A GOOD WAY OF LEARNING THE PHONETIC ALPHABET WHILST YOU ARE DRIVING AND THERE ARE TWO OF YOU IS TO TAKE TURNS AT READING THE LICENCE PLATES OF OTHER CARS PHONETICALLY......MAKE SURE THAT YOU STILL KEEP A GOOD EYE ON THE ROAD THOUGH!!!!................................................

Characters

Numbers

A word or words that have a specific procedural meaning.

Never, ever! use the term "over and out". You may see it used a lot on TV but it is never used in real life radio communications.

The following are the main channels that you are likely to use or monitor:

Channel 70 is allocated to DSC (digital selective calling).  If you have an old VHF set that will enable you to access this channel then do not, under any circumstances, use it.

You should also be aware that channels 6, 10 and 73 together with 67 have been allocated as channels for search and rescue operations between aircraft and vessels.  Channel 10 in particular is nominated for oil pollution control.

When calling another station on channel 16 the call and acknowledgements, before you switch to a working channel, should not exceed 30 seconds.  If the station that you are attempting to work does not respond then wait for a minimum of 2 minutes before trying again.  Only attempt this 3 times, if there is still no response then accept that the station that you are calling cannot hear you or that you cannot hear them.

Restrict radio checks to a maximum of 10 seconds.

When carrying out a radio check it is often a good idea to arrange to do it with a vessel that you know will not be too near you when you arrange the check.  I once heard a vessel in our Marina calling the harbour control for a radio check.  This was actually located about 100 metres from where he was moored and he could easily have lent out of his Bridge window and shouted to them across the Marina.  I myself once did this when I requested a radio check from Great Yarmouth Coastguard from the Marina in Lowestoft. I was quite pleased when they responded until somebody told me that they had an antennae in the Lowestoft trawler dock just 200 metres from my mooring!

When preparing a voyage plan always check your almanac and note the port operating channels.  Some ports such as Harwich and Felixstowe require that you do monitor a particular channel when you are in their operational areas.  Please also remember to check and note the channels of ports that you are passing on your passage. Just because you hadn't planned to visit them doesn't mean that you may not have to use them as a bolt hole in the event of you changing your plans.  A good skipper is always well prepared.

When in or near shipping lanes, VHF Channel 13 is a good channel to dual watch.

A little known fact is the recommendation, when in or near shipping lanes or ports, of hoisting signal flags to show your call-sign. 

If you are using the DSC (Digital Selective Calling) function on your VHF Radio, then it is important you remember that there are two distinct operations to each call.

The first thing is to select the DSC operation.  The exact way of doing this will vary from set to set. For DSC Distress alerts you always have a DSC button, housed under a cover that you have to operate before transmitting a voice Mayday Message.

DSC Urgency & Safety alerts are normally selected through your radio's internal menu system and it is important that you learn this.

Standard ship to ship calls are also entered through the menu system on the radio.  If you do not know a vessel's unique identification number, their MMSI, then you have to call them by voice on channel 16.

A voice Mayday call is always preceded by a DSC Distress Alert activated by pressing the DSC Distress button on your VHF Radio.

Mayday calls are only used when there is grave and imminent danger to persons, vessel, other vessels or aircraft and immediate assistance is required.

Pan Pan calls are  used when you have a problem but there is no grave and imminent danger to persons, vessel, other vessels or aircraft and immediate assistance is not required.

The Pan-Pan-Medico calls that used to be used for requesting medical advice or assistance has been discontinued. You now use the standard Pan-Pan format but request medical advice as the assistance required.  If you have to request medical advice then you will almost certainly be routed through to a professional medical helper.  Ensure that you have full details of the injured or sick person's condition including a "top to toe" if necessary.  If you do not know what a "top to toe" is then seriously look into taking a first aid course!

MMSI (Maritime Mobile Service Identity) is a unique nine digit number that is assigned to any vessel that has a registered DSC radio.  Using this number any craft can, by using it's DSC radio, directly call any other vessel, group of vessels or coastal radio station.

The first three digits of an MMSI indicate the country of registration.  In the UK this is normally 232, 233 or 234.  Hence an MMSI for a UK registered DSC radio would look like:

                232nnnnnn ( the n's represent a number identifying the vessel)

If the MMSI is a DSC capable handheld radio then the digit immediately after the country identifier is always a "9".  If the above MMSI were of this type then the number would read:

                2329nnnnn 

It is possible to have a group MMSI assigned. This would enable a station to simultaneously call a number of vessels.  A typical application would be where a shipping company has a group MMSI in order to enable it to call all of it's vessels in the event of it wishing to broadcast some information to all of them.  A yacht club might have one to enable vessels on a club cruise to broadcast information.  A group MMSI is always identified by having a single preceding zero, i.e.:

                0232nnnnn ( the n's represent a number identifying the group)

The final type of MMSI is for a Coastal Radio Station (CRS) such as H.M. Coastguard.  In this case there is always two preceding zeros, i.e.:

                00232nnnn ( the n's representing a number identifying the CRS identity) 

MMSI numbers in the UK are assigned by Ofcom which has now taken over the responsibilities of the RCA (Radio Communications Agency)

The Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) is part of the SOLAS (Safety Of life At Sea) system and was introduced in February 1999.  The system specification was agreed by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and the International Telecommunications Union (ITU).

It is compulsory for vessels of over 300 tons (GRT).  At this time there is no mandatory fit for small leisure craft.

It's purpose is to ensure that all vessels have at least two methods of automatically initiating a distress alert to a Rescue Coordination Centre and other vessels in the vicinity.

It covers the following types of equipment:

• Radio equipment that can broadcast over a sufficient range dependent upon the GMDSS area in which they are operating.  This would be DSC VHF for coastal work (Area A1) or DSC VHF and DSC MF (Medium Frequency) sets for Area A2.

• EPIRBs (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons) in addition to a radio.

• SARTs (Search and Rescue Radar Transponders) in addition to the EPIRB.

• Navtex receivers for weather and navigational information

• RADAR

Whilst it is not a mandatory fit for small leisure craft, there are obvious and great benefits to be had from the installation of these equipments on any small craft. 

The MCA recommendations are as follows:

R=Recommended - O=Optional

(You don't have to remember this table for the course)

It may all seem like a lot to take in, don't worry though. If you can remember most of what is on this page then it will help you when you come to take your course.

You will have plenty of time to practice and ask questions.  Even though there is a written and oral test you will be evaluated throughout the day.  By the time that you come to take your test we normally have a good idea of your abilities and will take this into account if you are nervous.

It isn't rocket science and is well within the capabilities of the average person.  You want to become a good radio operator, it is our job to help you.  If you have any problems or queries before the course then simply call or email us.

This page was last updated on 22 February, 2006 .  This site is copyright © 2006 Peter & Ingrid Marie-Louise Cornish trading as U.K. Maritime.

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Whilst every attempt is made to ensure that the information contained within this site is accurate no responsibility for any loss, financial or otherwise, caused by its use can be accepted by us.