me if you thought I was picking on you. But everyone and his dog seems to speak of "hitting the red button" to the extent that it's in danger of being ingrained in the marine lexicon. Who's to say that some novice won't take their instruction from that? Not every boat has an experienced skipper on board, and not every skipper is responsible (or even sober/conscious). I've looked at various official sites on distress procedure, and even some of them just talk of "pressing the button" (including one from the US Coastguard, would you believe?). And I'm utterly convinced, because I've asked, that more than a few boaters out there think that just pressing the button does the job. Amazingly some people...but perhaps only those with a hole in their ar*e...don't read handbooks.

Incidentally, if anyone wants a succinct print-out of distress radio procedure for mounting next to the VHF, here's one from our hosts: http://www.yachtingmonthly.com/fileBank/PDF/new_mayday_call_sheet_a5.pdf

I'll get off me soapbox now.

 

[A1Sailor]

If you've got DSC then the position is included in that first, digital, transmission.

Indeed. OP mentions a handheld VHF. Are these sometimes DSC these days? My boat has a DSC set, but my handheld isn't DSC.

EDIT:
http://www.allgadgets.co.uk/marine/pc/Standard-Horizon-HX851E-Handheld-VHF-with-GPS-DSC-37p349.htm
You learn something new every day...

 

[[70521]]

I'll get off me soapbox now.

No worries

 

[prv]

I'm utterly convinced, because I've asked, that more than a few boaters out there think that just pressing the button does the job.

I agree, based on the technophobe attitudes displayed here whenever the subject of DSC - especially routine calling and receiving - comes up.

My dad has a DSC radio on board but I don't think he's even aware of it, because he refuses to do a VHF course. He insists that his aviation radio license is quite sufficient - so his voice procedure is probably pretty good, but DSC is a complete mystery and proper selection and use of working channels is probably a bit hazy (in the air you just dial up the correct frequency for whoever's area you're in and that's that). I guess that tootling around the Solent and occasionally calling a marina on ch80 it doesn't really matter...

Pete

 

[snowleopard]

My dad has a DSC radio on board but I don't think he's even aware of it, because he refuses to do a VHF course. He insists that his aviation radio license is quite sufficient - so his voice procedure is probably pretty good, but DSC is a complete mystery and proper selection and use of working channels is probably a bit hazy (in the air you just dial up the correct frequency for whoever's area you're in and that's that). I guess that tootling around the Solent and occasionally calling a marina on ch80 it doesn't really matter...

It's amazing how often you hear procedure that clearly indicates the user hasn't got a licence. 'Yacht A calling Yacht B' is common enough but I was a little surprised to hear an instructor at an RYA sailing centre saying 'over and out'.

 

[A1Sailor]

My dad has a DSC radio on board but I don't think he's even aware of it, because he refuses to do a VHF course. He insists that his aviation radio license is quite sufficient

Pete

Folk used to moan about the over-regulation of marine VHF/DSC, but stories like that suggest that things are too lax these days. Your dad is obviously perfectly content using a radio that he isn't fully conversent with!