Communication and Rescue

Emergency words

All calls are repeated three times.

MAYDAY

A mayday call denotes an emergency involving imminent danger to a vessel and the people on board. If you hear a mayday call you should not transmit, but continue to monitor the radio.

If a shore station such as the local Marine Rescue NSW unit fails to respond to the call, you should attempt to relay the message and render any assistance.

An example of a mayday message could be: “Mayday, Mayday, Mayday this is Phantom, this is Phantom, this is Phantom, a 5m red half-cabin, I am three miles off Red Head, we have been swamped by a wave and we are sinking. There are four people overboard. Over.”

PAN PAN

Pan Pan is an urgency message that indicates a vessel is in trouble but not in immediate danger, for example: “Pan Pan, Pan Pan, Pan Pan, this is Phantom, this is Phantom, this is Phantom, a 5m red half-cabin, I am three miles off Red Head, we have been disabled by a wave and require a tow. There are four people onboard. Over.”

SECURITE

Securite messages (pronounced “say-cure-e-tay”) generally prefix navigational safety messages such as weather reports or navigation hazard updates, for example: “Securite, Securite, Securite, all ships, all ships, all ships, this is Coast Radio Sydney, Coast Radio Sydney for a renewal of a strong wind warning please switch to channel VHF 67. Out.”

You’re the Skipper – You’re Responsible when it comes to Assisting Other Vessels in Need

Australia has signed up to a number of international treaties including the Safety of Life at Sea Convention (SOLAS) which requires that the master of a vessel at sea must provide assistance to a stricken vessel when they receive a distress signal. Additionally, Section 265 of the Commonwealth Navigation Act 1912 requires a master to assist a stricken vessel on any tidal waters. Section 98 of the Marine Safety Act 1998 requires the master of a vessel involved in a marine incident to give assistance to any injured person or damaged vessel involved in the incident.

However when responding in any such emergency, the master is required to ensure they do not place themselves, their passengers or own vessel in danger. Also be aware that the Civil Liability Act 2002 provides protection against liability for “good samaritans” in emergency situations.

Depending on the situation, providing assistance in an emergency may simply mean calling 000 or the local Marine Rescue NSW unit and/or staying with the vessel or person until professional assistance arrives.

Don’t forget, you could be the one who requires help next time!

Search and rescue

Before a search can be initiated, someone must know that you are either in trouble or overdue. So tell someone where you are going, how many people are on board and when you expect to return.

It is strongly recommended that you log on and log off with Marine Rescue NSW.

There are a number of ways that a search and rescue agency can be alerted, including radio distress calls, distress flares, overdue reports and activation of an EPIRB.

AusSAR, a division of the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA), is Australia’s national search and rescue authority and runs the Rescue Co-ordination Centre (RCC Australia) in Canberra.

RCC Australia can be contacted 24 hours a day on 1800 641 792.

Under federal regulations, operators of VHF and MF/HF radios are required to hold an operating certificate. The normal certificate for VHF recreational operators is the Marine Radio Operators VHF Certificate (MROVCP). Marine Rescue NSW offers this course, or check www.vhfradioonline.com for more details.

Operators of 27 MHz equipment are not required to hold a certificate but are strongly encouraged to obtain one for their own and other users’ safety.