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Making a Distress Call
For future reference, write your boat’s name & call sign here:
Speak slowly - clearly - calmly.
1. Makesureyourradioison.
2. Pressthe
16/9-TRI
buttontoswitchtoChannel16(156.8
MHz).(Ifthedisplaydoesnotshow16,pressthe
16/9-TRI
buttonagainuntilitdoes.)
3. Pressthe
Push To Talk
buttonandsay:“MAYDAY --
MAYDAY -- MAYDAY.”
4. Say“THIS IS{nameofyourboat(threetimes)andcallsign/
boatregistrationnumber(once)}.”
5. Repeat“MAYDAY{nameofyourboat}”once.
6. Tellwhereyouare:(whatnavigationalaidsorlandmarksare
near,orreadthelatitudeandlongitudefromyourGPS).
7. Statethenatureofyourdistress(e.g.sinking,medical
emergency,manoverboard,onre,adrift,etc.).
8. Statethetypeofassistanceyouneed(medical,towing,
pumps,etc.).
9. Givethenumberofpersonsaboardanddescribethe
conditionofanyinjuredpersons.
10.Estimatepresentseaworthinessofyourship(e.g.how
immediateisthedangerduetooodingorre).
11.Brieydescribeyourship,givingshipname(i.e.,“BlueDuck
is32footcabincruiser,whitehull,bluedeckhouse”).
12.Say:“I WILL BE LISTENING ON CHANNEL 16.”
13.Endthemessagebysaying“THIS IS {nameorcallsignof
yourboat}, OVER.”
14.Releasethe
Push To Talk
buttonandlisten.
15.Ifyoudonotgetananswerafter30seconds,repeatyour
callbeginningatstep3above.