Radios  

• Radios – who must carry one?
• Types of marine radios
• Licensing requirements
• Operating procedures
• Radio use – rules and operating hints
• Mobile phone is no substitute
• Distress call
• Radio problem checklist
• Unauthorised use of radios

Radios – who must carry one?

• You must carry a marine band radio if you go more than five miles from the mainland shore. The choice of radios is up to you, it can be 27mHz, VHF or HF. 
   
• When at sea, you must have your radio turned on and tuned to the distress frequency.
   
• For 27mHz, this frequency is 27.88.
   
• For VHF, this frequency is channel 16.
   
• All Sea Rescue Groups monitor Channel 88 and VHF Channel 16.
   
• If your radio is logged on with a shore station such as a Sea Rescue Group, you can stay on the working frequency of the station.
   
• When boating in the Northwest Cape region, we recommend that you carry a VHF radio. If you have a VHF you require a licence to operate it.
  

Types of marine radios

There are three types of marine radios:

27 MHz

These are cheap, easy to operate transceivers and are common in small boats. Their range is essentially line-of-sight and they are prone to interference noise. These radios are good for boat-to-boat communications and are monitored, at least during daylight hours, by most volunteer marine rescue groups. The emergency and call up channel is channel 88. Leave the radio on this channel to monitor any emergency traffic and respond to calls. Establish communications on channel 88, and then switch to another channel to have your conversation. Channel 86 is a supplementary distress frequency.
Sea rescue groups monitor the distress frequencies and their own working frequency.

Most 27 MHz radios have a dual watch capability where channel 88 and another channel can be monitored at the same time.

VHF

These radios are a little more expensive but also easy to operate. Their range is line-of-sight (extended by high aerials and repeater stations) with a very high quality signal. The emergency and call up channel is channel 16. Leave the radio on this channel to monitor any emergency traffic and respond to any calls. Establish communications on channel 16, then switch to another channel to have your conversation. Channel 67 is a supplementary distress channel. Rescue groups monitor the distress channel and their own working channel.

VHF radios have a dual watch capability where channel 16 and another channel can be monitored at the same time.

MF/HF

These radios have a much greater communication range (thousands of nautical miles) for vessels travelling long distances from shore. They are much more expensive and more difficult to operate. Reception is not always reliable and can be of low quality.

A 24 hour, seven-days-a-week service operated from the Water Police Coordination Centre in North Fremantle monitors the 4125, 6215 and 8291 kHz distress and calling frequencies.  This HF service covers WA coastal waters within 200 nautical miles of the shore from two new transceiver sites, one at Canning Mills in Perth (call sign COAST RADIO PERTH) and the other at Port Hedland (call sign COAST RADIO HEDLAND). The Water Police also broadcasts relevant Western Australian navigation warnings from Perth and Port Hedland on 8176 kHz.

The Water Police monitors and provides local weather and navigation warning broadcasts on VHF channel 16/67 at 0718 and 1918 hours Western Standard Time (WST). Severe weather warnings, when issued, are broadcast every two hours. This VHF service only covers Perth metropolitan waters within 20 nautical miles of the shore.

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Licensing requirements

Operators of 27 MHz marine radios do not need to be licensed. Operators of VHF and MF/HF marine radios must hold a Marine Radio Operator’s Certificate of Proficiency. Courses for this qualification are run by maritime colleges and volunteer groups. Details of licensing can be obtained from the Australian Communications Authority. Encourage others on board to get a working knowledge of the radio for emergency use.

Station licence

A vessel fitted with MF/HF marine radio must hold an individual station licence (renewable each year). This will allocate a radio call-sign to that vessel.

Operating procedures

Standard radio procedures are used internationally. These are explained in detail in the Marine Radio Operator’s Handbook ( pdf format). Carry a copy on board.

Radio use – rules and operating hints

• The radio’s squelch control not only removes background noise, it also weakens incoming signals.  Tune it until it just suppresses the background noise.
   
• Listen before transmitting to avoid interfering with another station calling on the same frequency.
   
• Always use your call sign and/or the name of your boat for identification.
   
• For normal (non-distress/urgency) messages, ask to switch to a working channel once you have contacted the other station.
   
• Keep your message brief and clear.
   
