'MAYDAY' Distress Hailing

thx guy's for not having to dig up old schoolbooks but thats what i meant.
only did european pleasure boating but had to do a nautical english exam at the time as well
belive the usa, like europe, needs a sixpack of licences for this stuff as well

 

A license is not needed for a marine VHF radio, EPIRB, radar, etc on a US boat which is not required by law to carry a marine radio, as long as the boat is only used domestically. Recreational vessels under 20 meters are not required to carry a marine radio. The radio can have DSC. If the boat is used internationally, for example in Canada, Bahamas, Mexico, etc, then a license is required. This license, good for 10 years, can be obtained by completing a form and returning it with payment. From http://wireless.fcc.gov/services/index.htm?job=licensing&id=ship_stations

You do not need a license to operate a marine VHF radio, radar, or EPIRBs aboard voluntary ships operating domestically. The term "voluntary ships" refers to ships that are not required by law to carry a radio. Generally, this term applies to recreation or pleasure craft. The term "voluntary ships" does not apply to the following:

Cargo ships over 300 gross tons navigating in the open sea;
Ships certified by the U.S. Coast Guard to carry more than 6 passengers for hire in the open sea or tidewaters of the U.S.;
Power driven ships over 20 meters in length on navigable waterways;
Ships of more than 100 gross tons certified by the U.S. Coast Guard to carry at least one passenger on navigable waterways;
Tow boats of more than 7.8 meters in length on navigable waterways; and,
Uninspected commercial fishing industry vessels required to carry a VHF radio.
Ships required to carry an Automatic Identification System (AIS) transceiver by the U.S. Coast Guard regulations enacted pursuant to the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2000.

Ships are considered as operating domestically when they do not travel to foreign ports or do not transmit radio communications to foreign stations. Sailing in international waters is permitted, so long as the previous conditions are met. If you travel to a foreign port (e.g., Canada, Mexico, Bahamas, British Virgin Islands), a license is required. Additionally, if you travel to a foreign port, you are required to have an operator permit.

Canada is similar; see http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/marinesafety/oep-navigation-radiocomms-faqs-1489.htm

 

Interesting. I always thought that you needed a license to operate any GMDSS equipment. How do americans learn how to use the gear and understand the terminology...? MMSI numbers for instance.

 

If your bridge is GMDSS certified ie you have a MMSI number then you have to have a GMDSS approved operator on-board when you sail. (At least under UK flag). But this is a commercial function, you can still have quality GMDSS equipment without being certified.

 

thx again, surprises me but ok so it reads, even thought i recall the term "sixpack of licences" from reading boating magazine usa on this in the ninetys
still doubt tho, there are low -handheld- and high power vhf transmitters and in europe, unless changed, that needs an a or b license
b licence than also good for epirb and radar, my sixpack not here, had a flagbrief, international pleasure boat carnet and what but will check what marcom a b was needed for

 

Michael,

It only transmits all that data if you have entered it (accurately) into the transmitter prior to your emergency. Oddly enough, a number of people don't do that...

How does the unit know the nature of your emergency when you push and hold the little red button for three seconds?

-Tom

 

I think that the relevant international treaties require a license to operate VHF radios when used "internationally" but that each country can set their own requirements for domestic use. NOte that Canada has rules similar to the US, ie no license needed for Canadian boats not used internationally.

How do they learn to use a marine radio? In general the same way they learn to operate their boat. Some take classes, some are taught by a dealer or broker, some read books or watch videos, some learn from friends, some learn on the family boat while growing up, some figure it out on their own, and some never learn.

Its been a number of decades since a test was required to use a VHF marine radio on a "voluntarially equipped" boat in the US. My guess is the idea was to encourage folks to have a radio on their boat in the interest of safety. Also, the licensing requirements which used to exist were ignored by many folks. My guess is there are many more recreational boats in North America than in Europe when all the small outboards are included.

As for MMSI from http://wireless.fcc.gov/services/index.htm?job=licensing&id=ship_stations
Radio Equipment You May Use
You do not need a license to use marine VHF radios, any type of EPIRB, any type of radar, GPS or LORAN receivers, depth finders, CB radio, or amateur radio (an amateur license is required). Ships that use MF/HF single side-band radio, satellite communications, or telegraphy must continue to be licensed by the FCC.

