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Commercial Fisheries News
Volume 34 Number 10
June 2007
Mayday: Teach crew distress call protocols
Several years ago I was aboard the Travis & Natalie when we heard a distress call from a nearby fishing vessel. The call for assistance came from a transient crewman on channel 10.
Why channel 10, you ask? Because that was the channel being monitored and the inexperienced crewman wasn’t aware of the proper radio distress frequencies. No one had ever showed him how to make a proper mayday call and no instructions were posted by the radios in the pilothouse. Among the fishing vessel crews I work with, this is a common error observed during safety inspections and drills.
In the event of an emergency, it is extremely important to establish radio communications immediately with the Coast Guard or another vessel using VHF or single sideband (SSB) radios. Do not wait until the situation is out of control. At that point, it’s possible there may be no power for the radio or it may be too late for rescue units to respond.
Remember, all vessels are required to monitor channels 16 VHF and 2182.0 SSB. You may be in the best position to assist another vessel in distress or to relay important information to the Coast Guard.
It is essential to use the correct format when transmitting distress messages. The urgency of the situation requires that distress messages be as brief and clear as possible while still containing all the necessary information.
All crewmen must understand distress message format and transmission procedures. Take the time to teach and practice with your crewmembers. During an immediate emergency – flooding, fire, injury, etc. – the skipper is usually hands-on, so it very well may be that he calls on a crewmember to initiate the distress call.
It takes practice
There are several key issues to address with your crewmen when explaining distress calls. First, skippers and mates are comfortable talking on the radio but crewmen aren’t, so practice is important: a distress call must always be spoken slowly, clearly, and calmly.
Next, make certain that all crewmen know how to read and state your position in latitude and longitude and time/distance (TD) loran bearings from your loran or GPS (global positioning system). Also, they should know how to switch latitude/longitude to TDs and TDs to latitude/longitude on your loran and GPS screen.
A mayday call is to be used only when a vessel or life is threatened by grave and imminent danger and a request is made for immediate assistance. Mayday calls have priority over all other emergency signals.
Step-by-step
Teach the crew to follow these steps to transmit a mayday call.
Make sure your radio is on and transmitting on channels 16 VHF and 2182.0 SSB. Say:
1. Mayday, mayday, mayday;
2. Your vessel name three times; and
3. Position (latitude/longitude and loran are preferred).
Wait for acknowledgement, and then repeat steps 1-3 again for all those mariners who are now prepared with pen and pad to take down the precise information. Then say:
5. Nature of distress – fire, flooding, medical emergency, etc.;
6. Total number of people on board (POB) and the nature of any injuries;
7. Estimate the present seaworthiness of your vessel;
8. Briefly describe your vessel, including length, hull color, hull type, trim color, rigging color, and other distinguishing features; and
9. End message by saying, “This is (vessel name) and (call sign) standing by on (channel 16 VHF or 2182.0 SSB).”
If time permits, provide the Coast Guard with additional information such as lifesaving and survival equipment onboard, on-scene weather, whether an EPIRB is available and will be activated, homeport, owner’s name and telephone number, and documentation number.
Medical emergency
If it is a medical emergency provide steps 1-3 then add:
4. Victim’s name and age;
5. Nature and complete description of the problem and vital signs if possible;
6. Past history of similar problems if available;
7. Medicine administered or available; and
8. Name and phone number of victim’s physician.
Relays
All fishing vessels that are obligated to have radios are required to relay maydays that are heard but go unanswered. To relay an unanswered mayday you must state:
1. “Mayday relay, mayday relay, mayday relay;”
2. Your vessel name and call sign;
3. Name and call sign of vessel in distress;
4. Position;
5. Nature of distress; and
6. Degree of assistance needed.
Then wait for an acknowledgement.
Spell it out
Having and knowing proper distress call procedures is an integral part of fishing and an invaluable aid in an emergency. Radios should have a back-up battery supply in case power fails. Your radios should have the capacity to reach search and rescue resources.
Take the time to fill out and tailor a “How to make a Distress Call” poster, laminate it, and keep it by your radios. Safe fishing!
Fred Mattera
NESTCo
A qualified Coast Guard-approved marine drill instructor, Fred Mattera is the owner/president of North East Safety Training Co. (NESTCo), which conducts fishing vessel drills and inspections and basic safety training workshops.
Mattera has been a commercial fisherman since 1972 and the owner of the Point Judith, RI-based 84' freezer trawler Travis & Natalie since 1984.
He also has been the president of the Point Club, a fishing vessel mutual insurance group, since 1998 and has served on the board of directors for Sunderland Marine Mutual Insurance Co., the principal underwriter for the Point Club and more than 2,000 US fishing vessels, since 1998.
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