Coastguard Radio Emergencies
Coastguard.
At sea the coastguard is your life line, if you have and
incident or an accident there is only on person who can absolutely and
positively deliver the goods, that is the coastguard.
He’s got helicopters, fast boats, decompression chambers,
and what’s more he works for free!
So why don’t we use him more often?.
The two ways of communicating with the coastguard, are by
telephone, or by VHF radio. Telephone
is best used when planning a dive and requiring weather details, or specialised
local knowledge of an area. A call
to the coastguard will be well received and they are always most helpful.
If you’ve already set off on the dive a very sensible
precaution is to call the coastguard on the VHF radio and inform him of some
vital facts:
Who you are, what size and type of vessel you are, how many
souls, where you are going and when you hope to return.
This information can be vital for two reasons:
One:
If you get lost or are involved in an incident the coastguard has all
your details, including home contact numbers if you have registered a CG66.
(Vessel information)
Two:
You may be needed to assist another vessel in distress, dive boats tend
to be very fast and well equipped, and can often be at an incident very quickly,
but only if:
a) The coastguard knows where you are.
b) If you are competent to receive and send urgent radio messages.
c) If you have established an efficient diver recall system.
d) You are, or have on board, a competent boat
handler.
Sending and receiving radio messages is very straight
forward, but is governed by strict radio protocol which must be observed at all times.
Lives could be needlessly lost by someone calling for help
on the wrong frequency, or by not sending an accurate message of position and
circumstances.
By following these guidelines when using the radio, even
novices or people unfamiliar with procedures could successfully summon help.
1) Plan your message, jot down these facts:
· Who you are "Dumfries Diver" "Vega" etc.
· No of souls Very important for the Coastguard to know this
· Where you are Lat and Long if available and crucial if emergency
·
Brief message Diving wreck of Beagle expect to
be here for two hours. etc
Always remember to inform the Coastguard when you have completed and are near to (not in) the harbour
Before transmitting any message
First
Select channel 16
DO NOT CALL ON ANY OTHER CHANNEL.
Second
Listen make
sure there is no radio traffic especially Mayday Sillonce.
Third
Have your written information in front of you.
Fourth
Tell everyone to shut up!
Fifth
Call “Clyde Coastguard” Repeat
“this is Vega” Repeat. Then wait
Sixth When the Coastguard responds, he may direct you to channel 67, or simply acknowledge your call.
Unless it is just a very brief radio check that you require, ask the Coastguard for channel 67 to pass your message.
Do not pass messages on channel 16.
Do not transmit on Dual Watch.
Remember to switch back to 16 after your message has been acknowledged.
Always inform the Coastguard when you have completed your diving and are
NEAR to harbour.
GOLDEN RULE
You have got free membership to one of the most efficient and
best-equipped information and rescue services in the world
USE IT!
DTI COURSE
The DTI is the department of Trade and Industry, they issue
certificates of authorisation to persons who have completed training courses in
the operation and use of VHF radios.
The courses cover all aspects of VHF radio protocol, including the phonetic alphabet, and how and when to transmit radio messages.
It is absolutely vital that a competent radio office be
present on the type of diving that we undertake.
I would urge you all to take the course , and whenever possible to practice your skills on the radio, even between dive boats.