• Stop transmitting when requested to do so by a local marine radio station.
   
• Always return your radio to either VHF channel 16 or 27.88mHz when you have completed a call on another frequency.
   
• Do not transmit unnecessarily or allow children to play with the radio.

Mobile phone is no substitute

• Mobile telephones, although useful as a backup communications system, cannot replace a marine radio.
   
• Other boats in the area cannot hear emergency calls made on mobile telephones. A radio call is broadcast and nearby vessels tuned to the frequencies can provide a quicker response than boats called from the shore.
   
• Mobile telephones are difficult to locate using direction finding equipment; where as a marine radio is much easier for searchers to locate. 
   
• Marine radio provides better coverage with fewer shadow areas.
   
• Marine radio batteries are heavy duty and last longer than mobile telephone batteries. 
   
• There is no need to remember phone numbers.
   
• If your radio is unusable – you are in a life raft, or sitting on an upturned boat – a mobile phone will be most welcome.

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Distress call

The distress call Mayday may be used only if the boat is threatened by grave and imminent danger – for example, sinking or on fire – and immediate assistance is required. This distress call has absolute priority over all other transmissions and may be transmitted only on the authority of the skipper or the person responsible for the safety of your vessel.
A Mayday call on one of the distress frequencies will attract the attention of land stations and other vessels in your area. Stay calm, explain the problem and give position and distress information clearly.

Distress or urgency

When transmitting a distress or urgency message, stay on VHF channel 16 or 27.88mHz and do not change unless directed to by the local marine radio station – the rescuing vessel will communicate with you on that channel.

• Specify the nature of assistance you need.
   
• Follow directions of rescuers.
   
• Follow any instructions Sea Rescue or the rescuing vessel give you.
   
• Notify Sea Rescue if the situation changes or the danger has passed.

Silence periods

To increase the chances of a weak distress transmission being received, three-minute periods of radio silence are observed on the hour and half hour on distress channels.
With the exception of distress traffic, all transmissions must cease during silence periods.

Mayday procedure

 “Mayday, Mayday, Mayday”

 “This is [vessel name and/or call sign if you have one]” (spoken three times)

“Mayday [vessel name and/or call sign if you have one]”

“My position is ... [Details of the ship’s position]”

“My vessel is ... [Nature of distress and assistance required is identified]”

“I have ... [Other information including number of persons on board]”

This call can be repeated as often as necessary until answered. If no answer is received on distress frequencies, repeat the call on any frequency which might attract attention.

Mayday relay

If you hear a distress (Mayday) call and a coast station does not answer, render assistance where reasonable or attempt to relay the message.

Pan Pan urgency call

The urgency call should be used when the distress call cannot be justified but there is an urgent message to transmit concerning the safety of the vessel or the safety of a person (for example, mechanical breakdown, medical emergency or a man overboard).

Pan Pan procedure

“Pan Pan, Pan Pan, Pan Pan”

 “Hello all stations, Hello all stations, Hello all stations”

 “This is [vessel name and/or call sign if you have one]” (spoken three times)

 “My position is ... [Details of the vessel’s position]”

 “I require... [Details of assistance required and other information]”

Urgency calls can be made on a distress frequency or any other frequency which may attract attention.

Safety Call – Securite (Saycure-e-tay)

The safety call could be made from a vessel for such messages as a warning of a partly submerged object. However, a safety call is more likely to be made by a coast station or sea rescue group and may include important strong weather warnings.

Safety call procedure

 “Saycure-e-tay, Saycure-e-tay, Saycure-e-tay”

“Hello all stations, Hello all stations, Hello all stations”

“This is .... [vessel name and/or call sign if you have one]” (spoken three times)

“A hazard exists ..... [Details of the warning or announcement]”

Safety calls can be announced on a distress frequency like VHF 16. However, change to channel 67 or an appropriate working frequency to broadcast the actual safety message.

Routine call

When making a routine call to another vessel or coast station, state clearly:

 “Hello ... [The boat/group you are calling]” (spoken three times)

“This is ... [vessel name and/or call sign if you have one] “(spoken three times)

“Message..., [your message], Over”

Await response.

The aim is to get the message through clearly, precisely and quickly.

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Radio problem checklist

Equipment