Radios with Digital Selective Calling (DSC) Capability
If you have a marine radio with DSC capability, you must obtain a nine-digit maritime mobile service identity (MMSI) number and have it programmed into the unit before you transmit. Each vessel needs only one MMSI number. Prior to obtaining an MMSI number, you will be asked to provide certain information about your ship. It is important that you obtain an MMSI number because the U.S. Coast Guard uses this information to help speed search and rescue operations.

If your vessel requires licensing by the FCC you will obtain an MMSI number during the application/licensing process when you file FCC Forms 159 and 605 with the FCC.

If your vessel does not require a license you may obtain an MMSI by contacting either BoatUS, Sea Tow Service International, Inc., Shine Micro, or United States Power Squadrons. The contact information is contained in the Public Notice (pdf) announcing agreements with and the procedures for private entities to apply to issue MMSIs.

If your vessel requires licensing by the FCC after you have obtained an MMSI number from BoatUS, Sea Tow Service, Shine Micro, Inc., or United States Power Squadrons, that MMSI number cannot be used during the application/licensing process when you file FCC Forms 159 and 605 with the FCC. MMSI numbers issued by other authorized entities are valid only for ship stations that do not have FCC-issued licenses. Since the ULS will not accept the MMSI that was issued by another entity, you should not enter anything on FCC Form 605, Schedule B. Leave the field blank and the FCC will issue you a new MMSI number.

 

Six-Pack is the common name for the operators license required in the US to carry up to six passengers for hire on an "uninspected" vessel. Uninspected means the design and construction of the boat were not "inspected" and approved, not that the boat is never inspected for required safety equipment, valid registration, etc.

 

GMDSS gear that Ive used, including VHF DSC, are interfaced with the GPS. I thought all DSC radios were GPS interfaced.

Im presently probing a Sat C with a voltmeter to find out why its lost...no MNEA GPS signal ? always something to fix.

many of the handheld VHF radios I see in the shop have built in GPS.

Not being interfaced with GPS seems to ruin the whole concept.

Perhaps the regulations need to catch up with technolgy

 

that i hear first time, was thinking it was a more comon popular expression good for all sorts of sixpacks
but no wrong and sorry, i never learn, hope people can still read my drift and should have stayed when younger

 

So how does it know and transmit the nature of your emergency?

-Tom

 

It doesn't and therefore should only be used in a "May Day" type dristress situation when immediate assistance is needed, not if you run out of gas and are not in immediate danger. Similar to activation of an EPIRB or PLB. http://navcen.uscg.gov/?pageName=dscproc#Distress

The USCG has said it will suspend search and rescue when a DCS distress call is received without a GPS location and other information is not available.

MARINER’S SAFETY ENDANGERED WHEN VHF RADIO DISTRESS ALERTS BY DIGITAL SELECTIVE CALLING (DSC) LACK LOCATION AND IDENTIFICATION INFORMATION

As the Coast Guard’s new marine radio network Rescue 21 becomes operational throughout the U.S., rescue centers can now receive instant distress alerts from commonly used DSC-capable VHF marine radios. However, approximately 90% of VHF DSC distress alerts received by the Coast Guard do not contain position information, and approximately 60% do not contain a registered identity. The Coast Guard cannot effectively respond to a DSC distress alert sent from such a radio.

This means that search and rescue efforts may normally be suspended when:
• no communications with the distressed vessel can be established,
• no further information or means of contacting the vessel can be obtained from other sources,
and
• no position information is known. http://navcen.uscg.gov/pdf/marcomms/dsc/04_11_dsc.pdf

 

It doesn't and probably the owner will not be too sure either. Like it's GPS mate, it removes from the operator the need to know where and what he is about.

There is no doubt that it is a great step forward, but anyone who has never learned the Mayday procedures is in the same boat as those who believe that keeping plots of their position is no longer necessary.

 

There's a difference between a DSC radio having the ability to receive a location from a GPS, and the DSC radio actually having the location. I saw a recent announcement that one manufactuer will be offering a relatively low cost DSC radio with a built in GPS unit which should eliminate most problems with that radio.

 

Gee, google VHF GPS and just about every manufacturer is selling a combo these days. Perhaps only in Europe ?